Movie Makers (Jan-Dec 1930)

]»i«>^%'aE itay«.ii4k.Eic.s EDITORIAL S' OMEONE recently asked if the Amateur Cinema League maintained a laboratory. The answer was about to be negative until a discerning member of the headquarters staff' pointed out that the offices of the League are, in themselves, an actual and intensely practical laboratory. The facts are these: C A League member plans a certain adventure in filming. He writes to the consultants at headquarters, outlining his project. His outline may be accompanied by specific questions or it may be merely a request for an opinion "in the premises," as the legal people put it. The League's machinery begins to operate and this member has a letter from the technical department indicating the feasibility of what he has planned, pointing out difficulties and suggesting ways of surmounting them. It may be that specific equipment is "indicated," as the doctor says. It may be that some other members have recently accomplished something parallel and this experience is passed on. The photoplay department (under which name, for want of a better, is included the whole matter of advice and consultation on the subject matter of all kinds of films) advises this member on the story or plot — the idea that the member wants to set forth — the scenario — the road map of the development of that idea — and on the continuity — the specific directions for carrying out the idea. The experience of other League members and of commercial film producers is brought to bear upon the problem in hand. ^ With this aid from the Leagues consultants, the member builds his plan in greater detail and again submits it for final comment and suggestion. He is certain to have his enterprise considered from the amateur viewpoint because the Amateur Cinema League deals "from soup to nuts" with more amateur filming plans than any other existing agency. Film manufacturers see more amateur films than are sent to League headquarters but they see them once or, if editing and titling are involved or duplicates are ordered, two or three times and for specific and definite purposes which often preclude a general examination and comment. ^ The League member, having completed his plan, after consultation and liberal discussion at League headquarters or by letter, begins filming. During the actual shooting, he frequently wants more advice and gets it by letter and telegram. Then he sends the first result to the League offices for examination and comment. Retakes are sometimes advised. The whole question of editing and of titles is considered, d. Finally, the film is completed, after the member himself, the League's consultants and, not infrequently, other League members who may have valuable suggestions have worked over it. In many cases a print is given to the Club Film Library and the finished picture goes on a visit to the amateurs of the world. The story of the whole adventure is cold in Movie Makers. C Here is a laboratory that operates from plan to complete performance. It is a laboratory the attitude of which IS unique because it has no parallel in any of the excellent studios and experimental departments of commercial producing companies. It does not operate from the viewpoint of pure science, without regard for practical application, because it must never suggest things that amateurs cannot do. It does not presuppose complex equipment but sets Its own limitation which is measured by the equipment which the average amateur can conveniently acquire. Like the Amateur Cinema League and Movie Makers, it is not professional and its expertness is the expertness of him whom it serves — the Amateur. Every League member who does not use It misses the amateur's unique opportunity. A Word About the Amateur Cinema League THE Amateur Cinema League is the international organization of movie amateurs iounded, in 1926, to serve the amateurs of the world and to render effective the amateurs' contribution to cinematography as an art and as a human recreation. The League spreads over fifty countries of the world. It offers a technical consult ing service; it offers a photoplay consulting service; it offers a club consulting and organizing service; it conducts a film exchange for amateur clubs. Movie Makers is its official publication and is owned by the League. The directors listed below are a sufficient warrant of the high type of our association. Your membership is invited. Amateur Cinema League, Inc., Directors President HIRAM PERCY MAXIM Hartford, Conn. EARLE C. ANTHONY Director of the National Association of Broadcasters ROY D. CH.4.PIN Chairman, Board of Directors, Hudson Motor Car Company Vice-President STEPHEN F. VOORHEES Architect, of New York City W. E. COTTER 30 E. 42nd St., New York City C. R. DOOLEY Personnel Manager, Standard Oil Co. of N. Y. Managing Director ROY W. WINTON, New York City Treasurer X. A. HEBERT 1711 Park St., Hartford, Conn. LEE F. H.\NMER Director of Recreation, Russell Sage Foundation FLOYD L. V.\NDERPOEL Scientist, of Litchfield, Conn. Address Inquiries to AMATEUR CINEMA LEAGUE, Inc., 105 West 40th Street, New York, New York =A 81