Movie Makers (Jan-Dec 1952)

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82 © Hazel Greenwald. ACL ISRAEL INVITES The rare sight of a nation a-borning awaits your camera in Israel, youngest of the world's democracies OSCAR H. HOROVITZ, ACL FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS of newly arriving immigrants to Israel, tent cities such as this one at Padas Hanah are for months their first new homesites. THE United States of America, during the period of its unrestricted welcome to European immigrants, became known as the Melting Pot of the world. If history has proved this phrase apt, perhaps there is equal accuracy in the tag turned out by an unrecorded journalist to describe Israel, newest of the democracies. Israel, he wrote, was the world's "Pressure Cooker." For Israel is in a hurry. Coming into statehood as recently as 1948 with 650,000 citizens, this newly historic home of the Hebrew peoples has more than doubled its population as it accepted 200,000 Jewish immigrants yearly since then. And, picture-wise, the arrival and assimilation of these world wanderers may well provide the most colorful parts of your Israel story. But there is much that a visiting filmer will do well to know before ever he sets foot in this new-old land. As your travel agent can tell you in more detail than I, there are three general means of reaching the country. These are by air from the United States, taking a little over a day from New York City; by Mediterranean cruise ship from New York City, taking 18 to 20 days, or by plane or ship from European ports of departure. If you travel by ship from New York, you probably will reach Israel at the port of Haifa. If you fly in, you will land at Lydda Airport, which is nearest to the city of Tel Aviv. And from Lydda, the airlines will deliver you and your luggage free of charge to either Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. But what, now, should the foresighted filmer plan to carry in that luggage? Photographically the answer is: carry everything you are going to need during your movie making visit. Film supplies in Israel either are nonexistent or, under the taxes of an austere economy, are priced beyond all reasonable purchase. But for visitors to this struggling new nation the customs procedures are friendly and understanding. Your cameras, allied accessories and film must be declared on entry; and all but the latter will be wholly free of duty. It is usual, also, to exempt from duty reasonable supplies of film which are brought in in the baggage of the tourist. However, since Israelian and American ideas may well differ on what constitutes "reasonable supplies" of film, their customs rulings have provided for the import of excess amounts of film under a deposit of the presumed duty at the port of entry. This is later refunded to you as you ship the film out to America for processing, or carry it out with you. During the present transition period, certain security regulations are still in force, resulting in the application of a modified form of film censorship. Since it is wholly impossible to have any reversal movie films processed in Israel, this censorship is based on a written statement compiled by the visiting cameraman which outlines the scenes and subjects photographed in his exposed reels of film. This listing, and the films in question, must be submitted to a local censor at least 24 hours before you and/ or your films are to leave Israel. Upon approval, your films will then be officially packed and sealed for outward shipment. Up-to-date data on restricted photographic subjects can be obtained on arrival in Israel at the Tourist Information Centers. Censors are conveniently located in all of the country's main post offices. Weather-wise (and therefore photographically), the best period in which to visit Israel is from May through October. These are the dry, sunny months during which rain is a rarity, so that you may count consistently on bright sunlight and clear blue skies. What effect these weather conditions have on exposure I shall discuss in a moment. More immediately I wish to warn you of the effects they can have on your camera — if you are careless. © Hazel Greenwald, ACL TWO THOUSAND YEARS of history have not changed the farming habits of these Arabs in Israel as they plow an ancient olive grove.