Movie Makers (Jan-Dec 1953)

JANUARY 1953 This department has been added to Movie Makers because you, the reader, want it. We welcome it to our columns. This is your place to sound off. Send us your comments, complaints or compliments. Address: The Reader Writes, Movie Makers, 420 Lexington Ave., New York 17, N. Y. EXTREMELY THRILLED Dear ACL : We were extremely thrilled, to put it mildly, when we received your letter telling us that Duck Soup had been chosen to receive the most desired trophy in the amateur movie field — the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award. My wife was so excited that she lost her appetite completely for two days and still has not completely regained it. We certainly would like to extend to the staff of ACL and to the League's board of judges our sincere thanks for this very great honor which you have awarded our film. Timothy M. Lawler, Jr., ACL Kenosha, Wise. HARD TO EXPRESS Dear Mr. Moore: It's hard to find words to express the happiness that my wife and myself experienced when your wonderful letter and award certificate arrived today, advising me that my fil:n. Bulbs and Beauty, had been chosen by the League as one of the Ten Best for 1952. We are deeply grateful to the board of judges and to yourself. Being among the winners is most certainly an incentive to do a better job next year. Haven Trecker, ACL Kankakee. 111. A BIT BREATHLESS Dear ACL: Your letter of the 24th still has me a bit breathless! That my entry in the Ten Best contest actually came through a winner seems too good to be true. Just as though the fun of making the film wasn't enough, now a Ten Best award comes along to make things perfect ... To say I'm elated is to put it mildly. Herbert D. Shumway, ACL Greenfield. Mass. THE FONDEST DREAM Dear Sirs: I dare say the fondest dream of every serious amateur filmer throughout the world is to have his work numbered among the ACL's Ten Best. By this morning's mail I was thrilled to learn that my film, Give Us This Day, had qualified for this high award. I regard it not only as a personal honor, but as an honor for Australia and for Queensland in particular. A. T. Bartlett, ACL Brisbane. Q'land Australia GIBLETS AND GRAVY Dear Mr. Moore: After mailing my film, The Man With The Box, to League headquarters a few days before the contest deadline, I began to wonder if I had a chance to place in the Ten Best — or if I had produced a prize turkey. Then, two days before Thanksgiving. I opened the mail and realized that my turkey would be of the giblets-andgravy variety. My film had placed in the first ten! My thanks and appreciation to the League for seeing fit to so honor my efforts. James L. Watson, ACL Worcester. Mass. VERY HAPPY Dear Sirs: I have just received notice that Poet and Peasant has been chosen by the Amateur Cinema League as one of the Ten Best Films of 1952. Needless to say, I am very happy over the award. Robert G. Williams, ACL Toledo, Ohio PLEASED AND PROUD Dear Mr. Moore: I am both pleased and proud to learn that my film, Outsmarted Smarties, has been chosen by the ACL as one of the Ten Best for 1952. I want to thank you and the Amateur Cinema League for the award and for the certificate which accompanied it. George A. Valentine Glenbrook, Conn. DEEPLY GRATIFIED Dear Sirs: We have been deeply gratified to receive the certificates stating that two films produced by our members— Olvido and Ciudad de la Paz — have been rated by the Amateur Cinema League for Ten Best and Honorable Mention awards respectively. Oscar J. Bonello, President Carlos Barrios Baron Secretary for Foreign Relations Cine Club Argentino. ACL Buenos Aires, Argentina SURPRISE AND PLEASURE Gentlemen: It was with considerable surprise and a great deal of pleasure that I read your announcement that my film, Woods and Waters of Winterland, had been chosen for Honorable Men tion among the Ten Best Amateur Films of 1952. I accept with thanks your congratulations and those of the League's board of judges, as well as the certificate and the animated award leader which are included with this honor. Herman E. Dow, ACL Bristol, Conn. PROUD TO ACCEPT Dear ACL: I have just received your Honorable Mention certificate for my film, The Carabi Incident, and I am happy to have been included once again in the distinctive Amateur Cinema League contest. It is an honor any amateur filmer is proud to accept. Harry A. Atwood, ACL Elmendorf Air Force Base Alaska THANK YOU HEARTILY Dear Mr. Moore: Ralph Lawrence, ACL, and I want to thank you heartily for your nice letter informing us that our film, Birds of Washington, was chosen by the League for an Honorable Mention award. We think that the judges were charitable in selecting our picture for this honor. J. Don Sutherland, ACL Washington, D. C. LITTLE WORK DONE Gentlemen: I was certainly surprised and thrilled to hear that my 8mm. film, Mountain Playground, won an Honorable Mention in the ACL Ten Best contest for 1952. The news reached me at the office, where my wife informed me over the phone. I can assure you that very little work was done by me the rest of that afternoon. L. G. Darby Calgary, Alta. Canada REAL FAMILY OF FILMERS Dear ACL: It certainly was a thrill to receive the certificate stating that FireFighters Field Day was awarded Honorable Mention in this year's Ten Best contest. I do not seem to know why I get particular satisfaction when one of my films receives a rating in the ACL contest — even though my work (on occasion) wins top honors in other competitions. Possibly it is because the ACL is the only real family of amateur filmers on this globe of ours that belongs to the amateur cinematographers . . . Thank you again. William Messner, ACL Teaneck, N. J. MORE CAUSE THAN USUAL Dear Friends: I had more cause than usual to be thankful this Thanksgiving season, for your letter and acompanying certificate attesting an Honorable Mention award to my 8mm. film, Near Miss,