Movie Makers (Jan-Dec 1953)

34 FEBRUARY 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. SAFETY OUTLETS Dear ACL: If you had checked up a little, you could have saved all the material (Protect Your Projection Parties) on page 297 of the November issue of Movie Makers. For there are a number of wall outlets so made that a slight turn of the plug locks it into positive position. One of these, for example, is the Harvey Hubbell No. 920 Twist-Tite convenience outlet, which will accept the standard plug and can easily be installed in place of the standard wall outlet. Douglas A. Johnston, ACL Newington, Conn. Thanks, Mr. Johnston. Sounds like a good idea for permanent installation in one's own home. But how about that screening in a neighbor's house or in a public hall? The Merz plug will still protect you from a disrupted power connection. DESERVING PICTURE Dear Mr. Moore: The "Duck Soup" Lawlers are friends of mine and their film is certainly a deserving picture. It (the Maxim Award) could not have happened to more charming movie makers! And that cover on the December issue — really distinctive. Erma Niedermeyer, ACL Milwaukee, Wise. Mrs. Niedermeyer, Maxim Award winner herself in 1943 with Lend Me Your Ear, another family film, should know whereof she speaks. TV CAMERAMEN NEEDED Dear Fellow Filmers: With the coming of television to this area, I would welcome hearing from ACL members anywhere in the United States who are interested in shooting a little film now and then for profit. The basic requirement would be that you have a 16mm. camera, preferably of the spool-loading type. Although our exact arrangements will have to be worked out, I contemplate (when in need of a subject in your neighborhood) sending you a roll of black and white negative and a letter describing the coverage desired. You shoot the film and return it to me for processing. I will then pay you by the foot for all material used, and return the balance of the film to you. Drop me a line and let's get acquainted. Carl E. Pehlman, ACL 318 South Nevada Avenue Colorado Springs, Colo. MUCH IN COMMON Dear ACL: While looking through the December issue of Movie Makers, I found in the Ten Best Films story the movie, The Israeli Story, produced on 1400 feet of 16mm. magnetic sound film by Oscar H. Horovitz, FACL, of Newton, Mass. As a member of the Amateur Cinema League, and as a Christian interested in the welfare of Israel, I was wondering if it would be possible to see this Palestinian movie. I feel sure that we can find much in common if you will put me in touch with Mr. Horovitz. Alex Smith, ACL Seaside, Ore. Your request, Member Smith, was passed on in person to League Fellow Horovitz on the occasion of his recent visit to ACL headquarters. FINEST IN THE WORLD Gentlemen: I wish to take this opportunity to offer you my heartiest congratulations on publishing what I believe to be the finest and most complete magazine in the field of amateur cinematography. Keep up the good work! Frank X. Dalton, ACL Cincinnati, Ohio THOUGHTFUL ACTS Dear Movie Makers: The offers by members on at least two occasions since I have been a subscriber to pass on back copies of the magazine are most thoughtful acts. I would certainly be interested in anyone advising me of such back numbers as they would care to part with. Weldon Chaffin 2830 Pearl Austin, Texas LENDING LIBRARY Dear Ruth Davy: On page 321 of the December issue of Movie Makers you have offered a complete file of the magazine from 1948 on. As secretary of the Los Angeles 8mm. Club, I feel that these issues could be put to wonderful use in the form of a lending library here in our group. We have enrolled many new members since 1948, and I am sure that they would welcome the chance of looking through these old issues of Movie Makers. Thanks so much for your wonderful offer! Merle Williams Secretary Los Angeles 8mm. Club, ACL Los Angeles, Calif. BACK ISSUES, OVERSEAS Dear ACL: I am emigrating shortly to Tasmania, Australia, and, as I have to reduce my luggage, I have decided to give away some back issues of Movie Makers which have accumulated. These are May through December, 1946, and the full file for the years 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1950. However, since I shall be out of England by the time this note can appear in print, I must ask readers to address their requests to an accommodating friend of mine who will have the magazines on file. He is: J. Friedberg, I. A. Wiverton Road, Sherwood Rise, Nottingham, England. It is expected, of course, that all requestors will undertake the shipping charges. G. A. Wisoky, ACL Nottingham, England Here, for a change, is a fine chance for Movie Makers overseas readers to stock up on back copies. In this column Movie Makers offers its readers a place to trade items of filming equipment or amateur film footage on varied subjects directly with other filmers. Commercially made films will not be accepted in swapping offers. Answer an offer made here directly to the filmer making it. Address your offers to: The Swap Shop, c/o Movie Makers. CONTACTS DESIRED Dear ACL: My film unit handles the production, in 16mm., of a fair variety of typically African subjects — wild game, sports such as fishing and swimming and documentaries on modern industries. It will be of great benefit to establish contact with other members of ACL in other parts of the world, with a view to creating a common ground of interest or otherwise striking up a mutually beneficial association. It is thus earnestly hoped that this message will be reproduced in Movie Makers. Arnold Graff, FRPS Manager United Film Productions 74 Milner Road Rondebosch, Cape Town South Africa