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288
NOVEMBER 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. MoviB Makers, 420 Lexington Ave., New York 17, N. Y.
FILMING IN FRANCE
Dear Mr. President: The movie makers of France have read Permits in Paris by Helen C. Welsh, which appeared in your magazine, Movie Makers.
The debt of gratitude which our country owes to the United States of America does not permit us to remain silent to this cry of alarm which may be misinterpreted by our American friends. It is for this reason that we take the liberty of writing to explain matters and hope that you will be willing to bring it to your readers' attention.
These are the things which one should know, while in France, if one wishes to film in the streets, on public thoroughfares, in national museums and in public gardens.
These regulations are applicable to still photographers, as well °s r^ov'e makers, and also are applicable to all persons, be they French or strangers.
Taking of photographs or movies is absolutely free and not subject to "tips" on all public routes (streets, avenues, boulevards) under the sole condition that they are taken without the use of a tripod.
A filmer who uses a tripod is subject to the regulations which apply to professionals. In this form, one must have proper authorization: in Paris, from the Prefect of Police. When one holds such authorization, you are entitled to all freedom and protection by the police from those troublesome spectators whom we in Paris call the "Cockneys." This authorization is free.
Quite to the contrary, the taking of photographs in national gardens, such as the Park of Versailles, for example, is subject to a tax for everyone. Photographs are forbidden in the interiors of national museums, except when express permission is asked of, and granted by, the curator. The amount of the tax depends on the importance of the park or garden.
Permit me, in closing, to mention that this payment of a fee in a national park is in force elsewhere, not only in France. It is applicable throughout nearly all of Europe. For example. I had to pay a tax this year in Switzerland for a visit to Balusee, a little lake
near Kandersteg. I was not offended, and every movie maker in Europe would say the same.
We hope that our American fellow movie makers do not take umbrage. It is not, sadly, in our power to obtain suppression of these taxes.
Please accept, Mr. President, with the greetings of the French amateurs, the assurance of my highest esteem.
A. Avalle
President
Federation Francaise des Clubs de
Cinema d' Amateurs, ACL Paris, France
The Amateur Cinema League is sincerely grateful for this explicit report on filming conditions in France from our brother amateurs in that country. For the reply of the League's president, see page 306 in this issue.
THE CHICAGO CODE
Dear ACL: We certainly appreciate the very real assistance which the ACL affiliates in Chicago gave us on the Electrical Code deal. I met Noah Van Cleef of the Drake Hotel, who is a member of ACL and also of the Chicago Cinema Club. He was at the open hearings at the time the amendments were adopted and sent along to the City Council for passage.
C. K. Preston Director of Public Relations Bell & Howell Company Chicago, 111.
Dear Mr. Moore: We sincerely appreciate your efforts on behalf of the photographic dealers and cine clubs in the City of Chicago . . . We ourselves have done our share to influence our aldermen in the proper direction.
Adolph Wertheimer Vice President Radiant Manufacturing Corp. Chicago, 111.
Dear ACL: The Chicago legislation you describe is certainly ridiculous. If there is anything we can do to assist you, we shall be happy to do so.
Robert C. Berner, ACL Vice President Keystone Camera Company Boston, Mass.
Dear Mr. Moore: The main reason I wanted to write was to express delight with your coverage of the Chicago union deal. Your discussion of the proposed ordinance and the manner in which it was changed will give many
people a clear and complete idea of what happened. And your editorial on the same subject, The Squeeze That Failed, is a dandy.
Whit Hillyer Evanston. 111.
$ FOR STOCK SHOTS
Dear Movie Makers: We are looking for original Kodachrome scenes of good quality, 3 or more feet in length and shot preferably at 24 frames per second, of the subjects which follow:
MS of swimmer or diver emerging from water gasping for breath; MS of runner as he approaches the finish line; CU of same runner with arms outstretched as he breaks the tape; ECU of runner's face at finish; MCU of oxygen therapy; MS or LS of night ball games, trotting and stock car races; LS of lighted advertising blimp flying overhead with full moon in the sky.
We are willing to pay $1 to $2 per foot, or we are prepared to bargain with the owner if necessary.
R. W. Barron AudioVisual Section Air Reduction Sales Company 60 East 42nd Street New York 17, N. Y.
CAMERA AND CARIES
Dear Movie Makers: Thank you very much for your nice comment on Jaybird Films in your Closeups column of October.
I would like to amend the write-up to the extent that I will not be giving up my dental practice for full-time movie making — much as I would enjoy this. Jaybird Films will function in addition to my dental practice.
Dr. James E. Bliss, ACL Fillmore, Calif.
ENTHUSIASTIC AUTHORS
Dear Movie Makers: You certainly did a fine job of editing the / Love Lucy story. Made it a lot more concise and easy reading. A number of people in Hollywood have commented that this is one of your best issues.
Will Lane Hollywood, Calif.
Dear Editor: Thanks for the nice spread you gave my article, Filming the Fair. The art work reproduced beautifully, and I was certainly pleased with it.
Arthur L. Center San Diego, Calif._
Dear Movie Makers: Astonishingly, I was very interested myself to read the article I had written on recording with the 202. First chance I'd had to see the operations in retrospect.
Among others, I received a screamingly funny letter from a man in .Michigan who writes that he got worn out