Amateur Cine World (June 1934)

WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR CINE CAMERA ABROAD .. . *3=°e%e2.. anything approaching a visiting continental countries for the must bear in mind—customs duties on avoided, since this is the 1 “AO suggest lines of conduct for those There are a number of regulations you military nature must be first time may appear at first sight films, the need for a permit for shootgreatest crime of all. The to be one of the more blatant forms of impertinence and I am happy to think that the Editor will act as a buffer state between elsewhere and the foreign traveller must invariably bear the fact in mind. In the beginning, Customs Duties on cameras and film are levied in every B country in Europe, though it is a privilege y countries. of the private traveller that he may take WILLIAM into practically every country a used camera and enough film for his own enjoyment. The quantity of film that can be passed En through the various frontiers varies from country to country, but a safe maximum CHADWICK F.A.C.I. would be some 400 feet of unexposed film. Further, since many countries insist that films developed in their lands are censored compulsorily, it is evidently a mistake not to bring your films home and have them processed later on. This makes it necessary for one to use film one is acquainted with and have a meter at hand so that mistakes may be few and far between. Permits for Filming ‘‘ Open Spaces.”’ Knowing these facts, the wise traveller will show openly to any Customs Officer his camera and entire stock of film when asked if he has anything to declare, and in general there will be no trouble. One cannot argue with Customs Officials and if duty is charged there is nothing to do but pay up with as good a grace as possible. Once one has penetrated the Customs it is useful to remember that the police should be asked whether photography is permitted. While street scenes and other quite ordinary things can be filmed by anyone, ‘open spaces’’ abroad generally need a permit and it is much simpler to ask before shooting than to get out of a cell. Police and officials generally know what a camera is when they see it and even if one does not know the language it is quite simple to point to the camera and wave an airy hand around the scene generally. If filming is not allowed one generally knows it very quickly. Permits to film are obtainable at ing certain places and so on. In this article you will find useful information enough to rouse the mildest myself and those who thirst furiously for 0” matters of this my blood. It is unfortunately not well kind together with enough realised that what you are allowed valuable advice on to do in Great Britain is not always lawful’ filming in foreign ‘ “ Prett ostcards, the gate-houses, though in some got" Ds ack fail to parks the attendants roam round get a shot of the sight of a camera during a march-past of troops is official to instant anger, while to take shots of fortifications renders one liable to be shot as a spy ! If these matters are kept in mind, however, there will be little or no trouble with the local police or officials and it luckily happens that the average amateur cinematographer will not be very interested in scenes likely to infringe local laws. We can thus safely leave the rest to the common sense of the traveller. As far as technique is concerned, the film worker is in much the same position as he is at home. Films of most varieties can be had in any continental country and it only remains to choose makes to which one is accustomed. Locally-made films have at times slightly different characteristics from those bought in (Continued on next page) carrying them with them. In either A et seller case, the camera should be shown, postcards. It can mnie h ; £ ores a. most effective be whereupon a plece of paper wlll be ginning to the scenes handed over bearing legibly printed actually shot abroad. 103