American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1942)

FILM CONSERVATION and SUBSTANDARD FILM DURING the last few weeks we have received many inquiries f I'om individual amateurs, from amateur clubs, and from 16mm. professionals, asking what is the effect upon substandard film and filming of the recent Government Order "freezing" motion picture film. We feel that our readers are entitled to a frank statement of the facts, based on the most authentic information we have been able to obtain up to the time of going to press. The present order "freezing" motion picture film, and the rationing procedure announced as shortly forthcoming, apply solely to 35mm. motion picture film. The text of the order specifically excludes 35mm. film packaged for minature still cameras, and makes no mention of 16mm. and 8mm. film. We are informed that a substantial cut has been made in the amount of substandard film delivered by the manufacturers for sale through the normal channels. But up to the time of this writing, there has been no indication either from Government sources or from the film manufacturers that 16mm. and 8nnn. film is to be "frozen" or rationed. There will be less of it available than heretofore, but it will still be available through the usual channels. There is therefore absolutely no reason why any user of 16mm. or 8mm. film, whether amateur or professional, should attempt to lay in an undue supply of film against the possibility that it may be rationed or become unavailable. Indeed, such hoarding is to be strongly condemned. Not only is any widespread hoarding of substandard film at least potentially likely to bring about the restrictions we all wish to escape: it is definitely wasteful, for film that is kept over-long deteriorates, and in time becomes worthless. We do not personally believe that the Government or any of its ofiicials or agencies have any bias against the amateur film hobby, or any wish to kill it off by unnecessary restrictions on the availability of film. Indeed, many of our high Government officials are known to be enthusiastic cine-amateurs in their private lives, and may be expected to look favorably upon the hobby. There is, however, a definite reason for the present "freezing" of 35mm. film, for the restricted output of substandard film, and for any rationing or restrictions on the sale or use of substandard film which might conceivably come in the future. We are convinced that once the amateurs and 16mm. professionals of America appreciate those reasons, they will gladly cooperate in any measures which are or may be taken for those reasons. Our country is at war. In that war, a greater and more widespread use is being made of motion pictures than ever before in history. Our Army is expanding incredibly, growing almost overnight from a peacetime token force of a couple of hundred thousand to a wartime army of millions. Our Navy, Marine Corps and other services are expanding similarly. This means that literally millions of our fellow-citizens must be trained, and trained efficiently and rapidly, from civilians to first-class fighting men, in less time than any other nation ever attempted such a mobilization. As we have brought out in this magazine on numei'ous occasions during the past year and a half, a very great part of this training is being expedited by motion pictures. The Army, the Air Force, the Navy and the Marine Corps are making hundreds of training films in their own training film studios; the motion picture industry is making hundreds more for them. Literally thousands of release-prints of these training films are being made so that trainees in all of our far-flung military training establishments may have the advantages of the same expert instruction. These films are being photographed principally in 35mm. but virtually all of the release-prints are being made in 16mm., for obvious reasons. In addition, virtually all of the Armed Services are using motion pictures, both 35mm. and 16mm. (including Kodachrome) for purposes of research, record, and combat camerawork. This means that the film-producing facilities of this country have to face an absolutely unprecedented demand for motion picture film. Those facilities, as we all know, are tremendous. They would have to be to meet the pi'ofessional industry's 2,000,000,000-feet-per-year annual requirements, and in addition cope with the constantly increasing demands of the substandard professional and amateur fields. As we understand the situation, the iTianufacturers give no indication that there is any shortage in the raw materials for making film. But there exists a serious bottleneck in film-coating capacity. Film-coating machines are intricate, expensive, and exceedingly slow to get into production : it takes over a year from the time one is first planned to the time it is coating film on a production basis. In addition, each such machine uses a considerable amount of critical materials, not to mention precision machine-work and manpower. The crux of the situation, then, is that present film-coating capacity can handle the country's normal peacetime demands for film, and it can handle the enormous military demands: but it cannot do both at once. Obviously, the needs of the military must come first, for if any shortage of film developed in that direction it might slow the training programs of our Armed Services, or result in the serious crime of sending American soldiers into action less completely trained than they might have been. The professional motion picture industry, as the world's greatest institution for mass entertaining and morale-building, is rightly regarded as essential. But it must and is willingly taking second place to the needs of the Armed Services. Makers of 16mm. industrial training films. Civil Defense subjects, and the like, are certainly performing an important service to the nation. The amateurs, as long as they use their film and cameras wisely, can play an important part both in disseminating useful information and in keeping up morale along the most literal home front. It is only fair that these users of substandard film should get their film, but they must naturally yield precedence to the more directly essential users of film. None of us can predict what may come. If the government officials whose fingers are on the ebb and flow of supplies deem it necessary, curtailments and restrictions of substandard film will come, and come swiftly. But we have an idea that the matter really rests with the users of substandard film themselves: if they use their film wisely and conservatively, and avoid unnecessary hoarding, cheerfully accepting the necessarily reduced output of 16mm. and 8mm. film, they should be able to continue their hobby for quite a while — perhaps even "for duration." If they don't — if they as a whole or any small part of the whole should unnecessarily deplete the country's supply of substandard film just from panic — we may expect the proper authorities to take such steps as are necessary to protect the Nation's best interests. So — for the present, our hobby is in no danger. Let's keep our heads and face the future like Americans! END. American Cinematographer September, 1942 407