American cinematographer. (1953)

Unique among the film organizations and societies in America is the Na¬ tional Honorary Cinema Fraternity, Del¬ ta Kappa Alpha: D for dramatic, K for kinematic, and A for aesthetic. Now, with four chapters (U.S.C., N. Y.U., B.U., and U.C.L.A.), D.K.A. is unique in that it is, in essence, a pro¬ fessional fraternity conducted in an academic environment. It is open to those students regularly enrolled in an accredited university with either a ma¬ jor in cinema or a provable interest in the field, and who meet a set academic standard in their film courses. In most cases evidence of work in film is re¬ quired. This can be met variously by professional, amateur, or university film production work or in some cases by general photographic experience. The chief purpose of the fraternity is to provide its members with a point of contact with the film world and to provide an atmosphere for advancement in film work separate from but in co¬ operation with the universities them¬ selves. In addition to its own program of activities, D.K.A. acts unofficially as a kind of service fraternity to these Cinema Departments. The most successful single function of the University of Southern California (Alpha) chapter is the Film Classics Series. Each semester D.K.A. conducts a series of twelve weekly film programs surveying the history and development of film style and technique on the in¬ ternational level. Its current series, Films of Eight Nations*, is being at¬ tended by nearly seven-hundred people who either are admitted free when the program is included in their cinema class work, or who have paid $3.00 for a series subscription. This series at U.S.C. is one of the most popular of campus functions and draws many members of the faculty and student body who are not engaged in film. Generally these people first sub¬ scribe because it is inexpensive enter¬ tainment — it figures out to less than twenty-five cents per evening of film. Almost inevitably these people develop an expanded interest in film and re¬ subscribe as long as they are resident in the area. In effect this series creates an interested film audience which, through increased interest, attends more films in regular theaters. Frequently these people, whose only interest pre¬ viously had been “Who’s in it?” will stop to discuss the work of a director, cinematographer, or screen-writer. In this way at least, D.K.A. serves the in¬ dustry. * Tight Little Island, Torment, My Little Chickadee, Man of Aran, Pinocchio, The Blue Angel, The Overlanders, Wilson, Treasure of Sierra Madre, Distant Journey, Fight for Life, Nature’s Half Acre. MEMBERS of Delta Kappa Alpha and faculty members of University of California’s Depart¬ ment of Cinema plan an exhibit showing style and technique of contemporary animation. Left to right are author Andrew R. Caras, DKA president; Danny Weigand, faculty member; Herb Farmer, assistant head of Department of Cinema; and Warren Brown DKA member. Delta Kappa Alpha-National Honorary Cinema Fraternity A professional fraternity conducted in an academic environment, its Honorary Members include distin¬ guished cameramen and others in motion pictures. By ROGER ANDREW CARAS In the weekly bulletin issued to the subscribers there is a short discussion of the program for that week, a supgested bibliography of film literature, and a ‘Recommended Film List’ for the whole Los Angeles area. Recently, as an experiment, this list was temporarily dis¬ continued. Judging by the number of re¬ quests received for reinstatement of this program feature, this film list had a very definite positive effect. One visitor told the program committee that he was enjoying film more and seeing more of it since he started guiding himself by the list. Such reports, of course, are very encouraging. At present the U.S.C. chapter is con¬ ducting an additional film series on al¬ ternate Friday nights for film students and their guests. Unlike Film Classics it is open only to film makers and film students. Members of the industry are always welcome. These functions are free and often last into the morning as members and guests show up with film cans tucked under their arms and offer up rare tid-bits as supplements to the program. Some idea of the respect that D.K.A. has earned for itself can be gained by an examination of the list of Honorary (Continued on Page 616) American Cinematographer December, 1953 595