American cinematographer (Jan 1937)

34 American Cinematographer January, 1937 AMATEUR MOVIE CLUB NEWS A nnual election was held by the Los Angeles 8mm club on Saturday night, Dec. 19th. Dr. F. R. Loscher succeeded Dr. Henry Linek as president. Other officers elected and installed were J. E. Walters, vice-president, and M. R. Armstrong, secretary. The meeting was opened by retiring Vice-President Earl Janda in the absence of Dr. Linek, who was sick. This annual affair of the 8mm club takes the form of a banquet, cocktail party and dance. There were more than 100 present. The winners of the annual contest included Alexander Leitch for his picture "Gun Law," the second prize went to Clifford Carpenter for his picture "Dod's Day Off," and the third prize went to Bion Vogel for his picture "Rowdy's Pals." There were eight prizes in all to be com- peted for by eleven entrants. • Titles and Editing was the subject of the November meeting of the Philadelphia Cinema Club. This talk was given by Mr. Neil P. Horne of the Home Movie Service of New York City. The Horne organization specializes in 16mm photography and projection, according to the an- nouncement, and is at present making several industrial and commercial films. Mr. Horne presented sample titles to illustrate his talk. The December meeting which was held on Tuesday night, December 8th, in the Gold Room of the Engineers Club, had as its main speaker Dr. James Monroe Thorington, Editor of American Alpine Journal. • The Metropolitan Motion Picture Club held its Decem- ber meeting on the 10th of the month. The speaker of the evening was J. D. Smith of the Fairchild Aerial Sur- veys Inc., who spoke on Filming from the Air. He de- scribed interesting experiences and suggested means of obtaining successful results in this type of movie shoot- ing. He projected two of his own reels taken from the air. Other screenings were films made by Sidney Moritz. He presented "Italy" and "The Nearest East." A school play, "The Spanish Grandee," was projected by Vincent McGarrett. Miss Annette Decker showed "From Geyser and Lake." • The Metropolitan Motion Picture Club held its Decem- structions for advanced amateurs and a group of talks far beginners. These discussions take place immediately after the screenings. This club alsa announces an increase in their member- ship dues from $3.00 to $5.00. The club's annual contest closes on January 1st. The rules are as follows: All entries must be in 16mm or 8mm size. The maximum footage is 400 ft. for 16mm and 200 ft. for 8mm. There will be three groups. Travel and Scenic; Photoplay; Miscellaneous. No limitations as to color. Only members in good standing are eligible to compete. A member may enter only one film in any group and not more than two in the entire contest. A film that has received an award at any previous club con- test will not be accepted. • The Portland Cine Club has closed a busy year. The annual prize pictures will be announced in February. Sec- retary Arthur E. Gibbs announces more than a dozen prizes will be awarded. • The Los Angeles Cinema Club held its annual meeting and banquet on December 1st in the dining room of the Los Angeles Stock Exchange club. More than a hundred were present. This dub has instituted an annual contest among its members. This year their pictures were judged by the members of the Sunkist Movie Makers. Mr. Elbert Grif- fith of that organization was present to announce the find- ings of the Sunkist organization. The first prize went to Mr. Guy Nelli for his picture "The Lost Wax Process." The second prize was given to Major Rutland for his film "Yosemite in Color"; the third award went to I. 0. Levy for his picture "Our Vacation, July, 1936"; the fourth to Franklin Skeele for his picture "Clouds for Sale." The fifth prize went to Dr. A. Free- bairn for his picture "Magnet"; the sixth prize went to Fred L. Wright for "San Joaquin Valley," the seventh to Ed Pyle for "Death Valley and Boulder Dam." The new officers elected for the coming year were as follows: Dr. LeRoy Bailey, president; A. L. Gram, vice- president and Dr. A Freebairn, secretary. • Japan is now going to be numbered among those coun- tries conducting annual contests. Fred C. Ells who was awarded a prize by this magazine several years ago for his fine production of "Rice" and who last year contributed that beautiful picture "In The Beginning" is among those sponsoring this competition. He sends us the following notice: "His Excellency Prince Yamashina, member of the Japan- ese Imperial Family, as Honorary President of the Sakura Kogata Eiga Kyokai, issues a world-wide invitation to all amateur 16mm. movie makers, to participate in Japan's first international amateur movie contest, closing August 31st, 1937. "An accomplished cameraman himself. Prince Yamashi- na heads the Empire's largest movie club of nearly seven hundred members, among whom are K. Tsukamoto and F. C. Ells, medal winners in several international contests, and many other enthusiastic workers. The Sakura Eiga Kyokai, which translated reads, "Cherry Amateur Movie Society," holds meetings monthly, at which technical lec- tures are given by outstanding amateurs and professionals; publishes a bi-monthly magazine in Japanese which is dis- tributed to members free of charge, and holds club com- petitions twice a year. "Japanese amateurs have contributed liberally toward competitions in other lands and now look forward hopefully to seeing the best work the Western movie makers have to offer for 1937. Further particulars regarding the com- petition may be had from Mr. C. Aochi, care R. Konishi & Co., Muromachi San Chome Nihonbashi, Tokyo, Japan."