Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1962)

<tailv iscol • ADLINES & EXPLOITI PS • ALPHABETICAL INDEX • EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY • FEATURE RELEASE CHART • FEATURE REVIEW DIGEST • SHORTS RELEASE CHARI • SHORT SUBJECT REVIEWS • REVIEWS OF FEATURES • SHOWMANDISING IOEAS THE GUIDE TO Amateur Film Exhibition Wins Theatre Many New Friends Promotion of the theatre as a civic institution and a site for special events frequently provides a renewed interest in motion pictures by none-too-frequent theatregoers. When the promotion involves the exhibition of amateur films, produced by local cinematographers and dealing with local subject matter, interest is doubled. This amateur film festival idea was tried recently by Manager D. J. Goodman of the Gaumont Theatre in Wood Green, Middlesex, England, some seven miles from London, with amazingly good results. The promotion was given a 100 per cent rating by the circuit’s x-egional controller, with a recommendation for a Showmanship Star. FILMMAKING CLUBS VIE The festival, arranged with three local filmmaking clubs, was set up in the form of an exhibition, with displays on all phases of filmmaking and a small theatre, all located in the theatre foyer and Circle Lounge. Films made by the various groups were exhibited in the little theatre and a five-pound prize was offered for the best amateur film shown. The filmmakers taking part were the St. James Film unit, the Brevis Amateur Film unit and Group 14. Most of the members of the groups are in their teens or early twenties, Goodman reported. The week-long exhibition saw large num The mayor of Wood Green, Alderman R. G. Kendall and the mayoress, are shown being welcomed to the festival by manager D. J. Goodman, at right. Presence of the mayor added an official touch to the promotion which brought much additional publicity in the press. bers of people attending the Gaumont, Goodman said, and it served a dual purpose in showing the aesthetics and craftsmanship of amateur filmmaking, and in creating added interest in the theatre itself. Exhibits in the foyer and the miniature theatre were crowded with spectators viewing displays of filmmaking equipment, both modem and antique; illustrations of how amateur film societies go about their work; stills from films completed and under way; scale drawings of various stages in filmmaking, such as that showing the method of “lacing film’’; displays of projectors and sound equipment; blowups of oldtime newspaper advertising from two long-closed local theatres; film sets, and displays of scripts. A good opportunity for promoting coming attractions was provided with a special film appreciation stand devoted to theatrical motion pictures. Pinewood Studios loaned original artists’ sketches and stills from its feature, “In the Doghouse,” which was scheduled at the Gaumont some weeks after the festival. Each still had a short explanatory credit about the picture posted alongside it. A ‘SPOT-THE-ERROR’ BOOTH Examples of color cartoon sketches used in making amateur films were shown, and one display that attracted particular interest was a “Spot the Error” booth. In each of the photographs posted there was a mistake frequently made by beginning filmmakers. Viewers were asked to spot those errors. Film titling procedures were shown in another display and one film unit featured details on the production of a national award-winning amateur film, “Fear.” Setting up the festival posed several problems for Goodman. Permission had to be secured from the Middlesex County Council with a detailed plan submitted to that body. The plan was okayed, but the council expressed some concern about the erection of the small theatre in the Circle Lounge. However, the council decided to treat the enclosure as a “Theatre Box,” and sent Goodman a letter covering regulations and okaying the entire project. The council also granted Goodman permission to hang a linen banner on the borough library promoting the exhibition, and The Automobile Ass'n cooperated in the amateur film festival promotion by granting permission to place signs, as the one above, in strategic locations throughout the borough. Signs measured 30x17 inches. another banner was placed on the front of the Gaumont. The Wood Green borough engineer gave the Automobile Ass’n permission to place temporary signs around the borough pointing up the festival. The signs read: “Gaumont Cinema: Amateur Film Festival Exhibition,” and carried arrows pointing in the direction of the theatre. Seven of the 3 Ox 17 -inch signs were placed on strategic corners by the automobile club. An official touch was given the affair with the mayor of Wood Green participating in the opening at 3 p.m. on Saturday. The opening was preceded by mention in the coming events section of the Town Crier, a quarterly magazine issued by the Wood Green council, 5,000 of which were distributed throughout the area. The local newspaper, the Herald, gave excellent advance coverage also. ATTRACTS WIDE ATTENTION The festival made the names of the various film societies known to the public and it attracted new members for the filmmaking groups. It gained wide attention from other film clubs, some from fardistant points, and it gave the units an opportunity to work together and become better acquainted, opening a wider field for cooperation and a chance for them to (Continued on next page) BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Feb. 5, 1962 — 21 — 1