The Cine Technician (1939)

[ulv r937 THE CINE-TECHNICI A N 51 of every one of these foreign visitors who had been busy helping and training our own workers to a knowledge of the technical requirements of modern film production. Slogans such as "They are not ace men" and "They are keeping out our own technicians" were raised, and when these were exposed, were followed by "They won't allow us in their studios, so keep them out of ours." Foreigners in Hollywood This cry is as misguided as the others, for there are numbers of Britishers working in technical positions in Hollywood, where they have been employed for years. Hollywood has proved its kindly interest in our studio business by welcoming with true American hospitality every British representative who has gone to Hollywood. They have been permitted to study conditions, practices and technicalities, and given the essential information necessary for the building of up-to-date studios. In Hollywood, the American, British, German, Chinese, French, Indian or Swiss all work together amicably, and whatever ability they show they are allowed to use. Above all, everyone specialises in some particular section of the industry. The two facts which are the secret of American success are amicable international co-operation, coupled with specialisation. In this country, before we have even learned how to produce a steady succession of first-class pictures, or before we possess the necessary reservoir of highly-trained studio workers, agitation arises to prevent employment of what is termed the foreign technician. Where are the Specialists ? Touching on specialisation, where are all the specialists, so necessary adequately to maintain large-scale production in this country ? Not even the A.C.T. can produce highlyskilled specialists out of the hat ; a walk round any British studio quickly proves that fact. The business of producing pictures is now an international business and the quicker the insular conception is ruthlessly eradicated, the sooner we can get down to the serious business of production. So quit the bickering and get on with the job. The Secretary, in his reply, also published in "The Kiuematograph Weekly," reiterates the facts of the situation and re-states A.C.T.'s policy in regard to foreign technicians : — MR. ELVIN said Mr. Chevalier, referring to foreign technicians, and linking the subject up with his interpretations of A.C.T.'s policy, says : "Do we need them — Yes ! " He says that "with hardly any exception the only pictures to measure up in technical quality with American output have been largely the result of international team work." Has he never heard of Alfred Hitchcock and Herbert Wilcox, British directors, who, with entirely British crews, have for years been making films which have been universally praised for their technical qualities ? Further, did he read the letter in last week's Kinematograph Weekly from Fanfare S.A.P.! WE ARE AT YOUR SERVICE — day and night — ever ready to carry out competently and expeditiously everything that we think you should expect to demand from a progressive film laboratory. We are comprehensively equipped for automatic developing and printing — optical printing — special effects — precision back -projection printing — main titles — special trailers — foreign superimposed titles — and inserts. Private cutting rooms for hire with full modern equipment, regulation film storage and large private theatre. STUDIO FILM LABORATORIES Ltd. Title Specialists to the British Film Industry 80-82 WARDOUR ST., W.I GERRARD 1365-66