The Cine Technician (1939)

64 THE flXE-TECHNK I A X JuneJuly, 1937 Cinema Log An Apology to Highbury Studios Our deepest regrets are extended to the Highbury Studios for any misconception of the report in our last issue re Tudor Films. The situation is as follows :— Tudor Films have a contract to make six pictures for A.B.F.D. release at the Highbury Studios, the first of which — "Intimate Relations" — having been completed, i>l course they go back to carry on as soon as they have finished their first picture for British Lion release, which, in accordance with their British Lion contract, was produced at Beaconsfield Studios. So you see, Tudor Films are producing in two studios — good work ! Talking of Highbury, it is a well-known trade fact that the conditions there are most happy from the point of view of rapid work, good staff, commercial terms and splendid relations between studio owner and tenant. A New Long Tom" British Lens makers have excelled themselves in preparing for the Coronation. Taylor Hobson's Telephoto lens of 56 inch focus, built for Pathe, and mounted by Vinten, is the longest ever used by Newsreel cinematographers. Working at f.8 the lens itself measures 4' long and is 8" in diameter and will secure a close-up, head and shoulders, at 250 feet and a full-length figure at 750 feet. When testing the lens and mounting, a picture of the Television Tower at Alexandra Palace was photographed from Cricklewood, 6 miles away. The camera and lens are 100% British workmanship and give rock steady results. The lens was used on the Victoria Memorial to secure the Balcony scenes at Buckingham palace. Another fine piece of lens manufacture is the f 1 -3 56 mm. lens used in the Abbey. This is also a Cooke. I have used this in securing flood lighting pictures ; turning at 24 frames it gave very fine results and good covering at open aperture. Hammersmith Studios Riverside Studios have been purchased by a well-known British Producer, and although he wishes to remain anonymous at the moment, he assures me that they will be run on full Trade Union conditions. He is now lining up product and the "Boys" should be turning them out again in a short time. Co-operation with the Royal Photographic Society Closer co-operation between the R.P.S. and A.C.T. on technical and professional matters will follow recent joint mi (tings between representatives of the two organisations. Mr. Desmond Dickinson will represent the Association on a Special Technical Committee which is being set up to act upon similar lines to the American S.M.P.E. Mr. T. S. Lyndon-Haynes, A.R.P.S., will serve on the committee of the R.P.S. Kine Section, while Mr. L. Cave-Chinn and Mr. |. Collingburn have been appointed the Association's delegates to the Central Association of Photographic Societies. New A.C.T. members of the Royal Photographic Society include John M. Fennell, Derrick Mandel and Jell Seaholme. By KENNETH GORDON Professor Einstein Finds Solution of True Colour Film The "Paris-Soir" has published a sensational article on the recent work of the German Professor Einstein, nowexiled in America, who claims an invention which will revolutionise film technique. "The solid camera lenses will be replaced bv hollow ones filled by a special liquid. This liquid will darken or brighten automatically according to the intensity of the exterior light. Thus, no further need for a diaphragm, and, therefore, no more error. Hence cameras fitted with such lenses would make possible the perfect reproduction of natural colours in film." Experiment with Films in a Church Service We are informed by the Cinema Christian Council, of which the Archbishop of Canterbury is the President, that success has attended an experiment, conducted this winter, with a new type of religious service (Evening Praver with films), in a Parish faced with the addition of a population of some 5000 people in an L.C.C. slum-clearance housing estate. In spite of persistent visiting, the normal services failed to attract more than a very small percentage of these newcomers. It was, therefore, decided to try a monthly "Film Service," and a satisfactory technique has been evolved for a reverent and dignified use of the film in connection with Evening Praver. A normal evening congregation of 100-120 was increased to over 400 for some of the "Film Services," and even on wet evenings never fell below 300. Films shown were — "Palestine," "Livingstone," "Inasmuch," "On the Bethlehem Road," "Japan" and "Africa." It is hoped to use sound films next autumn. At a Conference, convened by the Cinema Christian Council, the Bishop of Croydon, touching on the instructional possibilities of the week-day cinema, said that at Croydon the showing of films on Sunday evenings, under a scheme which had worked well and had included educational films that would not otherwise have appeared, had resulted in the showing of such better films on week-days also. The Rev. C. E. Penrose told of the experiments he had made in order to attract the children from the back streets. In fourteen months at Walthamstow there had been 32,000 attendances by children in a circuit of six churches. Britain s First Rail Excursion to Studio Britain's first rail Excursion to Filmland was run by the Great Western Railway, from Bristol to Slough, for the Pinewood Studios on Wednesday, April 28th. The Great Western Railway were the first to introduce lCducation.il Excursions in this Country in October. 1927. when the first excursion was run to its Swindon Works. Since then more than a million passengers have been carried on similar excursions to "see Britain at work" in chocolate, motor, soap and porcelain works, biscuit factories and also to liners at ports ; sites of historic interest and to Windsor Castle. The film excursion marks a further extension of this innovation.