The Cine Technician (1939)

March-April, L938 T UK (IN K-T ECHNICIAN 22i ) Colour for Newsreels: Mam attempts have been mad ■ to introduce colour into the news and magazine reels but time lag in processing, cost , and the bad wearing qualities of the cheaper processes have caused them to be abandoned. Now that the newsreels have an organisation to deal with matters such as costs of rights to film, and production times, couldn't the\ adopt a colour process collectively— that is to say, a process using black and white positives which rely on the colour being given to the film through filters operated in the projector? A number of the reels, as you know, are connected with the major theatre circuits, and it would not cost much for these theatres to be fitted with one colourprojector, which could take a reel of 2,000 ft. Kinemaeolour and Gaumont Chronocrome used black and white positives years ago and obtained very good results. Today, with the improved lenses, negative stock emulsions and precision cinema engineering, the drawbacks of the earlier colour processes are easily overcome. From the economic position, the cost would be easily met both by the theatres and the newsreel companies. many of whom are using plant bought in 1905 patched up into modern use. This apparatus must stand on their books as of no value, after allowing for the usual annual depreciation. The processing of such a colour system could. 1 think, use the ordinary printing machines with slight modification. Developing would be done on the automatic machinery now in operation, but ot course cameras and projectors would have to be of a new type. The great advantage of such a process would be that black-andwhite positives would stand up well in projectors, and there would be no increase in the time taken in processing. On the other hand, negative costs would be slightly higher. Hand cameras may have to be abandoned. Should a double framing be used in the colour him it is quite possible to enlarge the sound track by optical printing so that the film could be run at double speed. It necessary, owing to weather conditions not being suitable for colour films, it should be possible to join black-andwhite and colour positives in the same reel, and l>\ notches punched in the side of the film to operate an electro-mechanical device to throw the colour filters out of action, and automatically operate the black-and-white section at the correct speed. Anyhow, this is an idea which, if considered, wotdd be of benefit to the makers of documentary, newsreel and magazine films. A.C.T. Member Becomes Movietone Executive Congratulations to .lack Ramsden, A.C.T. member, who has been promoted Production Manager to British Movietonews. Jack has been Movietone cameraman in the North of England for some years, and at the same time covering the principal news events in Ireland. His promotion is a fitting recompense for his "go getting" in the provinces, where up to now his only reward has been the footage from his camera used in the reel, much of which has been obtained without the glamour of London assignments. His appointment leaves Jack Cotter tree to use his camera, to cover unusual stories in his own inimitable way. National News The postponement of National News has been a great shock to those who think competition is good for all forms of entertainment. For those who joined the staff, it has been a disaster. The plant had been maintained for a further attempt at publication, but as we go to press the camera gear is being offered for sale. So an enterprise which portended so much dies. Our svmpatlu goes to those who have suffered financial loss. Without Comment booking through a key newsreel technician's diary for L937 I found that, working in addition to the usual FS hours per week, he had put in. during 12 months, 908 hours overtime, of which he had been allowed f>G7 hours off duty, so that he had put in 40] hours without pay or an\ other recompense. Thus this technician has worked S weeks 23 hours without pay. TEN AX ET A I'D AN