The Cine Technician (1938-1939)

160 'J1 H E C I N E T E C H N 1 C IAN Jan.— Feb., 1986 Western Eleetrie Progress B.F.I. REPORT Continued technical progress during 1088 is reported by Western Electric. On the exhibition side it is estimated thai nearly two and onedialf million seals in Great Britain are in theatres equipped with Western Electric sound. From abroad it is reported thai Mirrophonic sound was making strong headway, particularly in India and Australia, where whole chains are installing the newsystem, as rapidly as equipment can be supplied. On the Continent and in Africa there is steady progress with new installations in an increasing number of theatres. RECOEDING AND TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENTS. During the Bummer Mr. E. M. Hall, technical director of the company, made an extensive tour of the American laboratories and studios. During this he reviewed current equipment developments in both the reproducing and recording fields. While in Hollywood Mr. Hall visited several of the major Western Electric equipped studios and conferred with ERPI'S engineering staff on the coast to obtain detailed information on all new recording developments, so that this data would be equally available to the Western Electric equipped studios in England and on the Continent. Mr. Hall states that "ERP] is devoting an increasing amount of time to research and development of new techniques and the study of fundamental methods in the sound picture Held. Parallel with these studies ERP1 has developed several new and improved instruments and methods for determining conveniently the degree of perfection obtained in the laying down of a modern sound track. " Instruments have been designed capable of giving studio engineers a (puck and accurate cheek on the "quality" factors of modulation and density in motion picture film production. These instruments include the inter-modulation oscillator and the electric densitometer. Mr. Hall reports that "ERPI has recently been called upon by two of the major producers in Hollywood to undertake a complete study of their existing recording plant and their present methods of sound technique with a view to extensive modifications and additions of new equipment which, it is claimed, will provide those particular studios with the greatest facilities for the production of modern motion pictures in the world." The Fifth Annual Report (July 1937-June 1988) of the British film Institute records a \ear of lull and varied activity. The National film Library, following a reorganisation of its .Management Committee, received a special grant of £3,000 from the Privy Council for the consolidation and extension of its preservation section, a task already begun by the addition ol 247 films to the 44H previously acquired. Forty-eight new items, from Meliex to this year's productions, have been added to the Loan Section, and a history of the cartoon film constructed— "Drawings thai walk and talk" (seen by A.C.T. members on December 1st). A similar film on Charles Chaplin has been prepared. An International Federation of Film Archives has now been set up, co-ordinating national bodies in Hondo, i. Paris, New fork and Berlin. The Dominions and Colonies Panel ol the Institute has made a report on the Machinery for Educational Distribution within the British Empire and co-operated in this scheme tor imperial free trade in educational films. International free trade, however, has been held up since the CO-Ordinating body, the International Institute of Educational Cinematography at Rome, closed its doors on January 1st. L9£8, when Italy left the League. Much of the B.F.I.'s effort is devoted to the educational use of the cinema. Suggestions have been made for both distribution and production of films on physical training, and local conferences of Education Committees held. The number of projectors in use in schools has risen from OKi to 1,490 — and 4"20 new films have been issued. The ICE. I. has helped in the running of "Film Schools," given lectures to educational bodies, and co-Operated closely with the Central Council for School Broadcasting. The Subject Committees have reported on the problems of their particular sphere, and regularly reviewed current productions in the Monthly Film Bulletin. The latter publication also reviewed 713 out of some 778 fictional feature films released in an effort to encourage film appreciation among all those who patronise the cinema. A pamphlet on this subject has also been commissioned. This task is further being approached through the medium of education by cooperation with local educational film associations and the film institute societies, national social organisations, and the Social Questions Commission of the League of Nations. An indication of the scope of the Institute's work is given by the fact that its information section received 2,500 enquiries from individuals and organisations during the year, while its Technical Director was invited to join two of the British Standards Institution's Committees. The widening of the sphere of the Institute's operations has necessitated various constitutional changes. The Governing Body and the Advisory Council now contain representatives of the K.R.S., the C.E.A., the F.B.I. Film Group and many other bodies, but not, we note with regret, any representatives of those who make films — the technicians. Similarly the section of the report on General Tendencies limits its comments on the Quota Act to the remark that whatever its shortcomings may be in the eyes of the various branches of the trade, exhibitors, renters and producers alike are benefiting by the ending of that long period of uncertainty about the future which preceded its passing into law — a statement that reads rather bitterly to the 80% of technicians who are unemployed after years of working to make British films. [Continued at foot of next column) THIS MEANS YOU! Are YOU concerned with what is happening in the world to-day? Do YOU realise how it affects YOU as a film technician? Why not join the FILM GROUP of the Left Book Club? Send for particulars of lectures ami discussions to the Hon. Secretary : MISS ELIZABETH COXHEAD, 8, LLOYD SQUARE, W.C.I