The Cine Technician (1938-1939)

THE CINE-TECHNICIAN The Journal of The Association of Cine-Technicians Editorial and Publishing Office: 9, BROMEFIELD, STANMORE, MIDDLESEX. Advertisement Office: 5 and 6, RED LION SQUARE, LONDON, W.C.I. Telephone: EDGWARE 3119. Telephone : HOLBORN 4972. Number Twenry-rhree, Volume Five SEPTEMBER— OCTOBER, 1939 Price Ninepence WAR HOW IT AFFECTS FILM TECHNICIANS WHAT A.C.T. IS DOING WAR was declared as we were going to press. We consequently delayed publication so that ice could make this full report. Readers should bear in mind that all the other contributions were written and type-set prior to the outbreak of war. NEW ADDRESS The Association of Cine-Technicians, The A.C.T. Employment Bureau, and The Cine-Technician have removed from Wardour Street. Please note their new address : — 9, BROMEFIELD, STANMORE, MIDDSX. Tel. EDGWARE 3119 In addition arrangements have been made, through the generosity of Mr. Shaw Jones, for a London address at :— London Photographic Centre, 59, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W.I., where messages may be left and the General Secretary and other officers may be seen by appointment . FUTURE OF THE CINE-TECHNICIAN We shall definitely continue publishing The CineTechnician. Restriction of supply and increased price of paper and other contingencies will mean some alterations in format. Publication may also be not so frequent. Bid we shall certainly carry on. Technicians will be more than ever scattered during the war and for many of them The Cine-Technician will be the only medium of keeping in contact with each other. We want particularly to publish personal details of the whereabouts and activities of our members, as far as officially possible. All technicians are therefore urged to make a special effort to overcome their normal reluctance to write letters and keep in regular communication with us. Members serving overseas should let us know their forwarding address so that we may send them The CineTechnician regularby. WHAT A.C.T. IS DOING Since the outbreak of war A.C.T's. officers have been in constant touch with Government Departments and other bodies. Following an interview between the President and General Secretary and a member of the nucleus planning staff of the Ministry of Information, a letter was sent to all members on September 2nd advising them : — (1) It is hoped that film production will continue in so far as circumstances permit ; (2) Therefore film technicians (other than those in lesser posts) are advised, if their economic circumstances permit, to refrain for the time being from undertaking national service other than that to which they are already committed ; (3) This applies to all technicians whether at_present on the Ministry of Labour's Schedule of Reserved Occupations in the film industry or not, but should not be taken as a guarantee of work to all our members. MINISTRY OF INFORMATION The Ministry of Information will be responsible for all Government propaganda, including films. Sir Joseph Ball is Director of Film Publicity, assisted by Sir Patrick Gower and Mr. Oliver Bell. Mr. Charles Dukes is the Trades Union Congress representative on the Main Advisory Committee with whom A.C.T. officers have already had a useful exchange of views. Mr. Will Evans (of P.C.T.) is the film expert on this Committee. A detailed policy has not yet been announced but it is understood (as reported in our circular to members) that it is proposed that film production for entertainment purposes shall continue in addition to the production of newsreel, propaganda and technical films. SCHEDULE OF RESERVED OCCUPATIONS. The declared intention of the Government that film production should continue is borne out by the amended