The Cine Technician (1938-1939)

September-October, 1989 THE CINE-TECHNICIAN 71 FILM CENSORSHIP The General Council also passed the following important resolution on film censorship, which was sent to the Ministry of Information and also released to the press : — The General Council of this Association understands that steps are being taken to make the British Board of Film Censors responsible for " security censorship not only of entertainment films but of all films, including newsreel, sub-standard and films for export, on behali of the Ministry of Information. The General Council is of the opinion that the British Board of Film Censors, owing to its past practice and constitution, is entirely unsuitable for this work, which in any case should not be entrusted to a private firm, and urges, therefore, that it be not appointed to execute this work, which should remain the direct responsibility of the Ministry of Information. A.C.T. ORGANISATION The war will undoubtedly present organisational difficulties to A.C.T. The war of 1914-1918 proved how essential is trade union organisation. A.C.T. for tinduration of the war will be more than ever important to technicians in : — (1) Maintaining contact with Government Departments. (2) Safeguarding their general interests, not only during the war but for the future. Our efforts must not be slackened. On the contrary we ask the co-operation of all members in building up 100";, organisation in all places where film production and processing continues. Our laboratory members must remain vigilant to ensure the laboratory agreement is maintained and national emergency not made an excuse to depress wages and working conditions. On the studio side members will know that a general collective agreement has been in process of negotiation for some time. In view of the urgent need to stabilise the industry, however, application has been made to the Executive Committee of the British Film Production Association for the immediate negotiation of a three-point agreement regulating salaries, hours and overtime payments. This would reduce to a minimum any action which A.C.T. may have to take under the Fair Wages Clause affecting employees engaged in film production, OUR CONTRIBUTION The attitude of A.C.T. is admirably summed up in the following letter from the President, the Hon. Anthony Asquith, which appeared in The Times of September 15th: — I would like to emphasise that the film can perform more economically than any other medium two functions of national importance. It can supply relaxation and information simultaneously to any number of audiences. Nobody denies the importance of entertainment in wartime, but the film has other indispensable uses. Its recent progress has made it far the most potent medium for instruction and propaganda. The value of films to supplement and illustrate the lectures of military and civil instructors is obvious. Then, there must be a record of the activities of our fighting forces. The War Command of today will need it no less than the historian of tomorrow. Lastly, for propaganda at home, in the Empire and in allied and neutral countries, the film cannot be replaced. We have a large body of highly skilled technicians anxious to use that skill in national service. But there is a great danger that they will be dispersed beyond hope of recall unless production resumes immediately. The Ministry of Labour has placed most of the key grades of film technicians on its Schedule of of Beserved Occupations. But there is little profit in reserving labour for non-existent work. Unless the position of films is made clear — and I welcome Sir Samuel Hoare's assurance in the House that the matter is receiving attention — it will be impossible for film technicians to serve their country in the way that they alone can. WE NEED ONLY ADD THAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE CO-OPERATION OF ALL TECHNICIANS IN M Al NTA I N I NG & STRE NGTH ENING THEIR OWN ORGANISATION WHICH IS JUST AS ESSENTIAL TO THE FILM INDUSTRY AS THAT INDUSTRY IS ESSENTIAL TO THE NATION IN HELPING TO ACHIEVE A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME TO THE WAR. ONLY BY UNDERSTANDING THE PAST AND THE PRESENT CAN IVE BUILD A BETTER FUTURE JUST PUBLISHED FILM BUSINESS IS BIG BUSINESS A Pamphlet that MUST be read Prepared for A.C.T. by Ralph Bond from material supplied by the Labour Research Department Foreword by George H. Elvin I' i-irc: 2d. (3d. post free) From The Association of Cine-Technicians: 9, Bromefield, Stanmore, Middlesex, and: (Third Floor). 59, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W.l.