The Cine Technician (1935-1937)

Aug. -Oct., 1936 The Journal of the Association of Cine-Technicians 35 At the same time, the increasing range of subject calls for new forms of presentation. The material of Ceylon allowed Wright to develop a lyrical and poetic treatment in "Song of Ceylon." The slums of Stepney and West Ham offered Elton and Anstey scope for a journalistic 'direct interview' approach in "Housing Problems." "Shipyard" allowed Rotha to apply an impressionist method to the building of a great liner. The last sequence of "Night Mail" allowed Watt to try out a close collaboration between director, musician and poet. As the field enlarges, these and other treatments are tried out and, if successful, incorporated in the stock-intrade methods of bringing reality to the screen. The problem of presentation is the realist director's central problem; he must drag order from the chaos of material before him and present it clearly and dramatically. Faced with an apparently impossible subject, it is his business to observe and penetrate until he strikes the aspect and the treatment which will best bring it alive excitingly on the screen. In this sense realist films form an excellent training ground for directors. Th^ realists have many times been told, sympathetically but firmly, that their films are not box-office ; that though they may interest the technicians and the special audience, they are too highbrow for general consumption. The realist film does not set out to be highbrow ; its aim is the coldblooded presentation of information ; its means, the dramatisation of fact. If it happens to spark over into something which may be called art, however primitive, it does so because the nature of subject and material spontaneously allow it. If art is to be made an offence, let the newsreels beware. Paramount 's shooting of the Queen Mary could hardlv be called anvthin;.' else. THE NEW 2 kw KANDEM SUNSPOT FOR HIGH INTENSITY BACKLIGHTING, FRONT-LIGHTING, CROSS-LIGHTING AND MODELLING. ••<• Wide Range Beam from 8 45 divergence. ♦ Simple Adjusfmenf. ♦ Pre-focus Lampholder for new Bi-post Lamp. ♦ Opfically-worked Reflecfor. ♦ Crystal-glass Heat-resisting Lens. ♦ Built-in Switch, etc. KANDEM Kandem Electrical Ltd. studio Lighting Specialists, 769 FULHAM ROAD, LONDON, S.W.6. Phone: FULHAM 2387 PARSONS GREEN, S.W.6 The realist also asserts that his films are box-office. In the early days "Drifters" and "Industrial Britain," and more recently, "Contact," "Weather Forecast," "B.B.C. The Voice of Britain" and "Night Mail" have all done well in the theatres. But the theatres represent the realist's show-case, and he only attempts to place his more spectacular goods therein. The B.B.C. film could hardly fail to attract because of the universal interest of its subject. Similarly the appeal of "Night Mail" was practically certain since its subject was rooted in schoolboy instincts. Films of this kind are designed as show-case products. But the majority of realist films are never intended for theatrical showing, and in fact never go to the theatres. These films, destined for non-theatrical showing in the schools, the social clubs, the institutes up and down the country, are not specialised films. They try to appeal to the cinema-going public, but to that public in a different mood. If they succeed, they have done their job as well as the more ambitious theatre film. Letters After Their Names George H. Elvin has recently been elected an Associate of The Chartered Institute of Secretaries, the only body authorised by Royal Charter to grant certificates of qualification to secretaries, and the ruling body of the secretarial profession. Lewis Protheroe and T. S. Lyndon-Haynes have been elected Associates of the Royal Photographic Society. We are sure that members will wish to join with us in congratulating our Secretary and two of our members in obtaining these professional qualifications. Open All Night ! THAT IS IF YOU WANT TO WORK ALL NIGHT) The Crown Theatre PROVIDES STUDIO PROJECTION SERVICE AT ANY TIME TO SUIT YOUR CONVENIENCE. TWO DOUBLE-HEADS, a FULL RANGE SOUND, d d MIXING PANELS FOR TRACKS, n n D SEATING FOR 100 PERSONS, n D a D 86 WARDOUR ST., LONDON, w. Telephone Gerrard 5223