The Cine Technician (1935-1937)

Dec, ig36-Jan., 1937 The Joumal of the Association of Cine-Technicians 71 FADE IN start of another. We haOe given them a free hand to say exactly what they lil^e. Of course, what they say does not necessarily express the views of the Association but we are confident that such a frank exchange of views is beneficial to the industry. It is in that spirit that the following comments are offered. Contributors BERNARD KNOWLES — Chief Cameraman, GaumontBritish. Recent pictures, "Thirty-Nine Steps," "Rhodes," "Secret Agent" and "Sabotage." ALAN LAWSON — Chief Cameraman, Baird Television Ltd. LEN LYE — Experiments with colour movement. Films include "Colour Box" and "Rainbow Dance" (for G.P.O.), "Kaleidoscope" and "Birth of a Robot." WALTER MEADE, Major— Scenario Editor, A.T.P. Studios Ltd. REG MORTIMER— Film critic, "Empire News." GEORGE MUNRO — Film critic and author of "Murder GauK," now in production. G. H. NEWBERRY— A.C.G.L, B.Sc. (Hons.), D.LC. Chief Sound Recordist, Pathe Pictures, Ltd. C. J. PHILLIPS — Technical Assistant to Manager, Pathe Laljoratories. Chairman, A.C.T. Laboratory Section. LEWIS PROTHEROE— A.R.P.S. Free-lance still photographer, at present with National Provincial Films. JOHN RAMAGE— Film critic "Reynolds' News." PAUL ROTHA — Realist and Documentary Director. Member of Associated Realist Film Producers, affiliated to A.C.T. Directed "Contact," "Shipyard," "Face of Britain," etc. Author of "Documentary Film," "Movie Parade," etc. Director of Productions at the Strand Film Company. PEN TENNYSON— Assistant Director at Gaumont-British, where on recent productions with Victor Saville and Alfred Hitchcock. G. E. TURNER— Managing Director, Publicity Films Ltd. C. A. W. (Charles Arrowsmith Walker) — Film critic of "The Cinema." ERIC WILLIAMS Studios. -M.J.Inst. E. Chief Recordist, A.T.P. LAURENCE P. WILLIAMS— A.R.I.B.A., A.A.Dip., Consulting Art Director, Pinewood Studios. Supervising Art Director, Herbert Wilcox Productions. publicity ; the routine of studio management. His general film-knowledge, thus acquired through opportunities offered to him by Hollywood methods, renders him a master technician — master of his own job, conversant with those of others. The future of our industry lies in the juniors. Perhaps it is because they may have realised this that these boys are scampering ahead too fast. Or is it that our studios do not give them an opportunity to probe into the methods of other departments ? Are the doors of a cutting room shuttered against the enquiring young camera boy ? Do our scenario chiefs look with a sneer on the efforts of an assistant director to seek the secrets of their craft ? I say to junior technicians of Britain, make these opportunities for yourselves ! Seek out this film knowledge ; know what the other men do round you. Strive to amass the facts of film-production, so that when in later years you are called upon to make your own technical decisions, you can make them independently, secure in the knowledge that what you say is right. Alfred Hitchcock. A YEAR OF PROGRESS The technicians at last have a well-represented body 'to express their thoughts and complaints in an orderly and civilised manner to what has proved to be a sympathetic ear. . . . very good for both employer and employed. Lighting experts this year have enjoyed the use of the new American scientifically designed lights, both blue and yellow, resulting in an immense increase in control and efficiency. The decade of the naked mirrored light of both kinds is rapidly passing away ... at best they were never more than a bad modification of flood lights. Modern film, wide aperture lenses, and advanced developing technique can no longer tolerate large volumes of spill light. Next year will show more control of lighting equipment and, one hopes, a greater variety. The year has seen great all-round advances in negative treatment. Progress in positive printing, due largely to the excessive cost of latest printing devices, has virtually come to a standstill. Everj' other cartoon about December shows "New Year" as infant with bag of good things for waiting world. Well, lighting men want printing machines that will render not less than 75'}o of the quality present in the excellent negatives now being made. Bad prints are no cheaper than good ones. Hope naked infant is listening. Co-operation between film manufacturing concerns and lightmg men who use their product still very ragged. One looks to A.C.T. Journal to publish latest research findings as easiest and most universal method of disseminating information. Year rapidly closing has shortened distance between our best product and foreign equivalent more than any two previous years. This year greatest British company made genuine inroad with domestic product into U.S.A.