The Cine Technician (1935-1937)

Dec, 1936-Jan., 1937 The Journal of the Association of Cine-Technicians 73 Demonstrations of some two-colour processes have shown that economic considerations have not yet made such processes entirely obsolete. x\mong two-colour systems are Ondiacolor, Harmonicolor, and British Chemicolor. "Additive" systems are still fighting their gallant battle against well-nigh insuperable odds. The British Realita Syndicate showed a film publicly in London, and related firms have exhibited in France with some encouragement. From Germany comes the report that the lenticular film is being powerfully supported bj^ Siemens and Halske. More may be heard of this solution to the problem. So far, the Technicolor process still dominates the situation, and it has been used for several American productions of the first rank. The results, although in many respects open to criticism, are a clear warning to the trade that colour is steadily gaining ground. At the present momejit the greatest enemy of the colour film is the user of it. Several years may pass before we shall discover the right men to create colour films. Of one thing we mav be sure, the production personnel will have to be new throughout — new stars, new directors, new camera men. During the coming year there is every reason to expect that the percentage of colour films made will show a marked increase. Let us hope that the industry in this country will have the intelligence (or if they have not, that they may be forced) to employ British artists and British technicians in this promising new aspect of motion picture technique. Adrian B. Klein. BIGGER AND BETTER PRODUCTIONS The most outstanding features to me about the Industry during 1936 have been its enormous growth and "bigger and better" productions. This seems to have come so suddenly that I wonder if the British public have yet realised that they can go with confidence to see a British "epic." I know that, as far as I am concerned, it does not seem so very long ago since I used to feel thoroughly downhearted nearly every time I saw a British production, mainly because there appeared to me to be so many needless technical errors ; but the standard of the productions I have seen this year has considerably lightened that load of depression and I can only say now, that if the mistakes are still there, then the production on the whole and the entertainment value is so first-class that any technical errors pass me unnoticed. It does seem to me too, that the industry as a whole is on a more sensible production basis and during this year there seems to have been a steady flow of work for the free lance instead of those few quiet months, that we all know so well, followed by the mad rush later with several good jobs all coming together. On the floor I have felt strongly that directors have learned to use the full services of their technicians who have assimilated more technical knowledge and have acquired that invaluable gift of co-operation. In conclusion, I would add that it seems a pity we still have to import directors for some of our big productions, and one can only hope that with the ever-increasing experience of our own technicians the day is not too far distant when we shall be able to look amongst our own ranks for directors, etc., to whom we can give these "plums." Jo Backhouse (Jo Josephs). ASSOCIATED REALIST FILM PRODUCERS 33 SOHO SQUARE:, W.I EDGAR ANSTEY WILLIAM COLDSTREAM ARTHUR ELTON MARION GRIERSON J. B. HOLMES STUART LEGG GERRARD 2484 PAUL ROTH A ALEX. SHAW EVELYN SPICE DONALD TAYLOR HARRY WATT BASIL WRIGHT During the past six months A.R.F.P, Members have directed the following films : The Nutrition Film Edgar Anstey On the Way to Worh (Strand Films) Edgar Anstey English Items for March of Time Edgar Anstey Fairy of the 'Phone (G.P.O.) William Coldstream Couer to Cover (Strand Films) Alex. Shaw Work Waits for You (Strand Films) Alex. Shaw Party Dish Arthur Elton Scratch Meals Arthur Elton Some Methods of Aeronautical Research Arthur Elton (Strand Films) (Producer) Country Fare (Publicity Films) Evelyn Spice The Saving of Bill Blewitt (G.PO.) Harry Watt English Items for March of Time Harry Watt