The Cine Technician (1935-1937)

118 The Journal of the Association of CineTechnicians Dec, ig36-Jaii., 1937 Cinema Lo; The Big Deal Claim and counter-claim, the Press quoting £24,000,000, as if the film industry was an elixir, thousands of cinema workers engaged by the participating interests wondering in a bewildered way how their jobs will be effected, British production units going slow — this is how the "Big Deal" leaves the industry at the time of going to press. Yet the financial success of the 600 odd theatres involved, whoever gets them, is dependent on good pictures being shown by first-class projection and the courteous reception of those patrons that the show attracts. Motto for Managers : Good pictures can only be made by qualified artists and technicians, contentedly working with modern apparatus. "You cannot fill a theatre for long with bad pictures." * * 5): * Points from the Rapier of G.B.S. George Bernard Shaw, speaking on films when taking the chair at a recent lecture, said "The screen had brought quite a new technique in the art of speaking — of diminution rather than exaggeration." "We have too much of people who speak in the same way," he said. "When I cast my plays I have a soprano, an alto, a tenor and a bass. The film must do the same." "When actors really understand what they are saying that is a great help too. Sometimes I think it is a pity that audiences cannot throw dead cats and ginger beer bottles at screen actors." "Films are a wonderful art — so great, in fact, that anyone in the business who realises it is usually kicked out of the studio." Our only comment is — Why only ginger beer bottles ? G. B. S. explains "Why Ginger-Beer Bottles." * * * * Treaty signed at Pinewood Few pc'oi)le know that in the Club at Pinewood Studios was signed the Irish Treaty, which founded the Irish Free State and ended the "Black and Tan" troubles in the "Distressful Isle." Col. Grant Morgan then owned the estate, where he entertained lavishly the political leaders of the day. A brass tablet in the hall commemorates this historic event. * * * * Incognito The claim made in the Sunday Express by Mr. Austin Dennis Harry Courtney, Clerk in charge of Wardrobe at Denham, to be the Earl of Devon, brings to mind the fact that a number of heirs to the Peerage are working on the technical side of the industry. Known to their colleagues as plain Bill or Jack, they have obtained their jobs without influence or wirepulling ; some are at the top of the tree, others are building a reputation for themselves, sharing the hardships of the lower technical jobs as they learn their profession. Their names are sometimes found in the A.C.T. unemployment books when periodical cuts take place in the studios. Such is the fascination of picture-making. Colour Needs Discretion Viewing a number of colour films in the last few weeks, I have been struck with the bad rendering of the fleshings, faces in some cases look like those of sea-sick Chinamen and in others sunburnt Red Indians, yet, in places, perhaps one face in a crowd will look quite natural. It looks to me like too many experts spoiling the "hash." 1 feel that neutral backing in dove or silver grey would give far better rendering of artists in colour sequences. Set build-up can always be helped by the discreet use of coloured lighting from 2 kw. sun spots. A colour film does not need to look like a rainbow trying for bigger and better things. ^ ^ ^ ^ We Told You So Three Months Ago. With the announcement that a British bank syndicate is taking a financial interest in M.G.M., purchasing 350,000 shares held by Loewe's Incorporated, involving about £400,000, it is understood that M.G.M. will produce pictures in the Amalgamated Studios, Elstree. This, with the Joe Rock new Studio, makes Elstree the heart of film production land. The Foula Unit in World's News. Last quarter we told you about the Joe Rock unit filming "The Edge of the World" ; now they are all home again, after being marooned on the island by the rough weather. Food ran short, and everybody had a very anxious time, as the "S.S. Vedra," the unit's depot ship, was unable to take either equipment or personnel off. The filming on this island has changed the inhabitants' whole economic position. The locals have been able to purchase, with the money that they obtained from the Film Company, much needed agricultural equipment, seeds and stores. These hardy islanders have had very bad times and future harvests will ensure the remembrance for years of the film people's \isit. Am glad to hear that one of the unit has promised us an article for a future issue of the Journal.