The Cine Technician (1935-1937)

P\'b. -March, 1937 The Journal of the Association of Cine-Technicians 137 An Open Letter to Ray Rennahan Mr. Rennahan obtained the admiration and respect of the British technicians with whom he worked while in this country. This fact has influenced us to publish the following letter, and at the same time draw to Mr. Rennahan' s notice the opportunity for reply referred to by our contributor. — Ed. Dear Mr. Rennahan, The "Kinematograph Weekly" refers to vour article in the "International Photographer" as : "good-humoured though slightly critical on British studios." Well now, I have always been told that I have a keen sense of humour but having read your article and then, unable to credit it possible that a man of your calibre could write such nonsense, having read it a second time, I have come to the conclusion that in the first place it is an insult to our industry and secondly, grossly misleading. The views of the "props" when shown your "humorous" remarks about them were unprintable. You say you had little time to see studios other than Denham because they are "so widely scattered." Every British studio of note is within less than half-an-hour's drive from Denham. Why not be honest and say you had no time because of the scandalous hours which the unit had to put in on your picture ? You ha\c the effrontery to say we work "legitimate l)usiness-men's hours." \Miat business men put in a regular sixteen hours a day witli seven days a week more the rule than the exception ? "The Wings of the Morning" unit was notorious for its utter disregard for the health and welfare of its crews. They joined night into day. The call was regularly 7.30 a.m., back to the studio when the light gave way in the late afternoon (you were shooting in mid-summer) and then lining up or shooting on one of the stages far into the night. The company certainly provided transport to get the unit home when all regular services had closed down, but they invariably expected a 7.30 a.m. start, however near the dawn they were at the end of your "legitimate businessman's day." On more than one occasion your unit worked over 100 hours, straight time, in seven days. Not bad going for any business man. Are you trying to tell us these are short hours compared with the Hollywood working hours ? And you forget to tell your American readers that the camera crt'ws, tlu' sound crews, and many others on the unit do not get paid overtime ! If we in this country were paid on the American basis, the technicians could almost pay off the War Debt ! I challenge you to produce the continuity reports for "Wings of the Morning," and show when fliij' regular working week was of 48 hours or less. Perhaps"^Mr. Robert T. Kane, Producer of New World Pictures, will take up this challenge ! He has recently stated publicly that in his opinion the Ministry of Labour and the Board of Trade should make it easier for American personnel to work in British studios. The Board of Trade might be interested in the hours that he expects his units to work. And you say that some of the American directors over here are trying to change our habits and work longer hours ! Again to quote you :— "the amazing thing is tea — everything stops for fifteen minutes, twice a day, while the troupe drinks tea and nibbles cookies ! " Is Mr. Robert T. Kane cognisant of this ? I worked on a New World picture recently and was unable on more than one occasion to leave the stage during a twelve hour session of constant work ! I had to eat sandwiches seated on the camera "dolly" in lieu of lunch ! You are critical, nay disparaging, of almost everyone on the unit. You find fault with the Production department, vou insult the "props," you underrate the "sparks." You, like other American "ace" cameramen, expect the "gaffer" to light the set for you. Why, that's what they pay you a three-figure salary a week for — and I speak in pounds, not dollars ! You say "England's greatest lack is in experience and trained technicians." But are you Hollywood experts, who, as you admit, are greeted with genuine friendliness and co-operation, trying to solve that problem ? The Ministry of Labour admits you into this country to work, on the understanding that you train your subordinates. Are you keeping your part of the bargain ? What British technician has received promotion after working, sometimes for a year or more, under an "ace" from the U.S. or Europe ? There are numbers of British technicians fully competent to take over your jobs when you return to your native countries. But they never get the "break." Another "ace" arrives, frequently with an entirely different technique, and the Britisher "goes to school again ! " Technicolor has built a big plant over here, but are they going to give Britishers a chance ? I have been told, frequently, of British technicians whose technical enquiries have been turned aside, and of information refused. Are you honestly trying to build up British personnel to lun the British studios ? The British technician's great complaint is that there is no reciprocal arrangement for him. Millions of pounds of British money have and are being invested in the Film Industry over here, but all the important positions for technicians are being given to other than British subjects, and nothing is being done to correct this in the future. No British personnel is being built up for the time when you will leave our shores. No Britisher has been sent to Hollywood to be trained in exchange for the hundreds that have come from there. Why ? We cannot go at our own expense, because Hollywood is a "closed shop." What does the future hold for us ? Now, Mr. Rennahan, I have met you on many occasions at Denham and have had nothing but admiration for you and your work. I cannot believe that you wrote that article or saw it in "proof" before publication. I am sure you will admit that it is NOT a fair picture of Denham, nor is the view contained therein that of any of your American colleagues, many of whom I have worked with on the floor. I am authorised to say that the columns of our Journal are open to you to reply to this, my letter, and I feel sure that you wiU be only too glad to avail yourself of the op [Continued at foot of next page) :