The Cine Technician (1943 - 1945)

lis T H E C INE T E C H N I CI A N November— December, l'.M A new term has appeared, "Sound Psychology." Quoting from a contemporary Journal printed in a twelve colour process on art paper, 'Yon can use sound as a direct emotional stimulus (you will need a lachrymometer for measuring that): with sound you can control metabolism: von can increase or decrease muscular energy (music while you work); you can increase respiration ; you can increase or decrease pulse rate; you can reduce or increase fatigue. The technique for accomplishing all these exists. ]t still awaits full conscious exploitation." There is a chance for somebody. The next 2 years I assign to settling the colour situation with the much hoped for solution of the problem of stabilisation of screen brightness. We rely on the chemists for the former and the physicists for the latter, which will also include the development of systems (electronic in operation) for the automatic maintenance of standard and constant screen brightness. (For example, after the changeover ol projectors). Then I give 2 more years, by which time we should have developed ,-i serviceable and commercial equipment and system for large screen television in the cinema. It is here that we find our first departure towards equipment which is fully electronic involving camera pick-up devices, cable or radio distribution, and cathode ray projection; with the added problem for our commercial people to decide file best way of making use of such a remarkable and far reaching method. A further 2 years should see the completion of colour television in the cinema. It is already an engineering possibility for the home, and the improvement in what might be called the greater understanding of the picture by colour contrast is very considerable. It has already been demonstrated in a limited wa\ on a theatre screen, but the perfection of a black and white system is of greater immediate importance. Lastly, I allow the /;//.'// 2 years for the achievement of commercial stereoscopy on the large screen. It has already been seen on a small screen for limited viewing positions. I saw a good demonstration once in Paris, after an excellent dinner. It was certainly three dimensional. It might even have heen four dimensional. But judging from all the patent applications going through on this subject, much time and thought is now being given to it. Such a ten year programme may appear ambitious, but in my opinion it is no mere fantasy, and the greater part can be achieved provided that the Him industry can be organised as such, capable of attracting good research brains, capable designers and economic production engineers, and of retaining the highest class of technician IV :ameraman to projectionist, from director to clapper hoy, to do full justice to the operation of the equipmenl pen ided for their usi To achieve our programme we must instituti firstly the finest opportunities for training — whether at technical institutes or university colleg and l.\ continuation classes and refri sh r i o irsi so that technicians can always keep abreast current developments. We must then be able to offi r permanent j year in and year Out — to those who would giv< their services in research and development, it design and engineering, and in technical opi of equipment and artistic use ol materials available. Another important aspect is the question of economy — the saving of time and of material, and the general saving of expenditure arising from the close working and co-operation of all part whether on the studio floor or in the laboratory, or even in such matters as care in the handling of films, and the regular servicing and maintena of both mechanical and electrical equipment. ] believe it is true that film production costs ar< going up by leaps and bounds — a trend which n in due course have an adverse effect on the in try. Also, what is in my opinion very important, s the great need for manufacturers to come together and pool ideas with a view to establishing . supreme British product in this or that field. Take the case of cameras. We have some fine earners manufacturers, but is it not true that we could produce super cameras that would command w markets, if all such manufacturers got together tc design and produce a piece of equipment that equal to or better than what is available elsewhere? We have done this in the war; win in peace'.' Above all we must have leadership instil efficiency, keenness and discipline, directed towards the goal of the cinema retaining and improving its position as one of the leading industries. Your question will be " How can this b( achieved? Our industry has been subject to internal wars, opposed factions, lack of cohesion due to widely differing points of view." Our reph is that unity of purpose with the formulation ■ common policy must be placed above everything else, including personal desires, if the indusm is to achieve the position it warrants and must have, if it is to remain alive and do its pari the making of the new world to which we '' forward after the war. The greater the suci of the industry, the better conditions for all concerned apart from the reflection in the incn ot goodwill for Country and Empire.