The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

August, 1953 THE CINE-TECHNICIAN 105 STUDIOS: The replies to the questionnaire recently sent out from head office to our feature members have now been analysed and the Feature Branch Committee will be considering the analysis with a view to an approach to the J.I.C. Technical Panel for salary increases. During a recent production at Manchester Studios our members found it necessary to refuse to carry on working until a certain artist employed on the production had withdrawn statements made regarding the 1st Assistant Director. After our members had taken a strong line in this matter the artist concerned made an apology and agreed to carry on working with the 1st Assistant Director in control. Recently an Organiser was at Brighton Studios and was shown by Herbert Wynne the very extensive alterations that have been carried out at this studio. They now have two stages, one 70ft. x 40ft. and the other 50ft. x 40ft., and have installed R.C.A. sound, Newall or Mitchell Cameras, also 5 dressing rooms, an entirely new make-up room. Art Department and new cutting room. Rushes can now be shown in a new projection theatre with a 26ft. throw. For the welfare of the technicians employed at Brighton Studios a new canteen has been added. Whilst on the subject of visits to studios, the following notice was pinned on the canteen notice board at one of our smaller studios, " Notice to Staff — Due to the Company having made an arrangement with Contractors, canteen swill is no longer available to the employees"; we have not heard yet whether or not canteen facilities have improved. C.W.S. FILM UNIT— Manchester: It is with much regret that we report that this unit has now closed down. Many of our members would not have had the opportunity to see the products of this unit as they were largely made for internal distribution and advertising through the Co-operative movement, but their standard of work was of a very high quality and it is regretted that the C.W.S. can no longer see its way clear to keep this unit in active operation. There is one pleasing factor and that is that the members of the unit have all been offered alternative work within the C.W.S. movement. HOLLYWOOD: Members who know Alan Jaggs will be interested to know that we recently received a letter from him, he is still working in Hollywood and wishes to be remembered to all his old friends, particularly those on the Editorial side. He also mentions that Micky Hobbs (ex-Islington) is a near neighbour of his and both Alan and Micky subscribe to the Journal and thus keep in general touch with what is going on in the industry at home. BRITISH ACOUSTIC FILMS: This unit has appointed a Journal Correspondent, P. Beggin, who has sent in the following notes regarding that branch of A.C.T BRITISH ACOUSTIC FILMS: It has not been the custom of the British Acoustic Films branch of A.C.T. to contribute much material to the " CineTechnician " in the past. We hope that, in future, we shall be able to call on the literary skill of several of our members for regular contributions of technical and general interest. It may be of interest to other members of A.C.T. to read a little about our branch, its work and the work our members are engaged in. British Acoustic Films Ltd. are the manufacturers of Gaumont-Kalee sound film reproducer and recording equipment and are a unit of the British A.C.T. NOTES and NEWS Compiled by 'Middy' Optical & Precision Engineers Ltd. group of Companies, which include Taylor, Taylor & Hobson Ltd. and Kershaw's of Leeds. Names of high repute in the Cinematograph industry. The A.C.T. members of B.A.F. are found in a number of departments throughout the firm, including the Laboratory, Test. Electrical Assembly, Stores and Despatch Departments, several sections being 100 per cent A.C.T. membership. The branch works in harmony with the other Unions in the firm through the medium of the Works Committee, and maintains good general relations with the Management, due in no small part to an efficient Shop Steward seeing that the agreement between Union and Management is properly observed. B.A.F. are busily engaged in the design and manufacture of the apparatus for both 3-D and CinemaScope systems. We hope, through the medium of this Journal, to be able to tell you soon something of these projects and of other interesting technical advances now taking place. News of our members includes the recent marriage of Miss Eileen Rooney, of the Electrical Assembly Department, to Mr. William Collins of Chiswick. Mrs. Bond, on behalf of her workfellows, presented Eileen with a large quantity of household linen towards her home. Mr. Roy Mingaye, of the Test Department, has announced his forthcoming wedding on the 29th August to Miss June Smith. Mr. Mingaye is the youngest son of the N.A.T.K.E. Organiser and Hammersmith Councillor. Mrs. Heakes of the Wiring Shop has been elected Secretary of the South Hammersmith Branch of the Labour Party. Her husband is a very wellknown Labour Councillor in Hammersmith. Mr. Philip Booth has departed for Bucharest to take part in the Youth Festival to be held there shortly. Jimmy Mitchell leaves next week to join him in Roumania and we shall be interested to hear an account of their travels on their return. TECHNICAL COMMITTEE: This Committee has arranged the following lectures for the forthcoming season, further details will be published when dates and speakers are confirmed: October — " Technical Application of 3-D and Allied Processes." November — " Photography in Research Work." January — " Stereophonic Sound." February — " Modern Developments in Optics." March— To be left open for probable suggestions from Sections. It will be noticed that the date in March has been left open for probable suggestions from Sections. The Technical Committee would be glad to receive suggestions as soon as possible. FILM INDUSTRY SPORTS ASSOCIATION: Members may be aware that we are affiliated to this body and they have decided to hold another Film Ball on 6th November from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. at the Festival Hall. Those of our members who attended the last function will remember how successful it was and members are advised to make early application for tickets, which are as follows: 25/ Single, 2 gns. Double. WOMEN'S T.U.C.: One of the pleasing features of this year's conference, writes Bessie Bond, was the reported increase of 98,000 trade union membership among women for 1952, which brings the affiliated membership to the T.U.C. up to 1,317,759. There has also been increased activity among Women's Advisory Committees, recruitment campaigns being carried out with the help of Trades Councils. There are some 130 unions affiliated to the T.U.C. which cater for women workers and among those which have shown considerable gains in membership are the Transport and General Workers' Union, Amalgamated Engineering Union, General and Municipal Workers. Of the resolutions submitted there was little controversy. They covered Equal Pay, Equality of Opportunity, Education for Women, Abolition of the Marriage Bar, which still operates among certain sections of industry and commerce. The National Union of Bank Employees tabled a resolution dealing with the anti-trade union propaganda which is carried on in the National Press and called on the General Council of the T.U.C. to take steps to counter this influence by preparing suitable propaganda and literature to put the case for trade unionism to the public, particularly to women in the homes and among wives of trade unionists. Another resolution dealt with employment for older women. The mover told us that in December 1952, 133 756 women were registered as unemployed and of that number. 52.000 were over the age of 40. Of that 52,000, 10,000 had been unemployed for more than six months. Greater opportunities should be afforded to older women who wish to continue in employment; in the majority of cases they need to work through economic necessity. At last year's conference. I moved a resolution on children's films, which was carried unanimously. I had the opportunity of telling this year's conference of the resolution carried at our own Annual General Meeting, deploring the brutality and violence in films, and of asking the Women's Advisory Committee in the furthering of their work on this matter to take note of this in their future deliberations. The conference was held at Blackpool under the Chairmanship of Anne Godwin, O.B.E. The General Secretary of the T.U.C, Sir Vincent Tewson, conveyed the good wishes of the General Council and representatives from the Scottish T.U.C, the Labour Party and the Women's Co-op. Guilds brought greetings from their respective organisations. PUBLICITY AWARD: "The Sound Barrier " has been selected as the winner of the first A.C.T. Margaret Marshall Award for the best job of Studio Publicity on a British film released during 1952. Miss Jean Osborne was the Unit Publicist on the film and under the Union's rules setting up the Margaret Marshall Memorial Award, she becomes the first Publicist to receive the honour. Jean Osborne, now Publicity Director for Warwick Film Productions, was formerly a journalist with the " Sunday Chronicle." She entered the industry in 1945 as publicist with Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, staying with their company until 1950. She joined London Films in that year, working on several films including " The Sound Barrier." In 1952 she joined Walt Disney British Films to publicise "The Sword and the Rose," and left them early this year to act as