The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

138 THE CINE-TECHNICIAN October, 1953 EDITORIAL SECTION: The Quarterly General Meeting of this Section was held at " The Swiss," Old Compton Street, on Monday, 14th September, with Peter Tanner in the chair. Reg Groves had been invited by the section to talk about the " CineTechnician." " Cine-Technician," he suggested, should be the most advanced and well-informed publication inside the British film industry; it should be the first to discuss new technical ideas and methods; it should have room for considering the general problems of the industry, such as legislation, production and distribution; and it should contain news of all activities of A.C.T.'s sections and individual members and report all interesting happenings in the industry. To bring out a journal like this, however, the Editorial Board needs much more co-operation from members. When the meeting was thrown open to questions, there was much lively discussion, and several suggestions were made on how members could help to provide more material for the " Cine-Technician." Reporters, whose job it would be to collect information, should be elected in each shop and studio. Proposed starting dates of productions should be sent in to be published monthly, together with the names of producer, director and key technicians. A correspondence column could be opened and sales increased by a campaign for annual subscriptions. Reg Groves dealt with all our questions and suggestions, and before he left, he promised that if increased sales and revenue will justify it, the " Cine-Technician " would improve in appearance and content over the next three or four months. Finally the meeting considered various correspondence and heard a report from Richard Sidwell on the plans of the Social and Cultural Committee for the winter months. These include a talk by Brian Anthony on " Optical work " for October, and, in November, Bob Parrish, the American editor and director, will address the section and show one of his films. It is also proposed to hold a Christmas Party on similar lines to last year's. Other news: Ralph Kemplen has been elected to the Board of Directors of A.C.T. Films Ltd. He takes the place of Jack Harris, who resigned from the Board earlier this year. Peter Tanner, the section's chairman, was recently married. Congratulations! BREVITIES: The many friends and colleagues in A.C.T. of sound recordist Al Rhind will have learned with regret of his death. His widow, Mrs. Monica Rhind, is leaving the Boreham Wood, Elstree, district. Members working at A.B.P.C. or M.G.M. studios may be interested to know that Mrs. Rhind is selling her house, at 33 Furzehill Road, Boreham Wood. It is semi-detached, has 3 bedrooms and 2 reception rooms, with large garden and garage. Enquiries to Mrs. Rhind at the above address. ... A few copies of American Ciiirinntiifinijilirr Handbook available .'it Head Office, price 30/ post free. . . . Congratulations to A.C.T. member E. G. Barnes, whose fine performance at White City Stadium winning the B.W.S.A.'s national men's two miles walk championship, has made him one of Britain's most promising athletes. More will be heard about this young man from our Lab Section. . . . SCRAP BOOK 1933: Those who listened to the B.B.C. programme " Scrap Book 1933 " probably heard the story of the Aerial Conquest of Everest in April of that year, but I wonder how many people coupled the name of Bonnett with Sid Bonnett who is still a newsreel cameraman with Gaumont British. Probably a lot of our older members would have recognised the name but our younger members would not have done so. Up to quite recently Sid was quite active with A.C.T., but ill-health compelled him to give up his Trade Union activities. We are happy to say Sid is well on the road to recovery. WESTWARD HO: An interesting piece of news has reached us concerning two of our lady members, namely Hazel Webber, who some may remember was negative cutter at Denham, and Kathleen Stokes who was recently employed as a negative cutter at Ealing. Both these girls are off to Canada for a stay of about two years, during which time they hope to work in the Canadian film industry and to travel extensively before they return home. GRIFFITHS FILM SHOWINGS: National Film Theatre, South Bank, is showing to members and associates D. W. Griffith's Birth of a Nation, 22nd, 23rd October; Intolerance, 29th, 30th October; Hearts of the World, 1st November; and The Girl Who Stayed at Home, 6th November. Details from : B.F.I., 164 Shaftesbury Avenue, W.C.2. COLOUR PRINTING and PROCESSING Eastman Color Gevacolor Kodachrome 35 mm 16 m 8 mm Blow-ups-Reduciion-Effects nil GERRARD 5716 8935 rC\%LCN 89/91. WARDOUR ST., LONDON, W.I.// The only Independent Laboratory undertaking exclusively Colour Processing