The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

28 CINE TECHNICIAN February 1955 FILM MAKING IN YUGOSLAVIA by Bill Luckwell and Bill Kirby '"PHIS is a brief report on our recent visit on behalf •* of Jeywell Productions Limited to Belgrade and other centres to find out how our Yugoslav friends were developing with their plans for a great national film industry. We were impressed. The new film studios in Belgrade, which are well on the way to being completed, are surprisingly well equipped and while we were there they were installing a vast amount of plant to enable them to handle colour films. Until now they have been able to cope only with Gevaert colour but with the installation of the new De Brie equipment they will be as well placed as any studio and laboratory in Great Britain to deal with Eastman colour. We thought it an excellent idea to have the laboratory as part of the studios, which must result in a considerable saving of time. Impressive, too, was the zest and keenness shown by everyone from the humblest office girl to the Studio Manager and the intense interest everyone showed in developments. Yugoslavia is aware that her technicians have much to learn and is anxious to attract foreign film producers of experience to make films in their country, bringing with them certain well-experienced technicians who are willing to have Yugoslavs working alongside them learning technique. One of their leading feature film directors, Zivorad Mitrovic, was most anxious to make it clear to us that, although he has a number of successful films to his credit — in particular his most recent PAST GAINS— continued up of a pool from which normal film production can draw should seriously be considered. Finally, recruitment goes on apace — B.B.C. technicians joining us in ever-Increasing numbers. Already a Television Producer/Directors' Section has been formed, and the setting up of a Television Branch is contemplated. Rates and conditions covering the production of television films will be one of the major issues at this year's Annual General Meeting. All these, and many other matters, will be discussed at this year's Annual General Meeting. May I therefore conclude by urging you to attend and persuade other members to come along. In this way you will maintain the unity so marked during the A.S.F.P. and Laboratory disputes. You will also help us make the right decisions, elect the right members to represent you on the General Council, and maybe put extra £. s. and d. in your pocket. " Kekec," a Yugoslav children's film now being distributed in Britain for C.F.F. by British Lion production, " The Echellon of Doctor M ", which has received such wide acclaim throughout Europe — he was looking forward to the possibility of co-directing films with British directors and hoped that such a development would prove possible. We saw a number of their documentary films and although there probably is much room for improvement— particularly in lighting — the Yugoslavs are to be congratulated upon the quality of their product in view of the difficulties it is obvious they have had to suffer in the past. The Yugoslav technicians are — at least every technician we met was — anxious for an opportunity to come to England to study the industry at first hand over here and we are very pleased indeed that, through the good offices of Mr. Ernest Roy, of Kay's Laboratories, we have been able to assist in a small way by arranging for two technicians to come over to study at Kay's. In the short space available it is not possible to do more than give a brief outline which, summed up, amounts to this: The Yugoslavs arc now reaping the benefit of their vision and confidence in themselves when they laid plans for their national film industry at a time when conditions were really hard. Although they have such a great history behind them the Yugoslavs today are a people looking into the future with confidence and determination and there is little doubt that within a very short space of time they will become one of the leading film producing countries in Europe. We must pay a tribute to the kindliness and courtesy of our friends in Belgrade who went to great lengths to make our stay as enjoyable as it was instructive and we look forward to a return visit at an early date.