The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

190 CINE TECHNICIAN December 1955 Film and TV Round-Up Edited by Morton Lewis MIDLAND TV " MOVIELAND ". Midland Independent TV transmissions will start on February 17th. This was revealed by Howard Thomas of Associated British Cinemas (Television) Ltd., who are programme contractors in the Midlands and the North at weekends. One of their big Sunday afternoon programmes will be called Movieland. It will be the film industry's shop window with stars and excerpts from films, and will come from their Elstree studios. Mr. Thomas said, " We shall show what the industry can offer." SCOTTISH COMMERCIAL TV. This service is scheduled to start in 1957. It will serve between three and four million people in Glasgow, Edinburgh and surrounding districts. The Independent TV Authority is now asking for applications for the job of programme contractor. This should be a good opportunity for another film company to become Scotland's programme contractor. MICHAEL ANDERSON WINS AWARD. Michael Anderson, Director of The Dam Busters, has been awarded the C. P. Robertson Memorial Trophy for the best interpretation of the Royal Air Force to the public in any field during the year. The trophy was presented by Lord Willoughby de Broke at the 9th Annual Reunion of the Air Public Relations Association. Unfortunately Michael Anderson was unable to be present, and the trophy was received on his behalf by Mr. J. R. Wallace, an executive A.B.P.C. The Trophy is an R.A.F. eagle on a globe, in silver. Each winner receives a replica for retention. NEW TV PRODUCTION MANAGER. Barry Delmaine, who in the past has been writer, broadcaster and film director, has been appointed Production Manager for the current series of TV films made by Douglas Fairbanks. We understand he will also direct some of the series later on. RANK FILMS FOR U.S. TV. We hear that a deal for the sale of more Rank features to the American Broadcasting Company is being concluded. The purchase price is said to involve about £500.000; this is the third such sale to TV and we understand that it will absorb the entire available back-log of films. PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN. Rotherhithe Studios Limited have started a press campaign with full-page ads in the trade press. They quote all their facilities and show photographs of their sound and camera crews at work. We wish them the best of luck. HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER OF A.C.T. I was approached the other day on this question by an arty individual, who said he had all the qualifications of becoming a Director/Cameraman. I asked him what experience he'd had. He answered : " Experience ! Why, I've been watching Commercial TV films for the last couple of months and had the opportunity of visiting a small suburban studio, where they were making TV half-hour shows. And I have come to the conclusion that if I get an application form and grow a beard, l am bound to be accepted." My reply : " I am sure that Bunny Garner would be most delighted to see you." I left it at that ! REPUBLIC'S LATEST, ' NATUR AMA '. Republic Pictures Corporation of U.S.A. are going on location to shoot a picture in its entirety in Portugal called Lisbon. It stars Ray Milland, Maureen O'Hara, Claude Raines, Yvonne Furneaux, Edward Chapman and Percy Marmont incidentally, these artistes are all British. The film is being Produced and Directed by Milland; it will be shot in Trucolor and in the new WideScreen system called ' Naturama,' which is 2.35 to 1. Although this is an American film, several of the unit will be British technicians. The sound crew will be Messrs. Halle, Rootes, Bristow and Hughsdon. Will Lang will be the Assistant Director, Tony Sforzini and Stewart Freeborn will be Make-up artistes with Pauline Trent as Hairdresser. The sound equipment is being supplied by Sound Location Facilities. Comment : It's a shame that this production is not going to be British, when all it needed was a camera crew and a few more production staff. General Secrtary ( Continued) On the laboratory side we have been slowly settling the outstanding points left over from the Arbitration Award and main settlement, although regrettably there are still some hurdles to be crossed. Meanwhile, our laboratory members receive some compensation for the Government's policy of increasing the cost of living, from the improved sliding scale bonus arrangement which we obtained from the settlement. Since it came into operation in July 1954, the cost of living bonus has risen from 33/ to 44/-, a rise of eleven shillings for each laboratory worker. Our Newsreel members have also benefited, but regrettably to a much smaller extent, from their sliding scale arrangement and there now appear to be some indications that this normally quiescent group of members feel that it is about time they had a new agreement. We agree. Finally, we should never overlook, when taking stock, those A.C.T. Sections on the fringe of the production industry, our vigorous branches at British Acoustic and Kodak. The British Acoustic Branch continues with success to look after its members' interests and our Kodak Branch has increased its membership despite the continued refusal of the management to recognise A.C.T. Our Kodak members are now planning, in conjunction with other trade unions in Harrow, a big drive in order to break through this bastion of anti-trade unionism. Whilst we can be reasonably pleased with what A.C.T. has been able to do during the past year it is clear that the following year will have its own problems which will have to be tackled. CAMERA HIRE NEWMAN-SINCLAIR, Model 'N' (Mirror Shutter) COOKE LENSES, PLUS 24 mm. ANGENIEUX RETROFOCUS KINGSTON TUBULAR TRIPOD VINTEN LIGHT GYRO TRIPOD S. W. SAMUELSON FINchley 1595