The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

September 1956 CINE TECHNICIAN 135 Shorts & Documentary Section CAMERAMAN IN CANADA Steve Cox Writes : Data Film Unit have recently received a letter from their ex-cameraman, John Gunn, who is now with the Canadian Film Unit. With the permission of Data, and because I am sure it will be of much interest to our members, I am including a large portion of it in this column. This is what John Gunn has to tell his colleagues in London: " Firstly, you will notice that we have moved our tent from Ottawa to Montreal, following in the wake of the Film Board move to new hunting grounds. We now have a building that would put Denham and Pinewood to shame and a Studio that Data would dearly love for film production. " Jean and I now live in a five and a half roomed Duplex with garage, and the last word in modern design. We have furnished two-thirds already, but need a few more bucks to finish the job, but considering we have only just passed the twelve month stage, feel pretty clever. " You will all be pleased to read that I am now an established permanent cameraman with the Film Board, and am due, at this present moment, to leave on a three-month assignment in the West Indies to cover the Federation of the Islands, Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua, Port of Spain Trinidad, ending around Granada and Haiti." John went by air with camera gear and film stock, sending the lighting equipment ahead by ship. Basic Gear The camera department will no doubt be interested in the basic lighting gear now standardised for television production. This is how John describes it: "Lighting cases have been constructed to carry 3 Pups, 3 Dinkies, 1 Single Broad and 2 Gator clips With spot 500 watt bulbs. Aluminium stands, goboe stands, twenty plastic extension leads, plus one hundred and fifty feet of main cable, are the main bulk of lighting gear. Silks, jellies, spots, spare bulbs are carried in the lid of the case, plus base plates, barn doors, snoots, etc., carried in special compartments. The lighting case is on castors and becomes the dolly or trolley for the rest of the equipment when moving from one location to another. Lightweight threewheeled dollies have been made with lock positions in one direction, with snap clips for holding the medium legs, and the 16mm. 400ft. Auricon Camera. Sprocket Tape Unit " We have now finished using the Auricon as a double system camera, as the optical sound quality left much to be desired. A genius at the Film Board has designed a Sprocket Tape Unit that beats any machine on the American market for sound quality, and with the tape having its own perfs, ensures perfect sync with camera, since they are run in line. " I have also been designing gadgets myself for my own unit, and have come up with a bowden lever control for parallax when tracking, which leaves me one eyelid free to pull focus. This dolly, by the way, weighs fourteen pounds and is as strong as steel ... so get cracking boys! " Grind coffee, too " " I have pulled off some amazing shots with this Auricon camera and dolly, and when I have completed ALL my attachments . . . will be able to grind coffee at the same time. We do, of course, use Tri-X in line with this lighting rig, with the equivalent of Plus X for Exteriors (Dupont 930A). " We have high-speed spray processing giving us a three-hour mag to theatre service. " I can imagine the rude remarks that would pass if any Data members could see my complete rig, as it is all a bright yellow with red lettering. You see, having a half-dozen TV maniacs loose around the Board, one has to be able to identify beloved pieces of equipment before they vanish into somebody else's kit. It also serves to keep a close eye when shipping by air or train, so it's not all bull stuff! " I can imagine Su setting up mole lamps sprayed a bright yellow, but, believe me, chums, working with coloured equipment makes one feel good. " The secret of TV assignments is to work with the minimum equipment, and if one has steel stands, etc., scrap them and modify in aluminium. Jean and I are really on the way up now in the film business, as she is now a Budget Officer (Production Manager), and when my own efforts hit the tubes with credit titles, I shall feel that my name will begin to circulate. We spend our few week-ends together across the border around the Vermont area, where I dabble in a little golf and generally laze after hectic assignments. We can relax " When on TV we complete six weeks' shooting (three stories) and then have two weeks off, so although we work hard, we can relax between assignments. The Caribbean trip will herald a new series for the Board under the heading of Commonwealth Series, and who knows, maybe I shall get the next U.K. assignment ? " I will endeavour to enrol in the American I.A. Union in September as it will enable me to free-lance state-wise after a period of twelve months, without having to pay a thousand bucks for a ticket to operate. " Whilst in the Carib I shall be working with a Tim Wilson (Business Manager) who spent a long time with Phil Law in Iraq, a great guy, and I might add that Peter Kelly is also over here now, informing me that Phil might follow in his footsteps. " On a Bush assignment, I ran foul of black fly and within two days both my eyes were closed, my face distorted, and my arms a bloody mess, so, all in all, I felt like suicide. I am very glad that I am fairly rugged to face up to some of the assigments. Maybe (Continued on page 137)