Documentary News Letter (1944-1945)

DOCUMENTARY NEWS LETTER 71 Correspondence (continued) that P.W.B., being an exponent of American and British interests, is planning a development aimed at stifling the growth of a new Italian industry? In the circumstances it will be clear to you as it is to us that now is the right moment for action on the basis of what I have mentioned. It is our belief and purpose that "documentary" must finally succeed in asserting itself as something of its own — a separate branch with a quite different function from that of the commercial film. Once and for ever it should be dissociated from the commercial film and thereby from the customary wrong valuation and wrong treatment on the part of distributors and exhibitors. Such an enterprise requires clear ideas, constancy of purpose and the capacity for choosing and preparing good films. It calls for the establishment of an efficient system of distribution and steady and regular assistance from those who support it financially. I can assert that "documentary", as we interpret it, would help to satisfy the present tendencies of our public and its aspirations, long concealed, towards every manifestation of superior taste and expression of a better social and moral order. This is proved by the deep interest aroused by some parts of newsreels typically documentary. A much smaller interest, to my idea, was given to American films which had been anxiously awaited during the last six years. On the other hand the long Dovzchenko documentary Battle of the Ukraine had a tremendous success, in spite of all that was done to diminish the importance of the sound track. The success of our group today would lead to more favourable conditions for the documentary production of tomorrow, when we hope to be able to begin a new creative activity. On practical grounds it would be desirable, for the most efficient working of our plan, to use two different organisations : (a) A distributing organisation charged with choosing and collecting documentaries, particularly many beautiful and memorable films made before the war and absolutely ignored by Fascist Italy. (b) An exhibiting organisation to take over cinemas in every large town in Italy, beginning with Rome, the programme of which would be composed only of documentaries. In other words the creation of a documentary circuit. The distributing organisation would be the small society which produced my own documentary and which is now ready to plan all the agreements required for the first phase of this kind of work. The success of the second organisation would be dependent upon the efficient functioning of the first. It is clear to us that great success cannot be expected right from the beginning, but we are firmly convinced that we shall end by achieving our aims — given the necessary help and encouragement by those who are in the position to give it. And this is why I write. Great Britain, more than any other nation, is at the head of docu; mentary development — and I cannot think of a better person than yourself to collaborate with us, to present our case to documentary sympathisers over there. I would wish this collaboration to be an artistic, financial and a technical one. Will you help? Yours, Italy G. BELLINI wama® wmyy) mmm® www wmmq <^ THE FILM PRODUCERS GUILD has been formed by the Companies and Units listed below in order to pool their resources and make available the best possible filmproduction service to Government Departments and to Industry. The principles upon which the 1 That films can play a great part in post-war world rehabilitation, but to play their part effectively such films must be of unquestioned integrity and of the highest technical quality. 2 That such films are best made by small units of experienced technicians, specialising in the type of film for which they are best fitted and believing whole-heartedly in the value of their work. Guild has been formed are : — * 3 That these units, however enthusiastic, cannot function properly without adequate technical facilities and financial stability. -1 That since such technical facilities are beyond the resources of small units, the key to efficient film production is the establishment of a co-ordinated group of individual production units, each retaining its freedom of expression, but sharing in the financial stability and physical resources of a large .. organisation. The Guild's personnel of upwards of 130 principal technicians includes Producers, Directors, Writers, Cameramen and Editors, each with his own individual viewpoint and specialised experience : these are supported by first-class business organisation and have at their command the facilities and permanent technical staff of the Studios operated by Merton Park Studios Ltd. THE FILM PRODUCERS GUILD, CHAIRMAN AND JOINT MANAGING DIRECTOR '. E. P. L. PELLY ■ JOINT MANAGING DIRECTOR I A. T. BURLINSON • DIRECTOR : F. A. HOARE SECRETARY : JOHN M. WARD * ASSOCIATES: VERITY FILMS LTD ■ PUBLICITY FILMS LTD ■ MERTON PARK STUDIOS LTD ■ SOUND-SERVICES LTD ■ CREEP/PARK PRODUCTIONS LTD ■ TECHNIQUE FILM PRODUCTIONS ■ GRYPHON FILMS PRODUCERS E. W. BECKETT DAN BIRT SYDNEY BOX REG CROVES F. A. HOARE RALPH KEENE MAX MUNDEN CECIL MUSK E. P. L. TELLY HAROLD PURCELL RONALD H. RILEY JAMES E. ROGERS DONALD TAYLOR COSSAR TURFERY W. H. WILLIAMS GUILD HOUSE ■ UPPER ST MARTIN'S LANE ■ LONDON • WC2 Telephone: Temple Bar 5420 (13 lines) Telegrams: Filmicity, London owmw o iMMiiti wmw) (mmm® vwww>