Documentary News Letter (1947-1949)

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14 DOCUMENTARY FILM NEWS NOTES OF THE MONTH Congratulations our last issue appeared before the announcement of the Birthday Honours, but our congratulations to Michael Balcon on his Knighthood are none the less sincere for being belated. Of all people in the British Film Industry, Balcon deserves honour, not merely for his general services (which anyone can remind themselves of by reading "Michael Balcon's 25 Years in Films") but also because of his constant insistence on honesty and sincerity. We remember, too, that he was the first to combine the experience of documentary with the experience of the feature studio. We also congratulate Arthur Elton on his marriage to Margaret Ann Adamson, who is herself an experienced worker in documentary films, having been with the National Film Board of Canada and with Stuart Legg in New York. * British Documentary the first meeting of British documentary took place on January 14th. It was gratifying to note that somewhere about 150 people turned up, representing every possible aspect of documentary, from the big sponsors to the boy who makes the tea. The meeting was introduced by Sir Stephen Tallents and addressed by John Grierson, who came specially over from Paris for the purpose. It looks as though British documentary is going to do a really important job, and everybody will await with interest the detailed working plans which the meeting commissioned the Council to draw up. The influence which British documentary can exert, both at home and overseas, is considerable, particularly if it sticks closely to its policy of giving the younger members of the movement the fullest part in the urgent and responsible jobs before it. Those who read the completely misleading report of the meeting in John Bouverie's Diary in the News Chronicle may rest assured that the new organization has been formed to help and not to hinder the progress of the documentary film. * Films and the Colonies the colonial films conference held by the British Film Institute on Friday, January 16th, was a most interesting and well-attended meeting. Sir Stephen Tallents, John Grierson, George Pearson and others addressed the delegates and the following resolutions were suggested at the end of the conference : It is resolved that the Government should give immediate consideration to : 1. The development of the Colonial Film Unit. 2. The provision of films for fundamental education in the Colonies. 3. The training of Colonies for active participation in the active production of films. 4. The wide extension of distribution facilities. 5. The training of Colonial citizens in the technique of distribution. 6. The development of research into the facts of both educational and entertainment films to illiterate audiences. 7. The provision of an informed centre to collect and collate all information on the use and production of films among the primitive. 8. The production of films about the Colonies for the benefit of the British Commonwealth as a whole. 9. Studying the possibility of raising the funds for the encouragement of the above subject. We hope to hear more of this most important question in the near future. The Films Bill the bill's Second Reading took place on Wednesday, January 21st, and its further consideration now passes to a committee of the House. During the course of the next two or three weeks, therefore, the Bill will be subjected to a more detailed scrutiny and the various amendments tabled will come up for consideration. In the case of the provisions for 'supporting films' the documentan and specialized film producers have pointed to the need for coping with the problem of marketing conditions. Greater access to screenspace is. by itself, not enough unless documentary and short films can obtain a fairer percentage of the box-office takings. * Shorts scientific Film Association Conference on Agriculture, held on January 17th, was lively and well worth listening to. The speakers included Mr Goodman and Dr Slater (Ministry of Agriculture). Mr Vesselo (Central Film Library), Mr Kenny, Mr Fell and Mr Anstey. Afterwards, in the evening, there was a film show. * the London Area Association of Film Societies has held its inaugural meeting, decided on a constitution and formed a committee. We wish them good luck. * documentary film news has just prepared a list of the newer documentary films suitable for showing to Film Societies. The list names about 30 films and will be brought up to date every few months. Price sixpence (post free) to Film Society secretaries. * the Ministry of Education has announced the formation of the Educational Foundation for Visual Aids. Its functions will include : (a) Securing production of visual aids through commercial undertakings and other channels. (b) Purchasing or obtaining visual aids for disposal to local education authorities, schools, libraries and other educational institutions. (c) Arranging at suitable centres for the exhibition, storage and servicing of visual aids. (d) Assisting the formation of regional and local libraries on visual aids. (e) Facilitating the interchange of visual aids with the Commonwealth and foreign countries. (/) Arranging for the collection and dissemination of information on visual aids. * following the University Films' Conference held last November. it has been decided to hold a meeting of delegates in February with the intention of setting up a Films' Council to enable Universities in the British Isles to exchange ideas and look into problems of production and distribution and accessibility of films useful to the student or professor. * * * ki\i weekly wins the prize for the best headline of last month! A short excerpt from the British Council's annual report mentioning the production of films by the Central Office of Information is headed BRITISH COt NC'IL FILMS A new Odeon Service. Well, well! Rank marches on.