Film and TV Technician (1957)

36 FILM & TV TECHNICIAN March 1957 TV7ITH the A.G.M. over and the " dust of controversy, temporarily at least, settling, it is happy to recall the personalities and the human side of the meeting and to forget for a week or two whether this or that amendment won or lost the day. The real highlight for everyone came when George Elvin made his entrance, looking and sounding in the best of health and spirits. It is to be hoped that it will not be long now before his recovery is complete and permanent. New Faces There will be several new faces on the Executive Committee this year. Bill Whittimore comes in to reinforce his Laboratory colleagues. Bill is our steward at George Humphries and has represented the Union on many committees and at many conferences. Walter Lassaly and Lindsay Anderson are particularly well known on the short film side — Walter particularly receiving high tribute for his photography on The Girl in Black, the Greek film currently showing at the Curzon. Lindsay Anderson — occasional film critic of the " New Statesman "had one of the films he directed, O Dreamland, in the brief Free Cinema season at the National Film Theatre last year. Derek Twist, the director, of course needs little introduction to members. He has played a leading part in Union affairs, particularly in the Producers-Directors' Section, for many years. This year is the first in the Union's history that Television has had any specific representation of its own — Desmond Davis becomes the first TV Vice-President. Tony Shine, our Associated Rediffusion shop steward, was elected to the Commercial Television seat. Tony has been one of the Union's leading negotiators on the Programme Contractors' Agreement (and will be for many months to come!). From the B.B.C. comes Harold Clayton, a director of long standing, and for the past year Chairman of the TV Producers-Directors' Section. Meetings and meetings and . . . A thought for those stalwarts who have served on the General Council and Executive Committee for many years. One often wonders, as a cross is cheerfully put by a name, if it is appreciated what a commitment election can be. At least one evening meeting a week (E.C. or Gen. Council) — a section meeting once a month — that is the bare minimum. But a week never passes without an additional committee— be it legislation, feature, shorts or one of the negotiating committees, A.C.T. Films, or Journal. In February three E.C. members spent three Saturdays and a Sunday poring over the clauses of the TV draft agreement. Consider that a fair proportion of the E.C. are shop stewards as well, and you have some idea of the time, labour and responsibility involved in being a voluntary official. And I have probably forgotten a whole legion of duties expected of an Executive Member! Golden Rule " Newsweek " has an interesting article on Dave Beck and Jimmy Hoffa, the two heads of the U.S. Teamster's Union — rough equivalent of our Transport and General Workers' Union ( and the largest union in the U.S.A.)— Beckhas a $50,000 home and from all accounts has been a tough customer since his childhood. He once announced that several thousand of his members were taking ju-jitsu lessons "for their health". His No. 2, Jimmy Hoffa, it seems, is an even rougher, tougher customer. He is reputed to have said once, " I was hit so many times with clubs, sticks and brass knuckle-dusters I can't even remember where the bruises are." According to " Newsweek " Hoffa's own version of the Golden Rule, learned during a tough childhood, is " Do unto others — first." Leisurely . . . ? I'm no expert on the Russian film industry, but I was struck by an article in the current issue of " Soviet Union " which described the making of Shokolov's Quit t Flows the Don. Whatever other worries the Russian producers may have, a tight schedule doesn't seem to be one of them. Interviewed on location, producer Sergie Gerasimov said, " We shall spend all the winter and spring on the Don, then return to Moscow for the studio shooting. In summer we plan to make a fresh expedition to the Don region." A nice location ! Stop-press . . .! Head Office found itself inundated with trunk-calls from Manchester one afternoon a couple of weeks ago. The press had heard there was to a dramatic " one-minute strike " in Granada Television. Our Granada shop steward Gavin Waddell took the brunt of the press chase. When all was said and done the press had picked up the conversation of an enthusiastic member with ideas about what should happen if the Programme Contractors would not come to terms with the Union on a national agreement. Strike or no strike, the Manchester press now have a lively interest in the local A.C.T.T. Granada is one of our best organised Television shops, and is already actively negotiating with the management on a wide range of issues. A large delegation came from Manchester to the A.G.M. Thank You, Mr. Preminger Our grateful thanks go to Mr. Otto Preminger who has generouslv agreed to place the proceeds of the British Premiere of his production of St. Joan at the disposal of the Benevolent Funds of A.C.T.T., E.T.U. and N.A.T.K.E. ItfC^ A.C.T.T. badges and brooches can be obtained from Head Office. Badges 2/-, brooches 2/4, post free.