Film and TV Technician (1957)

His FILM & TV TECHNICIAN December 1957 Profile DESMOND DAVIS "DHYSICALLY he is a squarish, •* saturnine near-fifty with a distinguished head of immaculate iron-grey hair. Psychologically he is a disciplined rebel, an optimist, and an enthusiast for the good things of life. The facts behind the man are legion and illuminating; a BBC staff television producer in 1938; one of the founders and now chairman of the Guild of Television Producers and Directors; first A.C.T.T. television Vice-President and television Executive Council member; first Head of Drama for A.T.V.; and producer of more television plays than he can count. The man behind the facts is more elusive, and frequently contradictory; he is a meticulous, painstaking craftsman who plans his productions with an accuracy that prevents much of the scurried panic that is so common a feature of a television studio, and yet he has a ready and biting sense of (TV VICE-PRESIDKNT) humour that can turn as often against himself as against other people; his practical enthusiasm for the Guild and for the union is evidenced by the number of committees he serves on, and the amount of time he spends away from home and office, and yet he hates politics and is a devoted family man, proud father of two daughters; he is a keen fighter for freedom — particularly his own — which is why, having escaped from the tentacles of the BBC and resigned a top administrative position with ATV, he now insists on remaining a completely free freelance producer. Felt the Call Desmond Davis started his career as an engineer but soon felt the siren call of the entertainment industry and spent his apprentice years acting and stage-managing, notably for Basil Dean, and for Sir Nigel Playfair at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, where he gained the musical experience which in October 1939 led the BBC to transfer him to the Music Productions of sound radio where he wrote, adapted and produced musical shows, operas and operettas. After the war, even before he was officially demobilised from the On being dedicated to films ( continued) the inexorable demands of landlords and household expenses usually landed me an assignment that at its best was a challenge to disguise and gild a piece of tripe. to quote Anita Loos. My main comfort is, however, that I never lost my faith in the cinema, for films had become an ineradicable " religion " and an obstinate " patriotism " with me. Although I have stressed the importance of keeping closely in touch with real life and with people of all kinds. 1 maintain that one who would claim to be dedicated to the cinema should make sacrifices in its cause. An obvious sacrifice is active participation in Union affairs, together with additional political agitation for the protection of our film production industry — such as pestering M.P.s and newspapers with personal letters. Not so much of a sacrifice, but rather a pleasurable duty, is to support such institutions as the British Film Institute, the British Film Academy, the National Film Theatre and one's local Film Society. And finally, a personal suggestion for your home — collect things of interest connected with films, such as books, stills, programmes and even apparatus! army, he was again producing television shows and, when American television started, he was sent for to advise and lecture on television production methods. Back in this country he helped to pioneer the High Definition system of film making under Norman Collins. It is this breadth of experience in several media that is his particular strength. His basic training in the theatre and in the control of actors has ensured that he is equally at home in theatre, radio, television and film. As a director, Davis is a dedicated man, satisfied only with the best, and demanding just that, whether it is from actor, writer, stage-hand, cameraman, management or, above all, himself. He will work long hours, frequently deep into the night, ironing out every little kink and detail for a forthcoming production. His method with actors is to cajole and explain rather than to dominate, and any really important point is worked out over a drink in a nearby pub. Here he is at his best, a fluent talker and raconteur who, when his particular interest is aroused, will tend to dominate any conversation, not from selfish reasons, but by the sheer weight of his enthusiasm. Against Diets A conservative in the best, and least political sense of the word, he is on the side of civilisationparticularly a classical civilisation, and strongly deprecates the invention of the internal combustion engine. He is for Georgian architecture and against modern flats; he is a wine drinker and a gourmet, and against cocktails and diets and pill-taking; he would inevitably be against television were it not his chosen profession. This being so he brings to this newfangled entertainment process all the passionate absorbed concentration of love and attention that an old-time actor-manager would give to his theatre. Vivian Mihoy