Home Movies and Home Talkies (Jun 1932-May 1933)

HOME MOVIES & HOME TALKIES 345 " / go to visit the Motion Man, for whom I've writ a play." Ben Jonson A.D. 1640 Record Films NOW that we have arrived at the season when outdoor cineraatography again becomes popiilar, may we suggest that an excellent opportunity exists for the preparation of a niunber of "county " films either by individual workers or by groups and clubs, particularly those which happen to be connected with the many nature study and archeeological societies. At the present time beautj spots are gradually vanishing, famous and picturescj[ue buildings giving way to more utilitarian structures, wide concrete highways levelling out the old tracks with their beautiful old bridges — yet little, if anything, is being done to preserve a record on a film. By a little organised effort in conjunction with the various couiity societies such a collection of films could be jjrepared as would excite the envy of the whole world. The films so made could vary from the simple record type, such as can be made by the solitary worker with cj:uite modest ec[uipment, up to more ambitious projects calling for the reconstruction of historic episodes, while every town and city of importance should have its own special fihn. 'V^Tiat do our readers think about it ? A Dangerous Practice One of the great advantages of the 9J and 16-mm. cameras and projectors is that they use a safety or socalled "non-inflammable "film. \ATiile the word "non-inflammable" is not strictly accurate in this connection — ■ for the film will burn if placed on a fire — ^the material of which it is prepared is such that if a flame is appUed the film will not go on burning of its own accord, and therefore if through some defect in the apparatus it is subjected to great heat from the lamp nothing more than a cockling, or at the worst severe blistering, occurs. In the case of the 35-rQm. standard film as used in the picture theatres, however, the position is quite different. This standard film is highly inflammable— almost explosively, in fact — and the authorities rightly insist upon the most thorough precautions being taken against fire. The projection box has to be fireproof, only a certain amount of film is allowed to be in the projection booths at a time, no smoking or naked lights are allowed, and special precautions have to be taken in the re-winding rooms. Why, then, do the authorities allow the toy departments of certain shops and "HOME MOVIES" AT OLYMPIA ! Do not miss our Cine Exhibition conducted jointly with "The Daily Mail" at the forthcoming IDEAL HOME EXHIBITION See page 350 stores to sell home cinematograph projectors using, not safety fikn, but lengths cut off from the highly infiammable standard professional film ? True, there is little risk of the film igniting from the lamp used, as this is merely of the flash-lamp bulb variety, but few of the piirchasers are likely to know that hot cigarette ash or a spark from the fire is capable of producing a burst of flame so fierce that it cannot be extinguished by ordinary means. Must we wait for a coroner's verdict before anything is done ? We suggest that the authorities mider powers they undoubtedly possess take immediate steps to have such apparatus and films withdrawn. A Successful Meeting Arising out of a desire expressed by a number of members of the recently formed but rapidly growing and very active Institute of Amateur Cinema to graphers, an informal meeting was held at the end of January in Regent Street so that those members who found it convenient to be in London at the time could meet one another. During the meeting, which was a big success, a nrunber of films made by members were shown, and the following extract from the report in the Sunday Times is representative of the views expressed by those who attended : — " Films made by eight members of the Institute of Amatetir Cinematographers were shown yesterday at an informal meeting held at 20G, Regent Street, W., and formed not only a programme of unvisual balance, but one in which every item deserved applaiise. The Cairo Film " Shots of unusual interest were a feature of ' Cairo,' a film which Miss Ruth Rodger took on her fhght over Egypt ; while ' Impressions,' a cruising film made by Mr. R. Hiscox, was far and away better than the hotchpotch which many similar records have " been when shown on the professional screen . ' ' Viscount Combermere, who is a patron of the Institute, was prevented by influenza from witnessing the enthusiasm created by his film ' Animal and Bird Life — Naturalist with Cine Camera,' in which his infinite patience was rewarded by a series of incidents full of interesting revelation." All readers of Home Movies wiU find it advantageous to join tlus Institute, not only because the movement requires such a body to represent it and to obtain for it those facilities which are only obtainable by a representative society, but because of the numerous privileges attaching to membership. The Editob.