The international photographer (Jan-Dec 1930)

Thirty-eight The INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER May, 1930 665— TORONTO— 6f 5 (Continued from Page 3 5) Picture Bureau in Ottawa, blew into town over the week-end. "Ottawa's all right; the job's all right, and Local 665's all right," declared Charles, his face shining with the effulgent glow that marks the super optimist! Charlie reports that Ottawa cameramen are working hard and showing keen interest in all things pertaining to the Local. The Winter Carnival, which was the feature sport event of the winter season in Ottawa, was a gold mine for the free lance men of the district, he says. This spring the Bureau will move into its own building which will be completey equipped for every phase of motion picture production. It will be, Charlie says, one of the most up-to-date plants on the continent, and will be a great factor in developing the Canadian Motion Picture Industry. * * * READ THIS FOR SURE Here's a little message to members of our Local who live far away in British Columbia, the Prairie Provinces, or away down east in the Maritimes. We want you to know that this is your Local just as much as it is ours, who live here in Toronto and in districts close by. We want to know what you are doing, what assignments you are covering, what adventures you are having. We would be grateful indeed if you would write to us every month at least, and give us the news of your locality. We want to get it in THE INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER so that every member will know what every other member is doing. Send pictures, if possible on glossy paper, and they will be reproduced in the magazine. Send vour communications to ALLAN M. BEATTIE, Press Representative, Local 665, 107 Richmond St., East, Toronto, Ontario. Remember, we'll be expecting a letter from you soon! * * * Having we suppose, discarded his woolen unmentionables too soon Brother N. A. Gunn has developed a slight indisposition, commonly diagnosed as a cold. At present he is confined to his home and is doctoring himself, we understand, with Government Controlled medicine. Now the question arises: "Are colds worth while ?" In view of the prescribed remedy we have no hesitation in answering "yes." * * * A 34 STORY It won't be long now until that last steel beam is bolted into position on top of the new Bank of Commerce skyscraper, here in Toronto. That doesn't mean much to you boys across the line, but to us up here it is a big event. This big 34-story building will be the highest in the British Empire. When the flag is raised, signifying that the steel work is completed, it will be a signal for the cameramen of the city to get on the job. The ceremony of placing the last girder will be covered from every angle by cameramen. And your scribe rises to remark that that is no child's play, for he has been through the ordeal himself. Some of the boys will ascend to the top of the structure in a swaying box arrangement suspended by a cable attached to a derrick on the top stoiy. Others will photograph this perilous trip by hanging with EDUCATIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHY (Continued froi.n Page 30) Everyone has been at times impressed by the suggestive fascination of the luminous effects of sunrise, sunset, moonlight nights, and so on. The cinema can further get inspiration from the real and often does so. Nothing is more interesting and more attractive than reality. I remember a cinema known as "The Real Cinema," that once existed in Rome, and that reserved every Friday for scenes from actual life. They were highly instructive and people frequented the cinema more on that day than on any other. I recall scenes of great artistic and cultural significance such as studies of the bottom of the sea, the life of infusoria, the biology of pathogenic germs and some manufacturing processes, such a> that of iron, the picking and manufacture of cotton and so on; all processes not generally or only imperfectly known, and which yet contribute enormously to general culture. Another asset of the cinema is that of movement, enabling us to appreciate, for example in an animal, its typical characteristics; not only its shape, size and general exterior but also its movements, expressions, way of jumping, running, etc., elements that escape a stationary projection. The cinema takes us to the remotest parts of the earth, enabling us to perceive the configurations, hydrography, orongraphy, uses and customs of regions otherwise inaccessible. Over and above this body of intrinsic factors, objective and subjective, there is a body of extrinsic factors. Among these are the captions which greatly facilitate the interpretation of certain situations, that are not rendered sufficiently clear by the image itself. The musical accompaniment is another important factor, forming a significant comment on the action and a powerful auxiliary stimulator of the attention. In a well-selected and well-executed musical accompaniment, the action lives and palpitates, following the various phases of the idea, the most subtle nuances of feeling and the impetus of dramatic situations. The sense of hearing, coupled with that nf seeing, increases the vivacity and number of impressions on the onlooker, awakening strong sensory motor reflexes. But, as Mussolini pointed out in the words quoted at the commencement of this article, the cinema is still at the first stages of its evolution. There are "other peaks already being scaled," the cinematography of colour, the talking film and the three dimensional film. Innovations that will revolutionize the whole motion picture field, by the realization of undreamt of efficacy of expres their cameras over the edge of the building, with a sheer drop below them of nearly 500 feet and at the same time assistants will hold on to them for dear life, fearful that at any time they all may be precipitated to the pavement below. But there is a thrill in the job and after ail that is what makes a cameraman's life a little different, and a little better than any other. sion. But that is beyond the theme of this article. Concluding, I should like to state my belief that the educational film should draw its inspiration above all from real life. I have already pointed out the enhanced interest of such representations. But all false appearances, all trickery, should be avoided. Sometimes, no doubt, dissimulation is necessary, but it should never be exaggerated, as now is often the case when the whole action is relegated to a plane of irreality that is often grotesque. Such aberrations deform the aesthetic sensibilities, the good taste and spirit of inquiry of the public. And here I am not alluding to the moral character of films, which should always be above reproach, as otherwise the cinema, with its powerful appeal to the imagination, risks becoming a school for vice and crime. Here the objection may be raised that the public enjoys improbable situations and scenes of pure criminality. But this is not a good argument. I recall a famous orchestra director who resolutely faced unpopularity in order to inspire the public with a new sense of art. After years of patient and perserving labor he triumphed, awakening his audiences to enthusiasm for and comprehension of classical compositions, not easy to follow on account of their technical structure. And such examples are to be found in all the domains of ART. They should serve as a warning. The great mission of the so-called silent screen is to raise the spiritual standard of the people cultivating its taste for the beautiful and true, drawn chiefly from reality. The cinema, far from being silent, speaks a universal language to heart and mind. GROWTH OF S. M. P. E. Growth and importance of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers in the industry is indicated in the fact that the membership has been increased by 313 new members in the last year. Latest figures show that the Society now has a total of 611 members, and 25 applications are now pending action. The growth is regarded by the industry as a recognition of the value and service of the Society to the motion picture industry. The large increase in membership does not represent a mushroom growth, it is pointed out, since all applicants are thoroughly examined as to their eligibility for membership, and each applicant must meet the membership requirement. The Pacific Coast Section shows a total of 74 members. The London Section which was organized last year has increased during the year to 90 members, and is very active, holding meetings regularly once a month during the winter season. Recently a New York Section was formed. The total Society membership as distributed over the United States and foreign countries is as follows: New York and East, 303 ; Chicago and Mid-West, 82; Pacific Coast, 74; British Isles, 90; Canada, 15; France, 14; Germany, 15; India, 6; Italy, 3; Russia, 2; Australia, 2; Japan, 2; Switzerland, 1; Sweden, 1; Holland, 1 ; Total 611.