International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1946)

Telefilm Race Track Control LESS than a year ago a group of Hollywood cameramen of the veteran, hard-bitten type, who had shot newsreel stuff all over the world and on every war front, pooled their ideas and launched what looms as a new million dollar phase of the motion picture industry. This movie innovation, known as Telefilm Control, consists of taking 16-mm films of horse races, their speedy development within seven minutes after taking, and immediate showing to track stewards and judges. First tried at Hollywood Park in California the system has rapidly gained favor and is now in use at Pimlico. Suffolk Downs. Arlington Park and Washington Park. So enthusiastic about Telefilm results is the California Horse Racing Board that it has ordered its use at all major California tracks. In this new control system six towers, ranging up to 40 feet in height, are erected around the track. In each tower is a cameraman with an electric-motored telescopic camera. Head-on pictures are taken in 16-mm of every phase of the race. These films are picked up and rushed to a darkroom under the grandstand where they are quickly developed and dried by means of a secret Telefilm process. 7-Minute Developing Time This developing process is one of the system's great advantages, because if there is any inquiry about the conduct of any phase of a race, the pictorial record is ready for projection within 8 minutes after the race ends. Even better time has been established for developing (one race record was readied in less than Telefilm cameraman atop a specially constructed steel tower on grandstand roof shooting the progress of a race. Developed film strip at right, is shown ready for projection. 7 minutes recently at Suffolk Downs), but 8 minutes is the average. The 16-mm Telefilm cameras catch every movement of horse and riders throughout the complete race distance — ■ records in closeup that which the eye does not see. Rules infractions are plainly visible; and in many instances the films absolve jockeys of blame in charges of rough riding. "Jack Mackenzie, general manager of Hollywood Park, deserves much credit for the idea," states Joseph A. Thomas. president of Telefilm Studios. "Mackenzie thought it would increase public confidence as well as tend to put the jockeys on good behavior if everybody knew a camera was trained on every move the riders made. He first tried shooting film from the top of the grandstand with a long-range telescopic camera, but it didn't work. "When Mackenzie first approached me I promptly got together some of Hollywood's veteran newsreel cameramen, secure in the knowledge that if those boys couldn't figure out a workable system nobody could. Just how good a job the boys did is now history." The first season at Hollywood Park under Telefilm Control was the cleanest racing program in history, fewer fouls being claimed than ever before. Moreover, those claims of foul that were pressed were quickly decided with a square deal to all concerned. Incidentally, each step of the Telefilm process is handled by I. A. men, from the camerawork through to projection. Race stewards and technical personnel viewing race film which hos been developed, printed and projected in special room under the grandstand within 8 minutes after finish of race. Film Technique Courses in 120 Colleges, Says SMPE VTORE than 100 courses in various phases -L*-* of motion pictures were given by American colleges and universities in the past year it is shown in a survey made by an S.M.P.E. committee. Although the teaching of film subjects is on the increase, the Committee points out that few. if any, of the courses to date can be construed as offering technical information on a level corresponding to that of other well-established curricula. Most of the courses come under the broad heading of visual education. Subjects listed include cinematography, sound recording, film editing, projection, distribution, economic problems in exhibition, film processing and other topics. Some of the courses include the actual making of films, which involves the artistic as well as the technological aspects of motion picture making, says the report, and students taking these courses "obtain a certain familiarity with motion picture equipment, especially of the 16-mm variety, but it is doubtful that any basic training in cinematography or sound recording is included in these visual education courses. Labor Union Aid Sought The Society plans to institute genuine basic courses embracing film technology in institutions of higher learning. It is felt that the industry has advanced to a point where training for this field should be recognized as calling for special instruction. Specific courses leading to a degree in the important field of sound recording are recommended. The failure to train young men and women for movie positions the Committee says, reflects the reported difficulty of school graduates in finding employment in the studios "due to rigid closed shop conditions." The cooperation of labor unions will be sought by the Society. INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST September, 1946 23