International Review of Educational Cinematography (Jan-Dec 1930)

TECHNICAL ASPECTS. 75 — SOUND FILMS I N THE SOVIET REPUBLIC Sound and talking films are stirring up great interest in the Soviet Republic. The U. S. S. R. has always been keenly interested in the cinema as a means of propaganda and culture, and has set up important government departments to deal with the matter, which are doing valuable work. Hence it is clear that the Soviet Government could not remain indifferent to a new development which is bound to enhance the efficacy of an instrument the importance of which they fully recognize. Great scene directors, such as Pudovkin and Eisenstein, have on more than one occasion expressed themselves in favour of the talking film, and have pointed to ways of utilizing this new invention that display the same brilliant originality that has always distinguished their work in connection with the mute screen. An apparatus for sound projection manufactured in Russia has been recently tested in a Moscow cinema, and, following on the success achieved thereby, the Government has decided to extend sound equipment to the Leningrad halls and to those of all the principal towns of the Republic, where veritable newspapers in the form of sound news reels will illustrate national and foreign news. Scientists and experts are at work perfecting equipment for the creation of a national industry for the manufacture of technical material. The U. S. S. R. Electro-technical Institute is working on this in the technicoscientific section of the Higher Council of National Economy and in the Central Laboratory of the Leningrad Electrical Works. Engineer A. F. Shorin, of the Central Laboratory, is responsible both for the sound registering and the projection apparatus that are being tested with such marked success; these have adopted the system of photo-electrical registration of fixed density and, according to a detailed description published in the Pravda, are simply constructed and easily manipulated. In addition to these apparatus of national production, the U. S. S. R. is negotiating with foreign firms that have specialized in sound equipment, and information from an American source states that several engineers of the R. C. A. Photophone Co. will shortly be leaving for Russia to equip cinema halls with American apparatus. Vocational orientation films. The Spanish Cinematograph Academy attached to the Ministry of Sciences and Arts, is about to open a class for ioo pupils in cinema acting before the camera and the microphone. The number of applications to attend these classes already exceeds the available places. (El Cine, Barcelona F. 8, S. 79) The French Cinematograph Syndical Chamber has opened several free classes in cinematography, sound cinematography, and broadcasting. (77 Cinema Italiano, Rome F. 8, S. 78). During the latter half of last November a school for cinema operators was opened in London. The Committee that organized and promoted this useful initiative proposes to arrange a series of lectures on the subject in collaboration with the principal London firms, so that the operators may have the best chance of acquiring all the complicated secrets of the trade. (The Daily Film Renter, London F. 8, S. 77). The use of the cinema in technical and vocational training and in vocational orientation is widely recognized in America, where both Government and industry are wont to have recourse to this practical means. The « Electrical Research Products Co. » has opened a new laboratory in Hollywood for research and experiment in connection with talking films. (The Film Daily, New York F. 8, S. 83).