Kinematograph Year Book 1942 (1942)

232 The Kinematograph Year Book. Walturdaw Cinema Supply Co., Ltd.— Walturdaw's are maintaining their sound department primarily to take care of existing installations. While their sound-head was originally designed to work in conjunction with Zeiss Ikon projectors, it is, of course, available and suitable for any type of repreducer other than those marketed by Western Electric, RCA, G.-B., etc. . TECHNICAL ASSOCIATIONS. British Film Institute. — The activities of the British Film Institute have been more or less restricted, although considerable work has been done in encouraging producers, even in war time, to ensure a continuity of educational films. Meanwhile plans are being prepared for a great extension of this phase of its work to meet post-war needs. Arrangement and supply of films to units of the Forces, prisons, A.R.P. shelters, Borstal establishments and many educational institutions are among the many phases of work in which the Institute has engaged during the year. The coverage of their wide activities is the more noteworthy inasmuch as enemy action obliged the Institute to vacate temporarily its offices last winter. Notwithstanding the war the work of the travelling organiser has resulted in a small but steady increase in the use of films in schools. Over 2,750 film programmes were arranged and the establishment of regional film libraries has proceeded. The normal objectives of the Institute: (1) the collection of information, (2) its distribution, and (3) its interpretation, have been carried on. The periodicals, "Sight and Sound" and the "Monthly Film Bulletin" have continued to function with success and utility. British Standards Institution. — Owing to the expansion of its activities arising from the war, the British Standards Institution has been able to proceed with the preparation of few of the proposed specifications intended to apply to Trade apparatus and practice. A proportion of the work of the Institution carried out in connection with Government Departments possesses, however, a rather more than general application to the immediate requirements of the kinema. A recent specification (No. 943) gives details of the procedure for obtaining a speed number for photographic emulsions. Guild Of British Projectionists. — As other organisations, the Guild has felt the full impact of war conditions, but the executive have carried on in the face of their difficulties, and have maintained, as far as possible, the important educational facilities associated with the organisation, notwithstanding an inevitable drop in membership. At the annual meeting it was reported that the senior and junior membership had fallen to 120 and 20 respectively. Consideration has been given to the subject of technical meetings specially directed to Army projectionists. Proposals have been submitted to the C.E.A. for the training of projectionists to replace those who have been called up, but it was alleged that the Exhibitors' Association appeared uninterested in the technical betterment of the industry and, in consequence of rebuffs received by the Guild, it was not proposed to go on any further with the matter. There are signs of renewed interest among members in the suggestion that the Guild should assume Trade Union status. It is understood that this swing away from the previous isolation policy of the Guild will be accelerated once a decision is arrived at as to which of the Unions shall represent the projectionist. In this connection, provided a formula can be arrived at without sacrifice of the aims and principles of the Guild, the claim of the N.A.T.K.E., which has already fully considered the question, appear to be unchallengeable. Kinematograph Manufacturers' Association. — In view of the many problems raised by emergency regulations and restrictions, the war has revived the activities of the Kinematograph Manufacturers' Association, the oldest trade organisation, whose Equipment Section are now holding regular meetings. War time problems call for an increasing measure of co-operation