Movie Makers (Jan-Dec 1931)

MOVIE MAKERS 589 The ten best IN ITS next number, MOVIE MAKERS will list its selections for the ten best amateur movies of 1931. This distinction was inaugurated with December, 1930, MOVIE MAKERS and represents the result of a method that is simple and informal. During each year, many films come to the headquarters of the Amateur Cinema League. The majority is made up of pictures sent in by members for examination and suggestion. Some come from those who are not members of the League but who wish to sample the value of League service and others are brought in by those who believe that they have something of marketable value and would like to have that belief reinforced. Members of the editorial staff of MOVIE MAKERS see these films and select the ten best from the entire grist that comes to the League's consultation mill. There are no rules governing the selection and no system of markings. Everything is done informally. It is obvious that the films which find their way into the final listing are those that, without let or hindrance to individual judgment, have impressed a majority of MOVIE MAKERS staff members as outstanding. This listing is, in no sense, an Amateur Cinema League contest which would, necessarily, have to be much more formal and detailed in method. While it lacks the authority of a contest, it has something of peculiar value, MOVIE MAKERS thinks. The staff members of this magazine see, because of the films that flow through League headquarters, the largest assembly of amateur movies that can be critically reviewed. Processing stations see more footage but less of that footage is subjected to evaluation by experts and most of it is returned to the makers without comment. Therefore, this annual MOVIE MAKERS listing covers the largest available territory. Amateur movies are no novelty to the editorial staff of this magazine which works and lives with them year in and year out. For that reason, a film that the whole staff accepts as outstanding must be one of sufficient importance to arouse special interest in a group whose critical standard has been raised by the automatic process of seeing the average mine run of good pictures. MOVIE MAKERS has made no effort, beyond one announcement about a year ago, to attract entries for this listing. In spite of that fact, several films have been sent in especially for consideration in this selection. The majority of winners of positions in the MOVIE MAKERS list will, presumably, have filmed without direct intention of placing in the best ten. It can be said, then, that the list in next month's MOVIE MAKERS will represent the judgment of fairly severe critics upon the largest reviewable group of films, chiefly made by those who were unconscious of competition purpose. * f THE AMATEUR CINEMA LEAGUE, INC., whose voice is Movie Makers, is the international organization of movie amateurs, founded in 1926 and now spreading over more than fifty countries. The League's consulting services advise amateurs on plan and execution of their films, both as to photographic technique and continuity. It serves the amateur clubs of the world in organization, conduct and program and maintains for them a film exchange. It issues bulletins. The League completely owns and operates Movie Makers. The directors listed below are a sufficient warrant of the high type of our association. Your membership is invited. THE DIRECTORS OF THE LEAGUE President HIRAM PERCY MAXIM Hartford, Conn. C. R. DOOLEY New York City W. E. KIDDER Kalamazoo, Mich. Vice President STEPHEN F. VOORHEES New York City MRS. L. S. GALVIN Lima, Ohio FLOYD L. VANDERPOEL Litchfield, Conn. Treasurer A. A. HEBERT Hartford, Conn. LEE F. HANMER New York City T. A. WILLARD Beverly Hills, Calif. Managing Director ROY W. WINTON, New York City Address all inquiries to AMATEUR CINEMA LEAGUE, Ing., 105 W. 40TH STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U. S. A.