Movie Makers (Jan-Dec 1932)

Practical films Record ■ During the excavation of the ancient Agora of Athens, an archaeological work being carried on by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, amateur made motion pictures proved of inestimable value in recording the exact step by step processes of the discovery and excavation of one of the most important of recent archaeological finds. In a news dispatch prepared especially for Movie Makers, Dr. T. Leslie Shear, member of the Athens expedition and lecturer on archaeology at Princeton University, writes in part as follows: "In the recent campaign a statue of the Emperor Hadrian was discovered in an underground drain, so that it was necessary to dig it out from above. All the stages of excavation were taken with the movie camera. First, the men are shown digging away the ten feet of earth which lay above the statue; then the back of the marble was uncovered, the statue was cleared and received a preliminary bath. We then see the Emperor turned over on his back on a wooden sledge, wrapped with burlap and blankets, and the whole load slowly and carefully drawn up an inclined way by means of a large derrick. Thus, by the pictures of all details of the actual operations, not only are the methods of work clearly demonstrated but the history of a given terrain, its relation to its immediate neighborhood, the deposit and stratification of earth and the conditions of burial are permanently preserved. Therefore, it is obvious that one of the frequent causes of archaeological disputes is obviated, that is, the question as to the exact circumstances of discovery of a particular object." ■ At Smith College, the Alumnae Association under the guidance of Frances A. Copeland, ACL, has used amateur movies for the second year in succession to record in detail the gay and impressive activities of Commencement Week. Planned to include reunion groups as well as the graduating class, the films are screened at Smith alumnae clubs, where they have proved an effective and popular addition to the work of the Association. ■ The development of Rockefeller Center in New York City, the largest building project under a single coordinated management yet attempted in the modern world, is being recorded on 16mm. film for the office of the architects by Walter H. Kilham. jr. In the more than twelve hundred feet of film com Bu siness, civic medica sc hool and other uses pleted so far, the drafting of plans, model making, demolition and excavation of the site and stages in the actual construction are represented, as well as considerable detail of the specialized work performed by the various building trades involved. Copies of the completed film have already been made for certain individuals and companies connected with the project and it is planned to prepare a revised edition. Church ■ Twenty eight thousand feet of 35mm. film and 2500 feet of 16mm. film came back with the Reverend H. R. Ferger, ACL, from a four months' journey through Siam, the Philippine Islands, China. Korea and Japan and were delivered in New York City to the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church. Showing the educative work being carried on by the local missionaries and indicating the need for a continued support of these teachers, the films will be circulated by the Board throughout the Presbyterian Church and other interested groups. ■ In the three reel, 16mm. picture, Palestinian Pathways, William Russell Hamilton, ACL, pastor of the First Baptist Church in New Albany. Ind., continues the interesting work which he inaugurated last year with Mediterranean Borderlands. Both are travel films of merit which, though of interest to all, have been planned particularly for use with church audiences and religious groups. ■ How the expenses were assured in advance for the rental of a feature length religious film, the hire of an auditorium and for miscellaneous minor items comes to light in the ingenious scheme worked out by William S. Bixler, ACL, of Ephrata, Pa. An amateur cameraman as well as a leader in his local church, Mr. Bixler puts his camera to work for the good of the cause. Instead of soliciting the customary program advertisements among the local merchants, he offered them advertising on film, both copy and pictures. They jumped at the chance. Mr. Bixler shot four hundred feet of cine ads and the show went on successfully and with all bills paid. Dr. T. Leslie Shear An archaeological find in Athens is recorded on 16mm 432