Movie Makers (Jan-Dec 1952)

30 JANUARY 1952 ROLLCALL ROUND THE WORLD ON the gray, flat paper of the galley proof it was a line of type, like any other. But this line said Kuala-Lumpur , Malaya; and it caught our eyes, and our ears, and our memories. For there, amid the softened vowels and the limpid L's, was melody of the finest. And there too were the memories— dreams of some palm-fringed outpost in our youth, dreams out of Conrad, or was it Somerset Maugham? We have tried since then to find KualaLumpur again among our books; but we have failed. . . . And now it doesn't matter. For we have found the place, and an individual person who lives in that place, right here at ACL. We have found them, to be specific, among Neiu ACL Members for the month of January, 1952. And we have found with Kuala-Lumpur, in Malaya, seven other countries overseas, thirty four of our forty eight United States, the District of Columbia and Hawaii. We have found such places as Hatboro, Pa., Adams City, Colo., Manly, Australia, or Trail, in Canada. We have found New York and San Francisco (including "c/o PM"), Dallas and Chicago, or Somers, in Montana, and Hermosa, in South Dakota. And we have found in each an individual who is interested— even as you and I are interested — in the hobby of amateur movies. The New ACL Members column was suggested, less than two years ago, by the League's new President, Joseph J. Harley, FACL. Receiving each week a routine report of those who had joined our association, he was immediately impressed with the truly international spread of our membership. The column was the result. It has grown, since that time, to be one of the most eagerly read items in Movie Makers. Which is in the true tradition of the Amateur Cinema League. For Hiram Percy Maxim, FACL, scientist, humanitarian and the League's Founder President, saw in our confraternity the possibility of a person-to-person breaching of nationalist barriers. Thus it was that, from its very founding, the "ACL" was to stand for "Amateur" (not "American") Cinema League. Mr. Maxim would have been proud of our New ACL Members column. He would have seen it for what it truly is — a rollcall of men of reason and good will around the world. THE AMATEUR CINEMA LEAGUE, Inc. Founded in 1926 by Hiram Percy Maxim DIRECTORS Joseph J. Harley, President Ethelbert Warfield, Treasurer James W. Moore, Managing Director C. R. Dooley Harold E. B. Speight Arthur H. Elliott Stephen F. Voorhees John V. Hansen Roy C. Wilcox The Amateur Cinema League, Inc., sole owner and publisher of MOVIE MAKERS, is an international organization of filmers. The League offers its members help in planning and making movies. It aids movie clubs and maintains for them a film exchange. It has various special services and publications for members. Your membership is invited. Six dollars a year. AMATEUR CINEMA LEAGUE, Inc.. 420 LEXINGTON AVE.. NEW YORK 1 7. N. Y.. U. S. A. in the matter of Mechanics, since these points are self-explanatory. Before any meaning can be transmitted via film it must be distinguishable to the visual sense. This simply means it must be in focus, it must be properly exposed, the image must appear to be steady and its axis compatible to our own. All these qualities should exist satisfactorily before the mind goes on to the task of figuring out the story or message. Not much debate is expected, either, on the matter of Purpose, for even in the most casual movie making some reason for the expenditure of film is always present. Comments such as "Oh, we just took some pictures for the fun of it!" indicate a desire to recreate an amusing incident. Or again, it may occur to someone that a moving picture of Aunt Sarah trying to bathe her huge Airedale in a washtub would be fun to see. Here the purpose is akin to that of telling a joke. Most often we wish to store for later telling an incident which may not occur again. Travelogs, family records, documentaries are all examples of this type of purpose. Interpretation is nothing more nor less than the manner in which an individual tells a story. In telling about a coon hunt, for example, Cousin John may spin a dull, long-winded yarn in which he hopelessly tangles up the punch line. On the other hand. Uncle Clem keeps the company in stitches for twenty minutes with his story. And about the same incident all you get out of Abe would be a terse "We seen 'em and we got 'em." This personal attribute is found in any film. Indeed, it is this personal element which may be the all-important difference between just a film and a very fine job. Like the ACL form, the proposed analysis sheet is basically short — having only three main points. A judge, even though rushed, should be able to grade in detail upon consulting his notes taken at the time of projection on the three major scores. To make the form definite and understandable, the three terms — Mechanics. Purpose and Interpretation — are purposely designated in non-picture language. By using functionally descrip tive terms, the judges are saved the confusion caused by the use of many interrelated expressions which are not always clear-cut and understood. Finally, the controlled grading for specific points will tend to eliminate the tendency of personal opinion to color a judgment. Naturally, if an individual consciously wishes to down-grade a film, he can still do so. This is intended only to help the judge who, though wellintentioned, may nevertheless underrate a fine film. What do our movie club readers think of this film judging plan proposed by Stanley Yasbec, ACL? Is it, as he claims, universal in scope, short in basic form, definite and understandable, proof against personal prejudice? Movie Makers will welcome your constructive comments — long or short — on this matter of club contest judging. We will welcome especially a copy of the film judging sheet used by your club. The forum urged by Mr. Yasbec is declared open. Take it, Mr. and Mrs. club member! — The Editors.