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President's Address
WE are now entering the sixth year of our existence. Back in 1916, Mr. C. Francis Jenkins had the vision of a need for technical standardization in the motion picture industry and we are here assembled as the Society of Motion Picture Engineers because Mr. Jenkins had the courage to act on his convictions. The need for such an organization as we now have is evidenced in the wonderful growth of our organization and the wide scope of our activites. The first six sessions which were held were of two-day duration. The older members wnll recall that in those days we had a difficult problem to prepare a program to fill two days. We then started to expand and for the next three sessions we ran under a schedule of three days. We broadened still further until the last three sessions have necessitated four days, and we have no difficulty getting papers of merit to fill our program ; in fact, we have found it necessary to curtail discussions in order to keep the scheduled program.
The time has now come when I feel that we should demand the recognition in the motion picture industry to which we are unquestionably entitled. We started out on a small scale and have worked effectively and efficiently, and have achieved that of which we are justly proud. Our efforts are affecting the industry in all its various branches from the studio to the screen and, therefore, why should we not demand recognition from those who have and will benefit from our activities? Our usefulness to the motion picture industry has been well established.
The world is depending more and more upon the use of motion pictures, not only in the entertainment field but also practically in every field of activity ; educational, industrial, mechanical, medical, etc. The return to normal is going to open new developments and possibilities and we must be ready to meet the newer and greater responsibilities which we will be called upon to assume. It is the opinion of those closely affiliated with financial and commercial interests that the business depression has reached the bottom and that we are now on the slow climb back to normal conditions. The depression during the past year, naturally, had an effect on our work. Funds not being available to the same extent as in more prosperous periods, research and development work has not advanced very rapidly.
Every technical branch of the industry should be represented in our Society. Each branch should cooperate, giving freely of its best, in exchange for the best of others. In so doing, we will recognize the value of gaining by giving, and failure to recognize this will work to our disadvantage. It is necessary that we have an exchange of ideas and opinions from individual members. This will bring about a better understanding of our aim and purpose.
In several of my previous messages to you, I have tried to point
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