The world film encyclopedia (1933)

The Amateur Cinema 423 cinematic will be staggeringly complete. The growth and popularity of amateur cinematography owes much to the assistance and co-operation of the trade. Without specialized substandard film and apparatus, cinematography would be a prohibitive hobby for all but the most affluent. The " standard " professional film, which we see projected upon the screen at the cinemas, is 35 millimetres in width. Amateurs have the choice of four substandard sizes of celluloid : the most popular in this country are 16 mm. and 9.5 mm. Particular attention has been paid to the quality of substandard film of late, and beautiful results have been obtained with the modem panchromatic emulsions. Necessary equipment costs and running expenses, although on the heax^y side in these days of depression, are by no means a serious problem to a wellorganized club, whose members naturally share the burden of expense. There are now signs of a definite tendency towards cheaper amateur cinematography. A British firm has introduced a thoroughly reliable 9.5 mm. cine-camera at the price of f/z los. and a considerable reduction in the price of a new quality panchromatic film is announced. Adequate studio lighting equipment has always been a problem, but amateur technicians have been extraordinarily resourceful in overcoming obstacles. Remarkable ingenuity is also displayed by amateur art directors in the design and construction of settings. Castle and cottage, train and taxi, salon and saloon bar have been made from the simplest materials. And, as happens so often in artistic spheres, the very limitations and restrictions imposed upon amateur cinematographers are undoubtedly helping to develop a new technique of symbolic background treatment which will in time influence the professional cinema. Shakespeare painted his own backgrounds, and advanced amateur ciRematographers are beginning to grasp the artistic possibilities of the scrapping of elaborate background photography. A fine example of modern simple treatment is to be seen in Night Scene, by Geoffrey Collyer and Horace R. Hughes, of Ace Movies, Streatham, London. This brilliant little film crj'stallizes the modern mo\'ement in amateur cinematography. Nor does the Amateur Cinema lack its screen personalities, although as yet it misses that universal recognition which sets the seal upon acting fame. Yet there is undoubtedly room for much talent to be developed. It is my contention that the director is allimportant in stampit^ his personality upon the actor. A few remarkable instances of celebrated stars' exhibitions of electric brilliance under one particular director, with corresponding dullness when differently " handled," will occur to most of us. These support my theory. Now surely there must far more frequently be a sympathy and friendly understanding between director and directed in the intimate atmosphere of the amateur film club that should encourage this allimportant personality factor ; these Sternberg Dietrich and Lubitsch Chevalier partnerships are nurtured in the kindly soul of close friendship. " Lone Workers " Outstanding examples of individual work are being shown by the great army of " lone workers." Obviously the more elaborate story-film production of the big clubs is denied them ; but here again the limitations provide definite channels for expression of individual genius. Amateurs have produced many Nature studies that rival the best efforts of professionals. Two recent gems of this class are Glimpses of Nature — produced by A. G. Phillips, a lone worker attached to the Finchley A.C.S. — and J. D. Ridley's Breaking Through, a beautiful, fairy-like little study of growing plant life and unfolding flowers. Another enthusiast, F. P Barnitt, of Tunbridge Wells, is producing Windmills of the Weald. To secure adequate shots of the picturesque but all-too-infrequent mills at work, he recently > travelled an average of seventy miles a day for five days. He is also getting excellent results from experiments with microcinematography, in which microscope and cine-camera are collaborating to