The world film encyclopedia (1933)

424 The Amateur Cinema secure moving pictures of minute organisms. The question of some form of national organization has always exercised the minds of amateur cinematographers, and recently two associations were formed, representing the slightly diverging points of view of their sponsors. The British Association of Amateur Cinematographers was the first body to be formed, with Sinclair Hill, the distinguished professional director, who has long been interested in amateur cinematography, as President. Geoffrey Collyer, the brilliant young amateur director of Night Scene, is Hon. General Secretary, and his friend and collaborator, Horace R. Hughes, who has lately been astonishing the film world with the brilliance of his photography, is Technical Director. H. H. Head, who has been instrumental in successfully running an annual amateur film contest, is Chaii'man of the B.A.A.C., the headquarters of which are at ii, Soho Square. W.i. The aims of the Association are to represent amateur cinematographers generally in this and other countries ; to provide for contracts and working associations with the professional cinema ; to produce and issue moving pictures and sound records on educational lines ; and generally to promote the interests of amateur cinematographers. The Institute of Amateur Cinematographers of the British Empire, formed shortly afterwards, with somewhat similar ideals, is devoting special attention to the individual amateur cinematographer, as distinct from the club member. The Chairman is George H. Sewcll, F.I.A.C, the author of Film Play Production for Amateurs, and a man whose name is a household word in amateur cinematographic circles. A film which he made on standard stock, entitled Smoke, was recently presented at the Tatler News Theatre, Charing Cross Road, London. W. E. Chadwick, F.I.A.C, an enthusiastic amateur and keen business man, is Hon. 'General Secretary, and he has very efficiently publicized the new Institute, the headquarters of which are at 7, Red Lion Square, London. W.C.i. Jjoth societies provide for the pub lication of technical bulletins and for the organization of competitions and exhibitions. Other very useful moves which they are making include the provision of central clearing-houses for the exchange of amateur films and an attempt to improve the hampering customs regulations which have done much to arrest effective international exchange of films. Many important developments arc foreshadowed by announcements of these two national associations. There is much to hope for in the projected competitions and exhibitions. The I.A.C. announces a scenario competition and, if it succeeds in unearthing but one brilliant scenario writer, it will have deserved well of the movement. Film competitions must also bring out the finest creative work, and it is essential that adequate public exhibition of the winning films be staged. We may not be far from the longcherished ideal of a theatre for the regular public presentation of amateur films. One veiy important development of the amateur cinema of the future may be the organized production on a large scale of educational films. Already Governments are considering the question of national educational cinematography ; but this is a side of the industry that does not spell " boxoflice " and the problem might well be left to the amateurs, who are well qualified for this type of production. In the United States, indeed, amateurs regularly produce films for medical, civic, welfare, and general educational pui-poses. The question of sound must bulk largely in the future. Practicable sub-standard sound-on-film will certainly be universal at some not too distant date, when prices have been suitably adjusted. Science and Art march on hand in hand ; the world of cinematography seethes with experiment ; and more and more to be identified with its progress and emancipation from the crude vulgarities of early days, more and more to share in its discoveries and successes, is its at present scarcely recognized auxiliary, the Amateur Cinema.