FILM MIKING

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 98, 27 April 1935, Page 19

FILM MIKING

WOMEN'S OPPORTUNITIES!

Some, informative details are given in an exchange' about the opportunities for women in film making—quite apart from any "star" business. It appears that there are women cutters, scenario writers, and,even a couple of women directors in the British film world.* There is one phase; which is always superintended by a woman, and that is continuity. It is always a girl who sits beside the camera taking notes of every word and detail during the "take"—-never a man. It may be that a girl is more observant, or more accurate, but .there it is—a girl every time for this,job. Miss Graham,.who writes, about; this interesting business, states that she worked for a year with a British producer'at: a studio at Shepi herds-Bush in.London. An exacting job, and one with much responsibility attached/She describes vividly the confusion in her mind at first, the number of people' on the stage, the litter, and .the noise, but found that' when a bell sounded there is complete silence, red lights gb/on,,and no, one Stirs-or makes a sound—wonderful discipline is shown in-the producing. Miss Graham /worked for Tom Walls, and! near his home at Epsom Downs, where the beautiful scenery, was 'utilised.' Other star performers are .mentioned, and the interesting work done with them ia-a number of well-known pictures. Miss Graham says that the cuttingroom is not generally credited with the importance it deserves. It is there a picture may-be made or marred.1 "A good cutter never wastes footage, never lets the picture drag, never leaves an awkward jump, but just cuts smoothly, from one scene to another. He—or she —works with a little machine. that runs the picture under, a magnifying glass and'has a loud speaker for the sound track. It is worked with the foot and goes either backwards or forwards."' Mention is made of the quaint effect when the sound is worked backwards. Miss Graham hopes that as the Dominions take the opportunity of making their own films that they will find work for girls and women on the same lines as in other larger parts of th.c- world.