WEST COAST MINE PICTURES

Grey River Argus, 25 February 1943, Page 3

WEST COAST MINE PICTURES

Visit by Film Unit Making pictures of Westland generally and the coal mining iidustry in particular is the purpose of two members of the New Zealand Film Unit at present using Greymouth as headquarters. Messrs S. Brookes, production staff and H. H. Bridgman, chief cameraman, have been waiting some days for fine weather, but have now decided that pictures of “sunny Westland” are out of season and intend to go ahead, rain or shine. Their main purpose is to secure a coverage of the work of the miners. “Miners are called a lot of names,” said Mr. Brookes, “by people who never see coal outside the living room. It’s our idea to try and give the public an accurate picture of what it takes to get coal.” The National Film Unit was set up for war publicity pictures in 1941, using laboratory and studio equipment previously employed by the Tourist Department. Each week a short review of events is released through theatres in all parts or New Zealand, and larger films go out reaularly. The unit also handles film material from overseas on an exchange basis, and the Miramar studios act as a distribution centre for .Services •‘■.raining films and the National Film Library of 16-miUimetre films. The' Westland assignment is expected to occupy Messrs Bridgman and Brookes for some weeks.