Northland Film Proposals Subject To Radical Change

Northern Advocate, 22 July 1939, Page 9

Northland Film Proposals Subject To Radical Change

| DEPARTURES FROM ITS ORIGINAL PROPOSALS FOR A £looo SOUND FILM OF NORTHLAND HAVE BEEN FOUND NECESSARY BY THE NORTHLAND ZONE A CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE. The original allocation of Centennial funds provided for the expenditure of £IOOO on such a film, to lie shown at the Centennial Exhibition at Wellingl.cn and later throughout various Dominion theatres, eventually to be sent overseas for screening in oilier countries. That it has been necessary to completely reconsider this arrangement was revealed when the committee met at Dargaville last night, and it was eventually decided to arrange for the production of a 16 m.m. natural colour film of the province, and, if possible, to re-edit the existing Northland film and synchronise it with sound.

The following report was received from a special sub-committee: —

Mr A. H. Dallas (Faparoa) said that Otamatea would probably agree to the 16 m.m. film, but it was felt, as far as the £IOOO proposal was concerned, that this sum could be better invested in Northland itself. Otamatea’s Position. “The matter has been discussed at length, and if the committee spends £IOOO on a film I would not like to say what Otarnatea’s position would be. It had first been stated that £IOOO would be allocated for a Northland memorial and £IOOO for the film, but already expenses were creeping up. More money than was anticipated was going to be required. In answer to Mr Crawford, Mr Dallas said that Otamatea would honour its Centennial obligations. The chairman’s motion was carried.

“The committee has made a thorough investigation of several proposals for tho production and screening of films of Northland at the Exhibition. Full Size Sound Film. "The committee was not satisfied with the position, and so the following telegram was forwarded to the Exhibition company: ‘Referring your letter ninth February can you indicate now possible frequency of screening Northland film fifteen minutes’ duration and what screen facilities and operating services will cost. “The reply was considered too unsatisfactory for the £IOOO expenditure on the film to be incurred. It was as follows: ‘At present impossible give information desired. Writing.’ Cost .of Production of Film,

“It was desired to have the film produced by some reputable firm who would be able to arrange for screening in New Zealand and overseas as well as at the Exhibition. The following is an extract from a letter from Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (N.Z.) Ltd. dated March 13, 1939; T would estimate roughly that the cost of it would probably be nearer £1 per foot, plus, as previously mentioned, travelling expenses and labour, etc. (cost of services of dialogue and a dialogue writer, plus copyrights on the musical score), and I would point out to you that items such as swordfishing are very expensive to cover, as the cost of hiring a launch for this purpose is £5 a day.’ “The length of the film would therefore be much shorter than previously anticipated, or else the cost would far exceed the previous estimate. 16 m.m. Coloured Films. “It was suggested that, owing to the uncertainty of having our film screened frequently enough by the Exhibition company, it might be better to arrange for 16 m.m. coloured films of Northland to be screened in our own reception room. Kodak (N.Z.) Ltd. have agreed to produce a minimum of three’4ooft reels of 16 m.m. natural colour Kodachromc for a figure not to exceed £IOO, plus ten to fourteen days’ travelling expenses.

“The estimated cost in this connection would be: Production, £IOO, plus £2O travelling; projector, £32 10/-; reception room, £2O; total, £172 10/-.” Committee’s Recommendations. The committee therefore recommended: — (1) That the Film Sub-commitlee persevere with inquiries to have a Northland film screened in the Exhibition Hall; (2) that the Film Sub-committee be authorised to have the present Northland film' re-edited and sound synchronised, if possible, at a cost not to exceed £200; (3) dr:.. Instruction be given to the architect to arrange for the reconstruction necessary to the reception room for the installing of the committee’s own projector at a cost not to exceed £2O, and that ihe Kodak (N.Z.) Ltd., be advised to take the three 400 ft reels of 10 m.m. natural colour film on the terms submitted. 15-Minute FLm. The existing Northland film was of a running time of three-quarters of an hour, and would have to be cut down to 15 minutes, said the chairman, Mr W. Jones. One of the main objectives of the committee had been the proposed £ 1000 sound film, which it had ocen hoped to screen fairly frequently in the main hall of the Exhibition, said ‘.he deputy-chairman, Mr H. W. Crawford, The whole question of films at the Exhibition had been placed in the hands of Films Advertising Ltd., who were screening advertising and provincial films. They had not yet given Northland an estimate of the number of screenings we would receive nor of the cost.

“It is now necessary for us to move carefully until we know where we are,” said Mr Crawford. First Undertaking Unsatisfactory. The first undertaking for the production of a sound film had noc proved satisfactory, Mr Crawford continued, and had been broken off by the committee on legal advice. Mr W. J. Parkin doubted that a 16 m.m. film would be of any use. ,

“The whole film question is static,” lie said. The chairman moved that the committee’s report bo adopted, and this was seconded by Mi Crawford. Proceedings at this stage were complicated by a suggestion from the Otamatea Sub-zone that the film project should be dropped altogether, and the money made available for the erection of district memorials.