Women in Film-making

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21473, 22 April 1933, Page 6 (Supplement)

Women in Film-making

For many years it was considered that the only possible opening for women in the film indiSstry was as actress, and even nowadays it is the exception rather than the rule to find women holding responsible executive positions in British studios. Tho production of films is still a jealously guarded man's preserve into which only a few hardy women pioneers have dared to penetrate. There is Mary Fields, the only ivoman director of talking pictures in Britain, whose successes include tho " Secrets of Nature " series. Miss Field is tho only university woman on tho executive side of films in British studios, though there are a number of actresses whose accomplishments include a B.A. Looking round for a job after obtaining a history degree at London University, Mary Field went to Welwyn to check tho sub-titles in a silent historical film then in course of production at the British Instructional Studios. She was invited to remain with a view to forming a department of educational films. That was seven years ago, and the success of this type of film in the face of every conceivable prejudice is a tribute to her initiative and patience. Organising ability is needed, too, by the publicity manager of a large studio, who must possess the .gift of being able to appear in six places at once. Sybil Sutherland is the only woman studio publicity manager in England.

A FEW PIONEERS

If an editor wants a photograph of any actress he (or she) rings up " Sally," as she is known throughout the film world. She must constantly bo thinking of new ways to interest peoplo in films which will not bo publicly shown for months to come. She must be ablo to give every film journalist in the kingdom a good story about any artist employed by the company. She must always be on the spot in case something happens in the studio which will make " front-page " copy, yet she must be in close contact with Fleet Street. Actresses besiege her office with complaints that rival actresses are having their photographs published more frequently. Journalists telephone her to announce that they want a personally conducted tour of the studio. " It's a great life," says Sally, " if you don't weaken! " A knowledge of camera possibilities is essential, also, to the dress designer employed by every film company. This is a field where women are making swift headway, since British producers now realise that clothes are an important factor in tho success of a film. Gordon Conway, dress designer to one of the big British studios, has been pleading the cause of " Better Dressed British Pictures " ever since she entered the film business five years ago, and is now one of the most successful " picturo dressers " in England. She says the work needs endless patience, enthusiasm and good temper in the face of " four irate dressmakers, five maddened film directors, six infuriated wardrobe mistresses and a hundred temperamental actresses."