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lended together to more efficiently serve our purposes,
to the benefit of the exponent of the efiort
and of the whole industry. The establishment of
such laboratory will, I am sure, inspire greater
confidence in the manufacturer in investigating and
solving problems presented to him.
Considering the work of the Cinematographer in
the direction of new improvements in apparatus, it
may appear at times that the opinions of several
cinematographers on the same subject are of a conflicting
nature. But, I am sure, if these opinions
were investigated by a person thoroughly versed in
the art, they would always prove to be in close
relation to each other and ultimately a conclusion
would be arrived at which would prove beneficial
to the industry.
This address, or report, will perhaps be of little
value to you gentlemen. It perhaps impresses you
as a mere sequence of words, of very little if any
import, but it is of great import to me if I have
conveyed to you a small portion o{ my conception
of the importance of the experiments conducted by
us and of the significance of the close contact just
established between the Society of Motion Picture
Engineers, the American Society of Cinematographers
and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and
Sciences.
A momentous feeling of friendship has been established,
which will bring about a closer and more
productive co-operation of efiorts. Our technical,
artistic and commercial problems are better understood
by you, gentlemen of the S. M. P. E., today
than they were a month ago. They will be still
better understood in a month from now, and still
better in a yeat from this moment. And fi{ty, a
hundred years hence, our successors will still profit
from the, as yet intangible, benefits derived from
the establishment of this personal contact, from the
spirit of friendship and loyalty towards each other,
which has come into being during the meetings o{
this Convention. I thank you.
PRODUCERS' REPORT
BY MR. FRED BEETSON
I have been an interested observer of everything
that has gone on in connection with the technical
developments in the motion picture industry, and
am convinced that we have come to the end of a
chapter tonight which is of outstanding importance
in the history of production.
When the first demonstrations of Mazda illumination
were held at Warner Brothers' Studio, on
January 16th, an esprit de cor\s was born that is
priceless to the industry. I have never seen a finer
response, a keener interest, nor a better spirit that
has been evidenced by the cinematographers and the
members of the Technicians' Branch of the Academy
who joined together for the experiments.
I am sure, that by the combined efforts of all concerned,
the motion picture industry now has improved
illumination. And that, gentlemen, is the
important point to be remembered. I believe that
everyone of you will agree that Mazda lighting has
been improved and that Carbon illumination has
been improved as a result of the experiments which
have just been held.
This is, to me, a marvelous achievement in so
short a time; and it shows conclusively the value of
co-ordination in our thinking, of co-operation, and
of research.
We were particularly fortunate that while these
experiments were still under way, the members of
the Society of Motion Picture Engineers should
come to Hollywood to hold their annual convention.
We were eager and hungry for the valuable information
which they brought to us. And I hope
that, in some small way at least, we have been able
to repay them {or their visit, especially those who
remained for this convention.
I believe we have succeeded in doing so, for this
convention of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts
and Sciences has been an exceptionally interesting
and important one, and one, I am sure, which will
be of lasting benefits to all.
I cannot too highly commend the Technicians'
Branch of the Academy for taking the leadership
in this very fine activity. This spirit that the Technicians
have shown must and will continue, not only
in their branch of the Academy, but in all branches
of the Academy. To this end, I pledge you the full
support of the producers in any worthwhile undertaking
which will react to the industry's good.
The success of the meetings, which are now being
brought to a close, is, indeed, such a splendid
example to every other branch of the Academy that
I hope it will awaken in every member a full realization
of what can be accomplished when there is
a willingness to go ahead, to forget our own problems
for a minute, and to work {or the good of the
industry as a whole.
In closing, I want to thank the technicians, the
cinematographers, and the engineers, and every individual
and every organization, contributing to
this highly successful event.
DISCUSSION ON
THE REPORTS
Trrr CHarnuaN: You have heard Mr. Beetson's
report for the Producers. Are there any re'
marks or questions you desire to ask him ? It might
be interesting to enquire regarding the proposed
laboratory or research bureau, of which he has already
spoken several times. Mr. Dubray mentioned
it in his report as a thing very much desired by the
cinematographers, and, I am sure, it is desired by
the Technicians' Branch of the Academy. tlhat is,
the consummation of the plan proposed by the Academy
sometime ago and in the process of carrying out
on the part o{ the Producers, to establish a bureau
of investigation and a research laboratory. Can Mr.
Beetson add anything to that?
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