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AOLINES & EXPLOITIPS
ALPHABETICAL
INDEX
EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY
FEATURE RELEASE CHART
FEATURE REVIEW DIGEST
SHORTS RELEASE CHARl
SHORT SUBJECT REVIEWS
REVIEWS OF FEATURES
SHOWMANDISING IDEAS
BOXOfflCt
THE GUIDE TOiBETTER BOOKING AND B U S I N E S S - B U I L D I N G
Amateur Film
Exhibition Wins
Theatre Many New Friends
Promotion of the theatre as a civic institution
and a site for special events frequently
provides a renewed interest in
motion pictures by none-too-frequent theatregoers.
When the promotion involves
the exhibition of amateur films, produced
by local cinematographers and dealing
with local subject matter, interest is
doubled.
This amateur film festival idea was tried
recently by Manager D. J. Goodman of the
Gaumont Theatre in Wood Green, Middlesex,
England, some seven miles from London,
with amazingly good results. The promotion
was given a 100 per cent rating by
the circuit's regional controller, with a
recommendation for a Showmanship Star.
FILMMAKING CLUBS VIE
The festival, arranged with three local
filmmaking clubs, was set up in the form
of an exhibition, with displays on all
phases of filmmaking and a small theatre,
all located in the theatre foyer and Circle
Lounge. Films made by the various groups
were e.xhibited in the little theatre and a
five-pound prize was offered for the best
amateur film shown.
The filmmakers taking part were the St.
James Film mrit, the Brevis Amatem- Film
imit and Group 14. Most of the members
of the groups are in their teens or early
twenties, Goodman reported.
The week-long exhibition saw large num-
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The mayor of Wood Green, Alderman R. G. Kendall
and the mayoress, are shown being welcomed to the
festival by manager D. J. Goodman, at right.
Presence of the mayor added an official touch to
the promotion which brought much additional publicity
in the press.
bers of people attending the Gaumont,
Goodman said, and it served a dual purpose
in showing the aesthetics and craftsmanship
of amateur filmmaking, and in creating
added interest in the theatre itself.
Exhibits in the foyer and the miniature
theatre were crowded with spectators viewing
displays of filmmaking equipment, both
modern and antique; illustrations of how
amateur film societies go about their work
stills from films completed and under way
scale drawings of various stages in filmmaking,
such as that showing the method
of "lacing film"; displays of projectors and
sound equipment; blowups of oldtime newspaper
advertising from two long-closed
local theatres; film sets, and displays of
scripts.
A good opportunity for promoting
coming attractions was provided with a
special film appreciation stand devoted to
theatrical motion pictures. Pinewood
Studios loaned original artists' sketches and
stills from its feature, "In the Doghouse."
which was scheduled at the Gaumont some
weeks after the festival. Each still had a
short explanatory credit about the picture
posted alongside it.
A 'SPOT-THE-ERROR' BOOTH
Examples of color cartoon sketches used
in making amateur' films were shown, and
one display that attracted particular interest
was a "Spot the Error" booth. In each
of the photographs posted there was a
mistake frequently made by beginning
filmmakers. Viewers were asked to spot
those errors.
Film titling procedures were shown in
another display and one film unit featured
details on the production of a national
award-winning amateur film,
"Pear."
Setting up the festival posed several
problems for Goodman. Permission had to
be secured from the Middlesex County
Council with a detailed plan submitted to
that body. The plan was okayed, but the
council expressed some concern about the
erection of the small theatre in the Circle
Lounge. However, the council decided to
treat the enclosure as a "Theatre Box," and
sent Goodman a letter covering regulations
and okaying the entire project. The
council also granted Goodman permission
to hang a linen bamier on the borough
library promoting the exhibition, and
The Automobile Ass'n cooperated in the amateur
film festival promotion by granting permission to
place signs, as the one above, in strategic locations
throughout the borough. Signs measured 30x17
inches.
another banner was placed on the front of
the Gaumont.
The Wood Greeir borough engineer gave
the Automobile Ass'n pennission to place
temporary signs around the borough pointing
up the festival. The signs read: "Gaumont
Cinema: Amateur Film Festival Exhibition,"
and carried arrows pointing in
the direction of the theatre. Seven of the
30xl7-inch signs were placed on strategic
corners by the automobile club.
An official touch was given the affair
with the mayor of Wood Green participating
in the opening at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
The opening was preceded by mention in
the coming events section of the Town
Crier, a quarterly magazine issued by the
Wood Green council, 5,000 of which were
distributed throughout the area. The local
newspaper, the Herald, gave excellent advance
coverage also.
ATTRACTS WIDE ATTENTION
The festival made the names of the various
film societies known to the public and
it attracted new members for the filmmaking
groups. It gained wide attention
from other film clubs, some from fardistant
points, and it gave the units an
opportunity to work together and become
better acquainted, opening a wider field
for cooperation and a chance for them to
• Continued on next page)
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser Feb. 5, 1962 — 21 — 1