Noms-de-plumes again?

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AN

Noms-de-plumes again?

Post by AN »

Way back in the 1930s, the 'Amatuer Cine World' magazine invited film makers
each month to submit their films for comment.
All films were then automatically entered into the 10 Best of that year.
One of the judges for 1937 was Grierson of documentary fame. I wonder what
he would have made of some of Dave's 'rough' docos of modern times?
Incidentally, when entering a film the rules stated that one could use a
Noms-de-plume if desired.
Some of the makers of today's 'rough' films may like an opportunity to do
the same!!

Bloggs...Noms-de-pluming!
Dave Watterson

Re: Noms-de-plumes again?

Post by Dave Watterson »

"AN" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:
... One of the judges for 1937 was Grierson of documentary fame. I wonder
what
he would have made of some of Dave's 'rough' docos of modern times?
Hmm. Not sure. Remember Grierson was more a producer than a director. Of
all the famous documentaries with which he is associated only "Drifters"
is credited to him as director. Most of the others involved people like
Basil Wright, Edgar Anstey, Robert Flaherty and so on.

It always seemed to me that he was interested in getting the message out
rather than in the medium by which it was carried.

By the way ... for a few years I had the honour of being minute-taker for
the Grierson Committee which ran an award in memory of the great man. On
the committee were Basil Wright, Edgar Anstey - who were both charming, fascinating
men. I learned, for example, that it is Anstey's hand which sneaks into
the left of frame resting on a doorway in "Housing Problems". What wonderful
trivia!

McDave of Nostalgia

PS Towards the end of his career Grierson presented a tv show on documentaries
from STV studios in Glasgow ... and apparently hated having to go "home"
to Scotland to do them. I was surprised to learn, however, that he finished
his years in my home town of Bath.
AN

Re: Noms-de-plumes again?

Post by AN »

"Dave Watterson" <dave.movies@virgin.net> wrote:
"AN" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:
... One of the judges for 1937 was Grierson of documentary fame. I wonder
what
he would have made of some of Dave's 'rough' docos of modern times?

Hmm. Not sure. Remember Grierson was more a producer than a director.
Of
all the famous documentaries with which he is associated only "Drifters"
is credited to him as director. Most of the others involved people like
Basil Wright, Edgar Anstey, Robert Flaherty and so on.
The world has another thing to thank John Grierson for....as a judge at the
Scottish Amateur Film Festival, way, way, back before WW2, he spotted a young
film maker, name of Norman McLaren and offered him a job in the film industry.

Maybe without that initial help we would never have seem McLaren's animation,
such as "Beyond Dull Care" and "Neighbours" etc, etc.

I was surprised to learn, however, that he finished
his years in my home town of Bath.
He died there in 1972, aged 73.

Albert....doing as the Romans do in Bath....sing! :-)
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