Documentary Film Of N.Z. Proposed

Chronicle (Levin), 2 August 1949, Page 5

Documentary Film Of N.Z. Proposed

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter.

Copyright)

Received Mondav 7 p.m. LONDON, August 1. Provided cortain assistance can bu given l)v the Npw Zealand National Film Unit, the Rank organisation is readv to send a party to New Zealand towards the eud of this vear to mahe a docuinentary feature about the. Do miuion which will be distributed in the 1 1 This Modern Age" series which is the British equivalent of the American March of Time document aries. .Modern Age features run for 20 minutes are pliown in all Rank organisat ion cinemain the Tnited Kingdom as well as in ahout 2000 einemas overseas. The script for the proposed New Zealand film has already been partly prepared by the wellknown Yorlcshire novelist and war correspondcnt. Mr James ITodgson, in assoeiation with the New Zealand journalist, Mr Geoffrev Cox. Tt is probable tliat the filming in New Zealand will be earried out bv one of the Rank organisation 's leading eameramen, Mr Peter ITennessy, who recently has been doing documentary work in .Tapan and Malaya. Tt is, however, hoped that the New Zealand National Film Pnit will be able to lend the services of a cameraman.

The general production and direction of the feature will be in the eharge oi Mr Sergei Noel Bandov who is liead of the section of the Rank organisation responsilde for the preparation of This Modern Age Documentaries. Tf arrange ments with the New Zealand authorities ean be eompleted, it is hoped to begin filming in New Zealand in October of this vear and to eomplete it about the end of February, 1050. This should mean that the feature will be ready for distribution in about one year's time. The oliject of this documentary. as with all This Modern Age films will be not to mahe a travelogue but to present through the cinema some idea of New Zealand 's present day conditions against a general pieture of its historieal and social background. Tn this ease it is intended to sliow scenes during the approaching General F.lection cninpaign and to give some idea of the housing and otiier problems which will then be discussed. The Bank organisation has alreadv made lilm.s of this nature about Australia, South Africa, Gevlon, .Tamaica, and the Sudan. During liis reeent visit to London, the Minister of Finance, Mr Nasli, discussed plans for the New Zea land documentary with Mr -T. Arthur Kank and it is understood he undertook to lay these before the Prime Minister.