Film Unit Records the Show

New Zealand Listener, Volume 16, Issue 405, 28 March 1947, Page 7

Film Unit Records the Show

HOUGH the orchestra was the principal attraction, the post-primary pupils who packed the Town Hall stole the limelight (26,000 watts of it) when the National Film Unit cameras began to photograph the show. The Film Unit was mainly interested in recording the reactions of the children to the music -and the children were, as it happened, ------- ------------------O nn

mainly interested in the music. Though six floodlights clicked off and on, the audience remained intent on the stage rather than on the fascinating work of the film camera-men. Two motion picture cameras, and one still camera were used, and they took in sections. of the youthful. audience, catcfling facial expressions which showed emotions shading from deep concentra"tion to joyous excitement. Two sound recordings were made. ‘simultaneously with the picture, yet at two points eight miles apart. The sound was taken on the film in the camera, and also sent slong a line from the Town Hall to another recorder at the Miramar studios, to combine and produce the best results. The orchestra was the largest musical group yet filmed and recorded by the Film Unit, so through a land-line, a technician at the Town Hall was in constant communication with the studios, A quarter-of-a-mile of power cable was used for the lighting. And, in case there is some speculation as to how 26,000 watts of electricity came to be used during a power shortage, it may be explained that the Unit’ used its own mobile generator, and not the city mains.

M.

B.