Page 6 - RD_2022-09

Kev Franzi's Motion Picture Scrapbook

The people and cameras
that captured our Just like a
th
20 Century Bought One II

ooking back over my 56 years in the The camera was most unusual to say the least,
LAustralian Film Industry, (working and as luck would have it, I took a photo of the
mostly on Documentaries, TV Commercials beast that "came out". (My photographic skills
and for a few years in TV Drama Production) at 14 were still hit and miss). The camera was
I made two interesting discoveries - set up on a tall vertical twin column copy
1. That I had worked for 13 different Film stand, with the moving carriage and camera
Production Units in that time; and platform counter balanced by two cast iron
2. That every one of those Units had a sash balance window weights running over
brilliantly talented person making some pulleys attached to the top of the stand. It
"home-made" piece of equipment that looked like a very big vertical enlarger.
would play a vital role in the survival of each
of those organisations.
Below: Jock Sturrock's unique film strip camera
Yes, necessity was "the mother of invention" with the turret locked in the framing / focusing
because, apart from post war shortages, the position. Note the turret lever and film magazine
industry as a whole worked on "shoe string" (upper right) with its wind-an movement and
budgets and in most cases could not afford the finger disc. A real "Heath Robinson" job, but it
very expensive "you beaut!" equipment from worked brilliantly!
Hollywood or Europe - so, "I reckon I could
make one of those ... " became the clarion call
to the backyard workshop where Aussie
ingenuity would triumph once again. Yes,
there is something in the water!

I could write a book on those amazing people
and their wonderful backyard creations. So
here are just a few quick snapshots of these
inspiring people and their "vital" equipment.

Let's start with "Jock" Sturrock, my boss
at SVE back in 1946. Jock had created the
most amazing collection of equipment to make
35mm B&W Film Strips. The strips were used
for teaching in schools, churches, hospitals,
industry and many other situations. This small
but thriving business depended completely on
Jock Sturrock's home-made camera, printer
and processing plant.

6 REEL DEALS September 2022