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We are so often asked ((How can I go about
• Tile forming a film unit or cine club?" It is not our
intention to go into this matter in det'ail at the
present moment, but we feel that the following
B&P article may give some guidance on this subject,
and at the same time show that simple films can
Fibn Unit be just as pleasing to the maker and the audience
as those requiring complicated shooting scripts
and quantities of equipment.

For many years I have been content to film my "Children on the Lawn" and to
make "Holiday Films". However, my children grew up, and I found myself at a
loss to know what to shoot. Suddenly I had a brain wave. My neighbours Mr. and
Mrs. Packer, who, like myself are very fond of children, I knew to be very gifted.
Mrs. Packer had an excellent imagination, and Mr. Packer was very good at
lettering and attending to detail.
One sunny evening in the Spring of 1952, I was idly passing away the time
chatting to them over the gafe; there were children playing in the fields at the
back, when I threw out the bait. "I would like to make a story film about
children" I said, "but am stuck for ideas". Nothing much more was said about
it that night, but I could tell th~t they were nibbling at the bait. Next morning,
I could see that they had swallowed it, Hook, Line and Sinker, for an envelope
appeared through the door, containing two short stories, composed by Mrs.
Packer overnight. I went round and discussed the stories, and that, Ladies and
Gentlemen, was the beginning of the B. & P. Film Unit. W e have had a busy
time ever since, at the expense of my garden, which is looking like a wilderness.

We completed a short film by the end of the Summer of 1952 entitled "Mid-
summer Day", a story of woodland folk, with an all children cast, dressed in
animal costumes, and one dog. For the "Premiere" we booked a small Hall,
secured some films from two London Cine Societies, and persuaded Pathescope
to let us have a copy of "Fairs Fair". The audience being the children taking
part in our film, their parents, and friends. This show was a great success, and
we came away very pleased with curselves.
Our next venture was an indoor film entitled "The Portrait" which was com-
pleted in March this year. We sent this to the "Critic" at Pathescope to tell
us where we had gone wrong (or right) which he well and truly did. Having
inwardly digested +,he criticism and learning quite a lot from it, we embarked
on our most ambitious film to date, entitled "The Secret of the Warren'' which
has just been completed, and runs to approximately 600 ft. For the premiere
of the last two films, we have booked the same Hall, and some more Amateur
films to complete the programme.
The demand for seats has been so great that we have had to book the Hall
for a second showing. All films shown will be 9.5 mm. "The Pioneer Amateur
Gauge". Our aim is to make films of the children for children, and we hope
that the films we have had so much pleasure in making, will eventually give as
much pleasure to children in local Homes and Hospitals.
A. J. BIRCH.

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