ACT

Association of Cine Technicians (1933-1956)

ACTT

Association of Cinematograph & Television Technicians (1956-1991)

The Association of Cine-Technicians was formed in June 1933 and became the Association of Cinematograph, Television and allied Technicians in March 1956, two years after the introduction of commercial television. In 1991, with membership falling, it merged with BETA (Broadcasting and Entertainment Trades Alliance) to become BECTU, the Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union.

The first organisation to represent the interests of British film technicians was The Cameramen's Society, formed after the end of the First World war in 1918, with Harry Wiggins (father of Helen Wiggins) as Chairman and George Woods-Taylor as Secretary. It was more of a social club than a union, but in 1926, when film production in the UK had virtually ground to a halt, it managed to help influence the Cinematograph Films Act (1927). It would have had more weight had it not lost its funds in the Farrow's Bank crash in December 1920.

In 1928 the British Association of Cinematographers and Associated Technicians was formed "and found ready adherents in the ranks of camera artists, art directors, chiefs of laboratories, lighting experts and scenic artists. The object of the Society is the study of kinematography and the professional protection of its members" [Kinematograph Year Book 1929]. Unfortunately this attempt at unionisation subsequently collapsed when the Treasurer ran off with the funds.

By the start of the 1930s the British film industry was booming, but the wages of film technicians remained relatively low and the hours long. An increase in immigration, with many leaving Germany after Hitler was appointed Chancellor at the beginning of 1933, left British workers fearing that their jobs were under threat. Technicians at the Gaumont-British studio at Shepherds Bush started holding meetings, culminating in the establishment of the ACT in June.

The initial membership, with an entrance fee of 2/6d (equivalent to £8 in 2015) peaked at around 1,200, but a perceived lack of activity led to disillusionment, and membership rapidly dwindled. By the end of the year there were less than 100 members, many of them not fully paid-up. In 1934 George Elvin was elected General Secretary, and he threw himself into rebuilding the membership to a point where employers would have to recognise the union.

In May 1935 the ACT began publication of a quarterly magazine, The Cine-Technician, priced at 9d (equivalent to £2.38 in 2015). In 1957 it became The Film & Television Technician, and in 1992, after the formation of BECTU, it changed to it's current title of Stage Screen & Radio.

In 1936 the ACT became affiliated to the TUC, and achieved its first industrial agreement, with Gaumont-British. It also recruited Film Laboratory workers, establishing a branch that could be used to bring industrial pressure to bear on rogue producers.

In the Spring of 1943 the ACT published rates for Animation:

The following year they negotiated an Agreement with Halas and Batchelor Cartoon Films, which had just relocated from Bushey to 10a Soho Square. The July 1944 issue of The Cine-Technician announced:

The rates are as per the agreement with Publicity Picture Productions, but Halas and Batchelor negotiated two additional grades, "Animator (not responsible for action planning)" – an assistant animator, or one working under a directing animator – and "Supervisor of Colourists" – cel-painters being the lowest grade, the supervisor presumably checks the quality, as well as distributing the work and ensuring that the painters are familiar with the colour model and are given the correct paints.

Links to Other Sites

Back to top of page