At a recent executive board meeting, the International Photographers Guild, Local 659 of the I.A.T.S.E., went on record as totally opposed to the coloring of Black and White pictures. We feel that this obscene proposal lacks justification on all levels of artistry and creativity. It is a unilateral decision disregarding an important period of the industry's history as well as the history of America. Quite obviously, this decision is based solely on greed and no other consideration. As a Guild that represents the world's greatest cinematographers, Please let us know if we can be of any assistance concerning this matter. ...ke-Up artists & Hair Stylists Local 709 International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Jr. ine Operators of the United States and Canada MAKE-UP ARTISTS and HAIR STYLISTS . 11519 CHANDLER BOULEVARD • NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA 91601 • PHONES: (213) 877-2776 (818) 984-1700 December 15, 1986 Mr. Gil Cates, President Directors Guild of America, Inc. 7950 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, Ca. 90046 Dear Gil: In representing the Make-Up Artists & Hairstylists of ir wonderful industries, I too would like to go on record in opposing the colorizing of the classic black and white films that have been made down through the years. I also was there when we made many of these beautiful films and did participate in the early testing and designing of the proper colors that we used to make these classics. In viewing the colorized black and white's I find that the faces and hair of the actors and actresses are simply atrocious. I can assure you that if any one of our Make-Up Artists would have made a player look like they do after being colorized we would have been fired on the spot. In my humble opinion, I feel that the colorizing I can further assure you that if Perc Westmore were alive In short, this is a bastardization of the arts of our industry and although I realize that many many millions of dollars are about to be made on this project, I want to see it stopped for the 600 plus people that I represent. Gil, anything that Local 706, the Make-Up Artists and Hairstylists can do to help in this effort, we stand ready, willing and able to do. I would like you to know that this expression has been approved by the Executive Board of this Local. Sincerely and fraternally, Howard J. Smit Business Representative SCREEN ACTORS GUILD FOR RELEASE: December 1, 1986 CONTACT: MARK LOCHER SAG NATIONAL BOARD OPPOSES 'COLORIZING' OF BLACK & WHITE FILMS The Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors has voted unanimously to oppose the "colorizing" of black-and-white films, and to cooperate with the Directors Guild of America and other industry organizations to discourage the practice. By a vote of 65 to 0 (with four abstentions), Guild Board members expressed strong disapproval of "colorization," joining a growing number of industry artists and craftspeople who object to the computerized tinting of films for strictly commercial purposes. Board members acknowledged the financial incentives behind the practice, and opposed colorizing on artistic grounds. In discussion prior to the vote, Guild officers expressed grave Guild officials will meet with directors and other interested parties to explore methods of discouraging continued colorizing of black-and-white films. D BUILD LSA DRAMA 643355F MR MICHAEL FRANKLIN DEAR MICHAEL, THE FRENCH MOVIE AUTHORS AND DIRECTORS FULLY SUPPORT THE FIGHT LED BY THE DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA AGAINST THE COLORIZATION OF THE BLACK AND WHITE FILMS. SACD HAS ASKED ALL THE PRESIDENTS OF THE TV CHANNELS TO TAKE SOLEMNLY THE ENGAGEMENT NEVER TO BUY THE RIGHTS OR BROADCAST A FILM FOR THE MOMENT WE RECEIVED SUCH ENGAGEMENT FROM TF1, CANAL PLUS, The Executive Board of the Costume Designers Guild protests your planned coloring of black and white films from the 30's and 40's, many of which are classics. Costumes used in those films were designed specifically for the black and white film genre. The materials, colors and styles of the costumes were selected for lighting and mood and may not translate at all well into color. A Costume Designer's skills and experience, with respect to any picture, aid in the delineation of character, setting and period involved in the story being depicted. The costumes used in a film are often as important as the stage setting itself and are an integral part of the design and look of a film. For someone to arbitrarily change the color and look of a designed costume is to substitute his or her judgement for that of the initial Costume Designer and Director. Some such changes are not harmful. In other instances, such changes will destroy everything the Costume Designer worked to achieve. It is in these latter situations where harm is done, not only to the film, but to the Costume Designer who is, by such changes, made to look incompetent and insensitive. Needless to say, such an imputation would be detrimental to the Costume Designer's reputation. The colorization of "Yankee Doodle Dandy" may be used as an example to illustrate our concerns. The dresses designed by Milo Anderson in the scene at the railroad tracks were originally designed in shades of gray. The colors fit the scene and the mood of the story. When the film was colored the dresses were redone in pastels and the mood of that scene changed completely. Numerous other examples can be cited but additional examples are unnecessary for the purpose of this letter. Under the circumstances we urge that you not go forward with your planned colorization program. Sincerely, Carole Strasser Carole Strasser Executive Director |