News on Screen

George Collings was a sound engineer with Movietone, and Terry Gallacher [qv] recalled that he was known as ‘John’ because his actual first name was too common in the office. In February 1951 Collings appeared on camera in ''Z’ & ‘G’ CLASS CALL UP,' in British Movietone News No.1130A, to give his opinion. As the shot list notes, ‘John Collings in recording room attends to apparatus, turns & faces camera, says, ‘I thinks its a bit thick etc., etc.'...Mrs. Collings at oven, cooking, turns & faces camera, says & Just when we are starting to raise a family etc., etc.'.' Collings was first credited in the team that filmed ‘SIR WINSTON HOME’ for British Movietone News No.1309A in July 1954. He subsequently covered a wide range of domestic assignments - some of them credited to his real name of ‘G. Collings’ - but his last credit is for ‘LONDON GREETS QUEEN MOTHER’ in No.1502A from March 1958. According to Terry Gallacher, Collings afterwards left Movietone to join ITN.

Sources

BUFVC, T. M. Gallacher, ‘Additional Notes,' October 1998.