Book with financial statements for the film “João da Matta” (1926) by Amilar Roberto AlvesCentro de Memória-Unicamp
Cinema was a milestone in world and Brazilian history. In our country, the seventh art came in 1896; But in Campinas only around the 1920s, when the city was the stage for the recording of the first feature film with national scenario.
List of characters and script of the film “João da Matta” (1929) by Amilar Roberto AlvesCentro de Memória-Unicamp
The film “João da Mata” was produced by Amilar Roberto Alves (1881-1941), responsible for the production company Phenix Film with Vitorino de Oliveira Prata, Francisco Castello and José Ziggiatti. Its premiere occurred in 1923 in a session at Teatro Rink, beginning an important
Years later, the 1950s were the beginning of a second cycle in the cinematographic field in Campinas. And once again it would be Alfredo Roberto Alves, son of Amilar Alves, who led the productions.
Detail of prospectus dealing with the films “Escola da Fuzarca” and “As Aventuras do Dr. A. Venca” (1984) by MIS-CampinasCentro de Memória-Unicamp
The dentist was responsible for the short films “Escola da Fuzarca” from 1949 and “As Aventuras do Dr. A. Venca” from 1950, both produced using silent film techniques.
Based on previous experiences, in 1952 Alves made the first sound film in Campinas. The featurette film “Falsários” brought a language that spoke more to its time.
Seeing that his productions were promising, Alves decided to bring to life an old dream: to found a film company in the city, which aimed to produce feature films to be shown throughout the country.
With “Falsários”, he projected his expectation of reaching new resources and creating a feature film; necessary impulse to carry out a script that him already had in mind for the creation of a film production company.
With the success of the film, the director managed to gather support for the founding of his company, which took place during 1953, when Alfredo Roberto Alves began to install the names of future partners.
Letter of invitation from the Professional Association of the Cinematographic Industry of the State of São Paulo to Alfredo Roberto Alves inviting the election of the Association's new board and supervisory board (1957-11-14) by Associação Profissional da Indústria Cinematográfica do Estado de São PauloCentro de Memória-Unicamp
The most different characters were part of a list of partners. The teachers until who acted in the film had, around 175 members joined in the production company.
List of memberships for the creation of Cine Produtora Campineira (1950/1959) by UnknownCentro de Memória-Unicamp
The number of subscribers was not only important for the financial issue, but also for the popular build up of Cine Produtora Campineira. Among the first additions, Thomaz Perina, an important artist in the city, stands out.
Title of common shares of Cine Produtora Campineira (1955-08-22) by Cine Produtora CampineiraCentro de Memória-Unicamp
Despite the large number of members, most lost few quotas and many gave up their participation before the company became official. As a result, the main number of shares was divided between eight partners.
Alfredo Roberto Alves, Aldo Focesi, Marino Ziggiatti, Adão Focesi, Alexandre Messias, Osvaldo Faber, Luiz Silveira and Álvaro Maia they were the majority partners with one hundred shares each, accounting for a total value of Cr$800,000.00, corresponding to the company's capital
And, after ordinary and extraordinary assembly, the Cine Produtora Campineira S/A was founded in 1954.
Industry and Professions Tax exemption form in the name of Alfredo Roberto Alves (1956-10-08) by Prefeitura Municipal de CampinasCentro de Memória-Unicamp
The company, once created, did its elections for the positions of the board of directors. Alfredo Roberto Alves was elected as Chief Executive Officer; Aldo Focesi remained as secretary, and Marino Ziggiatti would be treasurer.
The Supervisory Board consists of three effective members and three substitutes. In this first Assembly the effective members were: Celso Bierrembach de Castro, Benito Galli and José Meares dos Santos. Alexandre Messias, Otávio Rocha and Álvaro Maia formed the list of substitute
Still from the film “Fernão Dias” (1956) by Cine Produtora CampineiraCentro de Memória-Unicamp
After its foundation, between 1956 and 1957, Cine Produtora Campineira produced and exhibited a single film: “Fernão Dias”.
Scene from the film “Fernão Dias” (1956) by UnknownCentro de Memória-Unicamp
The film portrayed the epic story of the bandeirante Fernão Dias. Based on his father's script Alves tried to correct in his film some errors in the historical return of the theather’s version. To do this, he carried out in-depth research with the city's historians and museums.
Scene from the film “Fernão Dias” (1956) by UnknownCentro de Memória-Unicamp
In addition to being director and screenwriter, Alfredo Roberto Alves also took on other roles for the production of his film. All the material to be purchased or organized was seen directly by him, from the filming equipment to the sets and figurines.
After the massive setting was completed by Alfredo Roberto Alves and João Navarro Bernal, the film was taken to Cinematográfica Vera Cruz in São Bernardo, for a new editing and sound design of the film.
About the distribution, two companies appeared responsible for broadcasting the film: Ubayara Filmes and Distribuidora Rio-Mar.
These two distributors alternated during the period in which the film was shown in theaters. However, the company faced several obstacles to showing the film, as well as other productions of the time.
Poster for the film “Fernão Dias” (1957) by Cine Produtora CampineiraCentro de Memória-Unicamp
Prospectus for the film “Fernão Dias” with Clóvis Salgado and Celso Brant’s impressions of the film (1957) by Tipografia São BeneditoCentro de Memória-Unicamp
Even with a great success with the public, the film presented a series of problems with distribution and publicity, which ended up making it hard to produce new films.
Ticket to the screening of the film “Fernão Dias” at Cine Ouro Verde (1957-02-27) by UnknownCentro de Memória-Unicamp
Even with the difficulties, the film was original and innovative for its time, having been the first sound film in Campinas and the region. Cine Produtora Campineira revolutionized the way cinema was made at the time.
Prospectus for the film “Fernão Dias” with impressions of Antônio d’Avila, J. C. Ataliba Nogueira, A. Paim Vieira and O. Grellet about the film (1957) by Tipografia São BeneditoCentro de Memória-Unicamp
In a special film shoot, the film was shown in 1957 at the Agência Nacional, with the presence of the head of the Censorship and Public Entertainment Service, Colonel H. Rocha; the Minister of Education, C. Salgado; and the president of the Federal Cinema Commission, Celso Brant
The difficulty in finding a distributor to broadcast the film resulted in the producer going into debt, which was counting on the income from the film to pay promissory notes acquired during production.
Promissory note in the name of Luiz Edmundo Franchim in the amount of CR$ 15,000.00, signed by Alfredo Roberto Alves and Marino Ziggiatti in the name of Cine Produtora Campineira (1918-08-19) by Cine Produtora CampineiraCentro de Memória-Unicamp
The solution designed to pay the arrears was to try to get a loan from the banks. However, the loan was not implemented.
The financial difficulties, aggravated by the problems generated by distributors who did not sell the product, caused discomfort for the company, which ended its activities.
The production company's withdrawal as a company was confirmed in April 1960, through a request from Alfredo Roberto Alves to the Mayor of Campinas to cancel his registration, after having received a notice of collection of taxes and fees from the City Hall.
With the closure of Cine Produtora and the cancellation of the contract with the distributors, the film Fernão Dias was saved by the production company's directors. The film is available at the Museum of Image and Sound (MIS) in Campinas, and was donated to the museum in 1983.
DIRECTION
Prof. Dr. André Luiz Paulilo
ASSOCIATED DIRECTION
Dra. Maria Silvia Duarte Hadler
COORDINATION
Ana Cláudia Cermaria
CURATION AND TEXTS
Vitor Hugo Finatti
REVISION
João Paulo Berto
REALIZATION
Centro de Memória-UNICAMP
NOVEMBER 2023
