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| Harold Mease Lomas (1873-1926) |
In 1903, the North Borneo Chartered Company made an arrangement with “The Charles Urban Trading Company” to take movie views and scenes of the Country.
Charles Urban was one of the most significant figures in British cinema before the First World War. He was a pioneer of the documentary, educational, propaganda and scientific film and would be known later as the producer of the world’s first successful motion picture colour system. For his many kinds of non-fiction films, he engaged renowned filmmakers, among them Harold Mease Lomas.
Harold Mease Lomas (1873-1926)
H.M. Lomas was chemist-turned-amateur photographer, with a particular interest in taking hunting scenes. His brilliant approach to nature scenes might have been the reason, that Lomas was selected for the three movie expeditions to Borneo in 1903, 1904 and 1905. The arrangement with the North Borneo Company provided, that the footage shall be exhibited at the Annual Dinner in London and that the films would remain the property of The Charles Urban Trading Company.
Since the business of Charles Urban was the supply of their films to some 800 movie theatres all over the country, the Court of Directors pointed out the importance of such a far-reaching advertisement for North Borneo. The Governor was instructed to give Lomas every assistance to take views and scenes of special interest, especially
various views of the railway up the Padas Gorge
trip down the Padas Vallay by launch from Limbawang
Native Markets
Natives shooting Padas Rapids
Jungle scenes
Constabulary Parade
Sham fight by Dyaks in the Jungle
Dyak War-dance
Coolies at work on a Tobacco Estate
Lomas was mainly accompanied by R.G.L Horton, an accomplished amateur photographer, who also lent him his panoramic camera. Lomas became G.C. Woolley’s friend and one of his chief suppliers of camera equipment.
Sources: Wikipedia; Website www.charlesurban.com; Letter Chairman to Governor, 29 May 1903; The Diaries of G.C. Woolley, Volume 1, Sabah State Museum 2015.
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