The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

July 1955 CINE TECHNICIAN FIVE YEAR PLAN FOR BRITISH FILMS by George Elvin DURING the recent General Election I received a message from the " Kinematograph Weekly" requesting for publication my views as to the points I would pursue in relation to the film industry if elected to the House of Commons. Despite the fullness of my election campaign at Oxford I made time to meet their request and a letter was sent in before the notified dead-line date for publication. But my views were not published and the courtesy of an explanation was not forthcoming. Maybe, of course, the views expressed were in themselves the explanation. Anyway, members may like to know what I did write. So here it is. " In Parliament or out I shall continue to use all available platforms to advance the views and policy of A.C.T. STATE CIRCUIT " Of supreme importance if we are to ever have a large and flourishing British film industry is the need for a cinema, circuit oivned by the State as influential in numbers, situations and seats as the present large circuits. (You will find details of A.C.T.'s case and complementary proposals in the report printed as an appendix to our 21st Annual Report.) " The Anglo-American Film Agreement must be revised at the next opportunity in order to reduce the drain on dollars. " The Cinematograph Films Act which expires during the lifetime of the next Parliament must be renewed and strengthened in the interests of British production. The Cinematograph Films Council, which the Act establishes as the main advisory body to the President of the Board of Trade, should exclude exhibitors and renters, and all representatives of the American industry. The majority of its members should be representatives of the producers and film production trade unions, the balance should be independent interests. No individual associated with a, company which has not fulfilled its quota should be permitted to serve on the Council. Penalties for quota defaults should be much heavier. The reintroduction of renters' quota should be considered. " The powers of the National Film Finance Corporation should be increased so that the excellent work they have done can be extended to all sides of the film industry. " Any relief a Chancellor of the Exchequer can be made to give on Entertainment Tax should be primarily directed towards helpmg production, cinema employees and the cinema-going public. BRITISH FIRST " Films made by American interests and films made for television should not benefit from the Eady Fund. " The Crown Film Unit and the Colonial Film Units should be reestablished. " In short, British films should make a far greater contribut'on to the life of the country and all its policies, at home and abroad. The industry as such should be independent of all foreign interests and the aim should be for cinema programmes to be primarily British with, of course, the best — but only the best — of the product of foreign countries." PUBLIC OWNERSHIP With all due modesty I think, upon re-reading some weeks later what I wrote, it is a good programme outline. Many of the points raised must come up during the lifetime of the present Parliament. These include the Quota Act and Anglo-American Films Agreement. Others, such as tax, are almost sure to be raised. The remaining points ought to be. Indeed, one of them, the Colonial Film Unit, has already been the subject of Parliamentary questions (see page 101). But the key point, the foundation upon which all the others should be built, is public ownership of a cinema circuit or circuits. As a special report to A.C.T.'s 21st Annual General Meeting said : " The main handicap to the development of a healthy British film producing industry is the existing structure of the industry expressed in : (a) Hollywood influence and penetration; (b) the large vertical combines interlocked with American interests; and (c) the conception that Britain's 4,575 cinemas have as their main purpose the showing of American films and not the promotion and encouragement of British films." THE ONLY WAY As the Report concluded, the existing methods of Government help for British films — quotas, Films Bank, Eady Levy, etc., welcome as they have been, have simply helped to keep British film production's head above water. The main factor hindering expansion is a distribution and exhibition structure which, apart from Rank and A.B.P.C. products, makes the market for British films uncertain, narrow and subject to impossible conditions for the producer. We therefore came down firmly on the side of a publicly owned circuit or circuits of cinemas as the only way in which the necessary impetus and incentive can be given to British film production. What the " Kinematograph Weekly " didn't print yesterday might well form a five-year plan for today. CINE TECHNICIAN Editor: MARTIN CHISHOLM Editorial Office: 2 Soho Square, W.l Telephone: GERrard 8506 Advertisement Office: 5 and 6 Red Lion Sq., W.C.I Telephone: HOLborn 4972