Year book of motion pictures (1951)

vice clubs. The news clippings which he subsequently forwarded reflected another excellent contribution to industry public relations. And this has been the pattern of one of the most vital services constantly provided by the MPIC. The MPIC's range of activities, despite limited staff and facilities, have taken in almost every phase of contact with press, public and other areas of the industry. A typical cross-section would include the highly successful campaign, in cooperation with the Screen Actors' Guild, to crush a talent racket which sprang up in Los Angeles early in 1950 and which was climaxed with jail sentences in 1951 for the ringleaders; Speaker's Bureau services which brought industry spokesmen before church organizations, service clubs, women's clubs, civic organizations, educational groups and other influential opinion-molders; a steadily growing Library of Information which has provided a flow of constructive material about Hollywood for magazine articles, syndicated columns, books and other forms of information dissemination, helping to offset and change some of the false impressions about Hollywood; making a beginning toward challenging and discouraging mis-reporting of Hollywood, coupled with encouraging a greater sense of responsibility among press agents and others who sometimes contribute to the mis-reporting; providing cooperation in laudable events like the posthumous award of the medal of merit to the late Al Jolson; cooperating with the industry's international representatives in problems abroad— particularly in terms of public relations— and working with UN, UNESCO and State Department officials, as well as groups like the Foreign Policy .\ssociation, in creating a better knowledge of the constructive influence of .American motion pictures abroad; developing better understanding between groups in Holywood to eliminate past bitterness and hostilities, as was noted by one Hollywood leader who, in commenting on this phase of MPIC activity, wrote: "Persons who had participated in name calling contests against each other, found themselves on the same committee. It was embarrassing. For the first time they began to hear each other's side first hand. There were no intervening parties to exaggerate, distort and twist words. The pressures began to subside. . . ." Dozens of other aspects of the MPIC activities could be mentioned by way of illustrating areas of interest in which constructive benefits have resulted. Much satisfaction has come to MPIC representatives as a result of the all-embracing program. But perhaps one of the nicest reflections of past progress was contained in a recent memo which one of the country's most prominent mid-west exhibitors forwarded to his staff, along with some background information about the MPIC. In the memo he said, "Each of us should be thoroughly familiar with the Council because it is one of the most important agencies in the industry for improvement of our over-all public relations, on the local le\el, as well as on the national level. I would like to have you read this material carefully and have its essence in mind so that each of us will be able to discuss the Council intelligently and accurately in personal conversations with newspaper, radio and television execulives, representatives of organizations like the Parent Teachers' .Association, the Federation of Churches, the Federation of Women's Clubs and others." For those unfamiliar with the MPIC, it might be of value to review the makeup of the .MPIC and its past history. The Council is an organization of organizations in which all actions are subject to common consent. It was created to serve as a "blue ribbon l)ody of Hollywood with broad-scale representation enabling it to speak and act in behalf of the industry's production branches." .After some months of preliminary discussion the MPIC established an office in .April 1949, and went into operation with seven member organizations. Today its member organizations total 10, with new membership applications under consideration. The organizations which now compose the MPIC are the following: .Association of Motion Picture Producers, Hollywood AFL Film Council, Independent Motion Picture Producers Association, Independent Office Workers, Screen .Actors' Guild, Screen Directors' Guild, Screen Producers' Guild, Screen Writers' Guild, Society of Independent Motion Picture Prcxlucers, Society of Motion Picture Art Directors. Its officers are: B. B. Kahane, president; .Allen Rivkin, vice-president; Ronald Reagan, secretary; Cy Baer, treasurer; .Art .Arthur, executive secretary, and Dore Schary, chairman. Public Relations Committee. Its Executive Committee consists of: Y. Frank Freeman (.AMPP), Roy M. Brewer (AFL Film Council), I. E. Chadwick (I.MPP.A), Cy Baer (lOW), Ronald Reagan (SAG), Joseph L. Mankiewicz (SDG), William Perlberg (SPG), Karl Tunberg (SWG), Gunther R. Lessing (SIMPP), Paul Groes.se (SMPAD). Past presidents have been: Dore Schary (AMPP), Cecil B. DeMille (SDG), Ronald Reagan (SAG), Roy M. Brewer (AFL Film Council), and Paul Groesse (SMPAD). In its early stages, the MPIC served as a unique experiment in industry relations. But it has long since emerged froiri being an experiment and today stands on a record of past service which promises steadily-increasing contributions to the industry's progress, strength and unity. 851