Year book of motion pictures (1925)

the smaller towns and cities. With at least one modern, first class theater in each of the principal cities to blaze the way in exploitation and presentation, the rental business would revolutionized. And the realization of such a program is not far distant, in my opinion, because there is an awakened interest in theater building throughout Europe. The impetus given the movement for theater construction is by no means confined to Europe. Already three splendid theaters have been completed in Sydney, Melbourne and Wellington and American pictures will enjoy the best presentation they have ever known in Australasia during the coming year. — E. E. SHAUER, Famous Players-Lasky Corp. OPTIMISTIC The year 1925 is one that exporters of American motion picture productions look forward to with confidence and large expectations. This past year has also been a year of great accomplishment abroad. Throughout 1924, Central Europe bought productions from the American producer with increasing insistence, particulai improvement having taken place in the major market of that group — Germany. The Balkan territories have materially improved their purchasing records of American photoplays. In fact, there has not been one territory in Europe where there has been not substantial progress along the said line. Russia has given evidence of increasing activity for the American exported and probably during 1925 will give further evidence of its returning film buying power. South America, Australasia, the Far East, Africa and other markets have in no way slackened in their recognition of the American production. 1925 therefore, should witness more foreign selling offices abroad for the important independent film export organizations and should likewise witness the extension of foreign distributing exchanges on the part of the large American "producer-distributor" corporations. As to the affairs of our own company, we have every confidence that 1925 will find markedly increaseil sales activity and greatly augmented results from our home office in New York as well as from each of our foreign sales offices. Genuine box office productions bring their own reward. The foreign buyers know where they can be obtained.— WILLIAM M. VOGEL. SEES IMPROVEMENT IN SIGHT Conditions in the most important foreign territory, the United Kingdom, have been far from bright in the past year and a half. Productions of the independent market brought during that period about half of what they used to bring before. Distribution in the U. K. for independent English distributors was exceedingly difficult on account of the keen competition of the big American organizations who have their own exchanges in that territory. Quite a few well known concerns disappeared or changed hands. It is only since a month or so that conditions slightly improved and to my mind conditions in England will only then be up to normal again when economic conditions there have improved and the number of unemployed has considerably decreased. Central and Eastern Europe get more lively and if it would not be for the "kontingent" in Germany, conditions there would look very bright. Conditions in France are still very bad. French concerns have still the same difficulty to keep going. Pathe consortium seems to be again in difficulties, they always were, and it looks that they want now Charles Pathe to step in again and save them from going bankrupt. I have received information from that territory that it is expected that after regular reparation payments by Germany are made, which through the Dawe's plan now seems likely that French conditions will improve within the next year or so. Conditions in the rest of the world not mentioned above are generally improving and it is on that account that values in the foreign field changed considerably in the last year. Where two years ago England was figured as having 50r/o of the foreign rights, it is today less than 40% and territories that were practically worthless have made up for these 10% or 15%, to such an qxtent that a picture brings today more money in the entire foreign market than two years ago when conditions were regarded favorable.— J. C. BARNSTYN, The British & Continental Trading Co., Inc. ANTICIPATES FURTHER PROGRESSION There is a tendency on the part of all foreign countries to be exceedingly progressive in their handling of the film industry of the future. They are progressive because they are trying to adopt American methods of attracting people to theaters and bringing to the notice of the public the constant desire of the American film industry to uplift and education In the right direction. William Fox has been exerting every ounce of energy at his command to contribute his share in bringing order out of chaos in many foreign territories where the film business had not advanced beyond its infancy stage of development. It is being realized to a greater extent every day that American producers and distributors are not trespassers in foreign territory, but on the contrary, have every desire to cooperate and assist the foreign exhibitor to increase his revenue at the box office and to instil in his mind the necessity of proper presentation with the right quality of production in order to attract and retain the interest of the public at large. Within the next five years there will be further progression because those participating in the picture industry of foreign countries have learned to realize that our industry is here to stay and has become a stablilized, substantial and sound business — S. E. ABEL, Fox Film Corp. SEES CHANGES COMING The demand for American pictures continues strong and with the opening up of some of the markets which have been dull for years the prospects are very promising. The outlook is so good that the larger companies are considering more seriously than ever the establishment of additional distributing organizations of their own in the foreign markets, even in the smaller territories. This generally means that an American manager is sent to take charge of the business, sometimes taking with him a number of Americans to assist him. The expenses of such an organization are much greater than the cost of distribution to a native concern with the result that the exhibitors are eventually compelled to stand the difference. Little by little, as the American concerns take hold in the foreign markets, the business of the local distributors is decreased and in some cases entirely destroyed. The exhibitors in different territories are beginning to resent the foreign invasion which seems to take the aspect of an American monopoly of the local motion picture business. The cost of operating a foreign organization is sometimes 25% greater than the cost to the local people and the exhibitors in many places are beginning to balk against the increased prices. Some of the trade papers in France have recently called attention to this condition and have opened discussions looking towards methods of protection. The local distributors, in order to exist, are ©bliged to increase their purchase of Europeanmade material. This material is gradually obtaining greater acceptance because the exhibitors prefer to do business with their old established friends rather than with foreigners. The increased outlet for European films will strengthen the producers of these films and lower the prices American companies will be able to obtain for their product. 00 1