Year book of motion pictures (1925)

We must obtain the wider viewpoint and get away from the provincialism of the stories we screen. We must cultivate an internationalism in our background of pictures. We are primarily, amusement providers, and propagandists, secondarily. If we are to retain our supremacy, we can do so only through quality; As in every other business, it will be the survival of the fittest — or better yet — the survival of the best. Therefore, though it has been said before — the American producer— whether independent or allied — can continue his hold on the foreign market by giving the world .... BETTER PICTURES. GEORGE E. KAXX. Simmonds-Kann Enter., [nc. PREDICTS A NEW RECORD' The season of 1923-24 insofar as it concerned the foreign market, in my opinion was one of the most successful years that the Independent Distri hutors have had. A great many territories heretofore closed to Independent pictures were opened up to them during that year. The serial market remained strong and prices kept up to those which followed the war period. A great many markets which heretofore had been closed to Independent pictures became buying territories during the 192324 season. I look for the new season of 1924-25 to even exceed the last season insofar as it concerns Independent pictures. Already our offices have received many inquiries, cables and letters concerning our 1924-25 output. It seems to be the desire of the foreign buyer at this time not to buy simply a picture here and there, but to contract and build up the output of one organization. We are perhaps a little better situated than most of the Independents in that we have for distribution starting the new season two serials. In a great many foreign terrritories the serial is in great demand and there is much competitive bidding for it. This tends to make the market more valuable as well for the features distributed by the same organization. There has been less pirating of film and invading of territory in the past year which would indicate that the foreign market has reached a more conservative and stablilized position. As previously remarked, we predict for the new season a record breaking foreign market for the Independents.— W. RAY JOHXSTOX, Rayart Pictures Corp. CONDITIONS IN ORIENTAL TERRITORIES By Horace T. Clarke, First National Pictures After seven years' intimate association with motion picture activities in Oriental territories, I cannot help but feel that the future of the American motion picture in these territories at this time never looked brighter or more substantial. As I look back on the strictly limited possibilities of former years it is at least very gratifying to note the remarkable advance that American motion picture product has made at this date. First National will take out of the Orient this year an amount well into six figures. There is no reason in the world why present results cannot be increased tremendously within the next five years. These Oriental territories know no limitations if American motion picture interests will only realize the latent potentialities of this virgin field. There are approxmately nine hundred million people living between Bombay and Yokohoma with less than twenty-five hundred motion] picture houses (many of which are little better than sheds) to cater to these masses. From these figures, some idea may be gained as to the possibilities for really constructive development in this immensely populated field. I am quite safe in saying that we are today getting almost S00% more per picture for our pictures than we were getting five years ago. The Japanese Boycott Fiasco The most interesting incident of the year was the Japanese boycott of American films. This boycott, however, proved a fiasco for it lasted officially from July 1st to July 12th and the demand for American made productions in preference to Japanese product following the termina tion of the boycott was so pronounced that the Japanese exhibitors were forced to declare the boycott off and American productions were again released in all leading Japanese theaters, As a result of the boycott, Japanese exhibitors suffered to a far greater extent than American distributors. On my departure from Japan in August of this year, I found picture conditions there to be practically normal and a very big business expected this coming winter. While comparatively small number of English films have been released in India and China, quite a considerable number of German films have found an outlet in the Dutch East Indies and Japan. American productions are tremendously popular with movie fans throughout all countries of the Orient. The stars that are successful in America are generally successful in Oriental countries. For instance, Norma and Constance Talmadge, Jackie Coogan, Richard Barthelmess, Corinne Griffith, Coleen Moore, Barbara La Marr and Milton Sills, Chaplin, Harold Lloyd, Valentino and Fairbanks are popular wherever and whenever their pictures are presented. In India, the Hindu women seldom patronize the movies. When they do so, they arrive at the theater heavily veiled and are escorted to specially prepared compartments which are screened with mosquito netting so that they are protected from the view of the audience. When the lights are dimmed and the show commences, these mosquito curtains are drawn aside until the program is completed. When the performance is completed, they return, heavily veiled, to their harems. These women are of course dressed in their native costume and generally bedecked with many jewels. Their noses are studded with precious stones and their ankles are adorned with bracelets. Progress Made in India Considerable progress has been made in India in the production of Indian films in which are used the old legendary stories of India with a Hindu cast. Instead of building sets, they make use of painted backgorunds. Many of the theaters in India cater to native audiences only, but where American productions are presented, a special section of the house is set apart from the native audience, the prices charged being considerably less than the prices charged foreigners. Matinees are very popular with children, and, with regard to Oriental audiences, exclusive of India and Java, women predominate. The seating capacity of the theaters varies, the average for the smaller houses being five hundred seats, while the larger houses, mainly for natives only, have a seating capacity of twelve to fifteen hundred. The musical accompaniments, except in the native houses, are the same as those used in this country. Pictures are as a rule scored locally with the exception of those pictures which have special musical scores sent out with the picture. In Java, many of the theaters are built in two sections. The front of the house is patronized by foreigners while the natives sit behind the screen and view the picture from this angle. It is impossible for them to read the subtitles but this is of no account inasmuch as the native reads neither English nor Dutch. The native pays the equivalent of about three American cents to see his picture entertainment, and at the present time earns about forty American cents a day for his labors. Admission prices for foreigners are much about the same as paid in America. There are a number of open air theaters in the Dutch East Indies which are particularly suited to the tropical climate being much more comfortable than the usual type of theater in other countries. There is a very strict censorship of pictures throughout all Oriental countries. Pictures depicting scenes of torture or showing the white race in a degrading atmosphere, attempts successful or 663