Loudspeaker (Jan-Aug 1931)

ecutives of the motion picture industry, will work for the creation and exchange of systematized information, I feel sure that co-ordinated action can be secured, which will be of inestimable value.” There is a slowly growing realization that motion pictures are not manufactured like an automobile in a single factory, but are an assembled product passing from place to place and finally delivered to the public through those little factories — the projection rooms — away up the top and at the back of the house. Through the Projection Advisory Council we have been able to secure cooperative action along certain lines and slowly but surely are getting real results. I do not know of a single plan or idea sponsored by the Projection Advisory Council, which is not the result of long and intimate contact with projectionists. It is not strange that many of the excellent ideas advanced by projectionists have not been put into effect or that the Council is not able to secure more general acceptance of its ideas. There has been a woeful failure to realize the interdependence of the various departments of the motion picture industry and we are just about beginning to understand the urgent need for coordination. Executives of the motion picture industry have been largely responsible for the failure to understand the need for discussion and coordination. They have given comparatively little assistance to any organizations working for the betterment of the industry. It is, of course, true that motion pictures were put on a commercial basis about thirty-five years ago and the art of printing is about five hundred years old. The motion picture industry grew like “Topsy” and much allowance must be made, but in these times and in this country we move rapidly and we now have a right to expect better things. Through “collective thought” we get organized action and the executives of the indus try should do more to support all Societies and trade publications that are assisting in the campaign to improve technical standards. It is not sufficient to merely have technical Societies of the industry as it is absolutely essential to have their findings and activities brought to the attention of every technical department in this field through the medium of trade and craft publications. While we are discussing the obligation of executives to support cooperation and coordination, it is well for projectionists to ask themselves what they are doing along these lines. Projectionists who do not take an interest and give some support to such organizations as the American Projection Society, Projection Advisory Council and other craft organizations are not doing their full duty. Always small groups of men have been carrying on the work of these organizations and the entire craft deriving the benefit. The following is from an article signed “Clevelander,” in a recent issue of the American Projectionist : “The I. A., both local and international, is primarily concerned with organization, wages, working conditions, rules and discipline, both as concerns ourselves, kindred crafts in the Alliance and other branches of the Federation of Labor. It is sometimes argued that the I. A. should provide all this research, investigation, standardization and education being undertaken by the P. A. C., and A. P. S., yet it seems clear to the writer that our International officers should not successfully be burdened with this work in addition to their already onerous duties. Were it handled within the I. A. separate departments would have to be provided for the work with additional finances, thus gaining nothing over the present plans.” The I. A. cannot do the work of the various craft and technical organizations, nor can it very well officially approve of the activities of these or F o r ty -three