Minutes of evidence taken before the Departmental Committee on Cinematograph Films (1936)

APPENDICES 33 5 Ma y, 1936.] ! 2. In certain circumstances imported negative cinematograph films are chargeable with duty as blank film. Details are as follows: — (1) If it is proved to the satisfaction of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise as respects any imported negative cinematograph film, whether developed or undeveloped, (i) that the production of the film was organised by persons whose chief, or only, place of business was in the United Kingdom, and (ii) that the producer of the film and all the principal actors and artists employed for the production thereof, except five, or if the total number of the principal actors and artists is less than twenty, not less than three-quarters of the principal actors and artists were British subjects and domiciled in the United Kingdom. that film is, subject to compliance with such conditions as the Commissioners may by Regulation prescribe, treated for the purpose of the above duties as being blank film. The expression " artists " includes the person working the photographic camera by means of which the pictures composing the film are taken. (2) Negative cinematograph films which are certified by the Board of Trade to satisfy the requirements of Section 27 (3) of the Cinematograph Films Act, 1927, and parts of any films so certified may, subject to compliance with such conditions as the Commissioners of Customs and Excise may by Regulation prescribe, be treated as if they were blank film. Briefly stated, the requirements of the section are that the film must have been made by a British subject or company; the studio scenes must have photographed within the British Empire; the author of the scenario must have been a British subject; and a prescribed percentage of the salaries and wages spent in the production must have been paid to British subjects. 3. Certain scientific and educational films. whether positive or negative, are exempt from duty. Details are as follows : — (1) Any cinematograph film which is certified by the Royal Society of London for promoting Natural Knowledge to be solely an illustration of scientific investigation for exhibition before members of a recognised scientific body and which is imported only for the purpose of such exhibition free of charge is exempt from this duty. (2) Customs duties arc not chargeable on imported educational cinematograph films which are certified by the Board of Education under Section 7 of the Finance Act, 1935. The expression " cinematograph film " for the purposes of the section mentioned means a developed negative or positive cinematograph film and includes both a gramophone record or other form of sound reproduction complementary to such a film and a developed negative or positive sound track. APPENDIX IX. Employment in the Film Producing Industry. The only official information available concerning the number employed in the film producing industry is that contained in the Census of Population taken in 1931. The Occupation Tables in connection with that census show 454 persons employed as film producers or film studio managers in England and Wales and one in Scotland. The Industry Tables show a total of 5,963 persons employed in film producing and film studios in England and Wales. These are subdivided into 3,961 males and 2,002 females, and are also subdivided into : — Employers, directors, managers, 439 — 416 males and 23 females — of whom 297 were branch and departmental managers; Operative employees, 5,457 -3.496 males and 1,961 females ; and Working on mm account, 67 — 49 males and 18 females. The above figures are exclusive of 675 persons who were out of work when the census was taken. These are subdivided into 516 males and 159 females. The total number of persons employed in film producing and film studios in Scotland was 65 — 3!) males and 26 females. The above figures do not include the artistes and persons employed on crowd work. There have been considerable developments in the film production industry in the United Kingdom since 1931 and it may be assumed that at the present time employment is substantially greater than is shown by the above figures. APPENDIX X. Films registered under Provisos (i) and (ii) to Section 27 (1) or the Cinematograph Films Act, 1927. 1. Under Section 27 (1) of the Act it is provided that the Ait applies to all cinematograph films, other than — (a) films depicting wholly or mainly news and current events ; (b) films depicting wholly or mainly natural scenery ; (c) films being wholly or mainly commercial advertisements; 36152 (d) films used wholly or mainly by educational institutions for educational purposes; (e) films depicting wholly or mainly industrial or manufacturing processes ; (/) scientific films, including natural history films. 2. Under proviso (i) to the Section the Board oi Trade are authorised to register for full quota films_ falling within anj of the excepted classes having regard to their special exhibition value. Before p.,, lung a decision in such cases it is the prac of the Hoard to consult the Cinematograph Films Advisory Committee. The following table shows the number of films which have been registered under this proviso since the Act came into force: — K