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

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38 COMMITTEE ON CINEMATOGRAPH FILMS 12 May, 1936.] Mr. F. W. Baker, Mr. M. N. Kearney, [Continued. Mr. A. Korda, Mr. N. Loudon and Captain the Hon. R. Norton. 17. The following paragraphs set out in detail the proposals which British producers wish to make lor amendment of the Act : Where necessary the reasons for and purport and scope of the several proposals are indicated. Proposals of British Producers for Revision or Re-enactment of the Cinematograph Films Act. 18. The purpose of these proposals is to provide for a continuation of the quota system for the protection of the British Industry, to secure the production of more and better British films, to eliminate the poor quality " quota picture," to facilitate the task of exhibitors in securing a sufficient quantity of suitable British films of quality to meet their requirements and to rectify various provisions of the existing Act so as to meet present clay conditions in the film industry and ensure further attainment of the main objects at which the Act aims. Reference has already been made to the number of British films of poor quality now made for the sole purpose of fulfilling the quota obligations of renters of foreign films. This class of film must be done away with. The present tendency of production in Great Britain is to make many more films of quality for universal distribution — films which must depend upon quality alone in order to achieve financial success and which, although they may serve for quota, are not produced chiefly for that purpose. Vast new studios have, as previously stated, been constructed or are in course of erection, and their output cannot fail substantially to increase the number of high class British films that will be available for rental within the next few months and subsequently. The statistics furnished in Annexe III to this Memorandum indicate the great increase in studio capacity: they also show the increase in the number of feature films produced in 1935-6 as compared with the first year of the Film Act's operation, but they are particularly valuable in indicating the huge increase in production cost of the genuine British pictures now produced and to be produced, and the large sums of money paid out annually in the form of salaries and wages in this country. The following are the recommendations of British Film Producers : — Proposal 1. — That the principal substance of the existing Act be maintained, and re-enacted to cover a further period of at least ten years from the date of coining into force, the unexpired period of the 1927 Act being repealed from such date. Proposal 2.— That the principle of the present quota system be maintained, but applied in a somewhat different manner. Quota to be a percentage of foreign films acquired by renters and shown by exhibitors 'instead tof a percentage of all films handled as at present. All films to be registered as at present in order to be eligible to serve as renters' or exhibitors' quota, and the Board of Trade registration certificate to state clearly whether a film so registered is available for routers' and exhibitors' quota or for exhibitors' quota only, ns the case may be. Renters' qi'ota.— Long films (i.e. over 3,000 feet in length). (a) All long British films as defined in the present Act (subject to suitable modification as regards films made in overseas Empire countries and in other minor respects as herein proposed) to be eligible for registration as renters' quota. (b) Long films registered for renters' quota costing less to produce than a total of £2,500 per reel of 1 ,000 feet, or £1,250 per reel in respect of the items required to be returned on Board of Trade Form " C," subject to f) maximum total requirement of £15,000, or £7,500 on Form " C." in respect of any one film , to be described on the Registration Certificate, on all copies issued, on all invoices, in all publicitj material and on a special title certificate to be displayed legibh on the screen after the main title and again at the end of the picture at every performance for a minimum period of 30 to 40 seconds, on each occasion, in the following or similar suitable manner : — " This picture is a Benters' Quota Film acquired by Messrs. to enable them to distribute foreign films.'' Long films registered for renters' quota costing more than the amounts indicated in the immediately preceding paragraph not to be required to carry such certificate or display it on the screen. No long film costing, on form " C " basis, less to produce than 15s. per foot, with a maximum requirement of £4,500 in respect of any one film, to be eligible for registration as renters' quota. (c) Long British films not registered for renters' quota not to be required to carry any special description. (Note 1. — Experience has proved that there is a direct relationship between the total production cost of feature films and the expenditure for salaries and wages (75 per cent, of which must be paid to British subjects) as returned on form " C." The form " C " figures' vary between 45 per cent, and 55 per cent, of total cost, with an approximate average of 50 per cent.). (Note 2. — Producers are convinced that the stigma attaching to the showing of poor quality " quota pictures " would quickly cause the public to refuse to patronise such films and that exhibitors would refuse to rent them. The pillorying of the cheap quota film would rapidly lead to its own extinction once the public became aware of the purpose for which it was produced. Only renters mainly engaged in the renting of foreign films (who are the chief offenders in the distribution of poor quality " quota quickies ") .would be affected by the proposed new provisions. Renters whose main business is the renting of British films on their merits would not be affected. Producers have given most careful study to the problem of the Quota Act and have investigated many plans for elimination of the poor quality " quota picture." They do not suggest that high cost of production necessarily means good pictures or that a cheap picture cannot sometimes be a good one, but experience shows that films registered for renters' quota and costing less than the figure indicated are generally bad. If a good British picture were produced cheaply it should not suffer from tin' " label." On the other hand, if made by a genuine British producer for purposes other than that of merely supplying foreign renters' quota, the less expensive British picture could be registered for exhibitors' quota only, reined on its merits and would not. therefore, be compelled to carry any " label.") («/) Suitable modification of the Act to ensure that poor quality British pictures routed by exhibitors shall not lie shown in theatre during what are known as " dead " hours. The law should ensure that British films shal] be shown regularly in the regular programme. (.V../, 3. Section 10 of the Act lays down the manner in which the proportion of British registered films shall W exhibited m all theatres, it has become a practice in many theatres to exhibit the poor quality