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

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE 73 19 May, 1936.] Mr. S. H. Cole, Mr. D. Dickinson and Mr. G. H. Elvin. [Continued. and The Association of Cine-Technicians urges that the 75 per cent, clause sliould relate to techniciciAis only. By technicians is meant persons employed in the following departments of film production: — (i) Camera, (ii) Sound, (iii) Scenario, (iv) Editing and cutting, (v) Art. (vi) Floor and Production (Assistant Directors, Associate Producers, Production Manager, Script Girls, etc.). (vii) Stills, (viii) Musical (Musical Director), (ix) Make-up. (x) Sound maintenance, (xi) Projection. (II) Quota Percentages. (a) Renters' Quota. The renters' quota at present existing should be in creased gradually until it has reached 25 per cent. of its imported product — say to 22£ per cent, in 1940 and to 25 per cent, in 1942 and thereafter. Twentyfive per cent, would be a reasonable maximum. (b) Exhibitors' Quota. Exhibitors' quota should be reduced to 50 per cent. of the renters' quota suggested in (II) above i.e., from 10 per cent, to 12J per cent. This recommendation is made subject to recommendations (I) as to maximum cost bring incorporated] in the new Act. The Association of Cine-Technicians feels that these two suggestions would be a great stimulus to the production of better quality British pictures. With a reduced exhibitors' quota the renters would have to ,SELL their British pictures on a more competitive basis than at present. It is preferable to make pictures that exhibitors want to show rather than pictures they are forced to show in order to comply with the regulations. Reduced exhibitors' quota would encourage the manufacture of pictures which would have to sell on their own merits. On occasions producers would even find it commercially advisable to spend more than the suggested minimum of £12,000 — and more time in production, in order to make a competitive British picture. (c) Films for Specialised Halls. The Association of Cine-Technicians is of the opinion that the new Act sliould include some clause safeguarding the showing of non-commercial foreign films. It is understood that bodies such as Film Societies have in the past broken quota regulations and it is felt that the activities of such societies should receive some form of protection. There should be, if at all possible, a method devised whereby films whose total showing during any one year only total a few days should not be classed under the same quota regulations as the ordinary commercial film. (d) Penalties for non-compliance with the " Quota " Provisions. The Association would draw attention to the statement by Mr. Runciman, President of the Board of Trade, in the House of Commons on 18th February, 1936, to the effect that the number of exhibitors who failed to meet their obligations under the Cinematograph Films Act, 1927, in the three years ended 30th September, 1934, iwas 448, and that proceedings were only considered necessary in 14 cases. The number of renters who failed to meet their obligations during the three years ended 3'Hh September, 1935, was 17, and proceedings were only considered necessary in one case. Under the present Act, the Board of Trade licence may be withdrawn if contravention of the Act is deliberate. In the opinion of this Association the revocation should bo automatic for a period of not less than one year. It is possible that certain renters might prefer, in order to avoid paying, for example, the suggested £12,000 minimum for a picture, to pay a fine under Section 24, Clause lb, for default. To prevent this we suggest : — (i) that the fine be a flat £500 and not less, and (ii) that Section 24, Clause 2, referring to revocation of licences, should be made more stringent, so that three successive contraventions, whether deliberate or not, should automatically result in the withdrawal of the Board of Trade licence for a period of at least one year, as well as the fine mentioned above. While it is noted that it was 6tated by Mr. Runciman that a large proportion of the noncompliances quoted above were small, or due to special circumstances, the Association feels that renters and exhibitors should nevertheless be forced to meet their "quota" obligations. The Association suggests that both exhibitors and renters who fail to meet their " quota " obligations for whatever reason, and whatever other penalties are imposed, should have the amount of footage by which they fail to do so in any one year added to their next year's " quota " footage. If for any reason during the next year the renter or exhibitor fails to meet his double obligation, he should incur a further fine and his licence should be revoked indefinitely. (e) Cutting of films after registration. The Association of Cine-Technicians is of the opinion that films registered by renters as of a certain length MUST be exhibited by exhibitors at their full length. Any exhibitor failing to comply with these regulations should be liable to the same penalties as apply to renters under Clause 10 of the present Act. It is widely alleged that certain exhibitors have helped to discredit British films by the manner in which they have deleted portions of such films for exhibition after a film has been registered at a certain length. This, not being done by competent technicians in the course of production, but by the exhibitor in a haphazard manner, almost invariably destroys the dramatic continuity of the film. (III) Double Bookings. It is felt that safeguards should be made in a new Cinematograph Films Act to remedy the existing practice of double bookings. By "double booking " is meant the practice by which an exhibitor is sometimes persuaded by the renter to 'book, together with the feature film which he desires to show, shorts and other films by the same company. The exhibitor, who could not afford the price of the feature film alone, can only obtain it by showing an entire programme supplied by the renting company. The percentage of the takings apportioned to the feature and the other films may be a gross exaggeration of their respective proportionate values. In other words, the " quota " picture is not sold at its true value. Blind booking was prohibited in the Act of 1927 and we suggest that double booking should now be restricted. (IV) Documentary Films. The Act at present excludes from quota the following classes of film : — (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. (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. 36152