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

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE 173 14 July, 1936.] [Continued. original ideas but of little capital and less influence with the distributing section of the industry, to undertake film production, the prospects of continued improvement and extension of British film production will be increased. The certain future development of television broadcasts in this country is another reason why intelligent experimentation in film production should be encouraged. Proposals in detail of the General Council of the Trades Union Congress. 14. The following paragraphs set out in detail the proposals which the Trades Union Congress General Council wish to submit to the consideration of the Departmental Committee. 15. The object of these proposals is to ensure the maintenance and development of a strong and intelligently conducted British film producing industry and to assist progressively to improve the quality and to extend the influence of British films. Proposal 1. — That the Quota principle of the present Act be retained in any future Act but applied as a percentage of foreign films acquired and exhibited instead of a percentage of all films as at present, and that in any future Act the percentage of British films required to be acquired and exhibited by Renters and exhibitors respectively shall be as follows : — Renters' Quota : Proposed new Quota (being the percentage of British film to be acquired based upon the total of foreign film acquired). In the 1st year of any future Act, 29 per cent. In the 2nd year of any future Act, 33 per cent. In the 3rd year of any future Act, 38 per cent. In the 4th year of any future Act, 43 per cent. In the 5th year of any future Act, 48 per cent. In the 6th and subsequent year of any future Act, 54 per cent. Exhibitors'1 Quota: (To commence not earlier than six and not later than 9 months after the date of the commencement of Renters' Quota.) Proposed new Quota (being the percentage of British films to be shown based upon the total of foreign films shown). In the 1st year of any future Act, 25 per cent. In the 2nd year of any future Act, 29 per cent. In the 3rd year of any future Act, 33 per cent. In the 4th year of any future Act, 38 per cent. In the 5th year of any future Act, 43 per cent. In the 6th and subsequent year of any future Act, 50 per cent. Proposal 2. — The inclusion in any future Act of provisions to ensure that if films acquired and exhibited by Renters and Exhibitors respectively include both long films and short films the Quota requirements of such Act shall be satisfied as respects the short films so acquired and exhibited as well as respects all films so acquired and exhibited. Proposal 3. — (a) All films to be registered as at present in order to be eligible to serve as Renters' or Exhibitors' Quota. (b) Long Films (i.e. films over 3,000 feet in length). Subject to exceptions permitted by the reconstituted Advisory Committee herein proposed, no long film costing less to produce than 15s. per foot in respect of the items required to be returned on Board of Trade Form " C," subject to a maximum requirement of £5,(100 on Form " C " in respect of any one film, shall be eligible to serve as Renters' or Exhibitors' long Quota. (c) Short Films (i.e. films of 3,000 feet and !, Subject to the exceptions permitted by the reconstituted Advisory Committee herein proposed, no short film costing less to produce than 5s. per foot in respect of the items required to be returned on Board of Trade Form " C," subject to a maximum requirement of £1,500 on Form " C " in respect of any one film, shall be eligible to serve as Renters' or Exhibitors' short Quota. (d) The inclusion in any future Act of a provision to enable the Advisory Committee to the Board of Trade, as reconstituted in accordance with Proposal 4 of this memorandum, to permit of the registration of " long " British films costing less to produce than 15s. per foot on Form " C " basis and of short British films costing less to produce than 5s. per foot on Form " C " basis, as films eligible to serve as Renters' and Exhibitors' Quota if, in the opinion of the Committee, they possess special features entitling them to be so registered. Proposal 4. — That the Advisory Committee to the Board of Trade shall be reconstituted and made more representative (including representation of the Trades Union Congress and the Federation of British Industries) and shall be given power to make recommendations to the Minister as well as to supervise the working of the Act generally. It should also make an annual report, which should be published, on the working of the Act and the position of the British film industry. (Nate 1. — The above proposal was submitted to the President of the Board of Trade by the T.U.C. and the F.B.I, jointly in 1932. The General Council of the T.U.C. are of the opinion that the proposal resubmitted is of even more importance now that proposals are put forward for a greater measure of favourable treatment for British film producers. The General Council believes that it is a wise principle to include in any proposal for special treatment of an industry a proposal for the exercise of supervisory and advisory powers in connection with it.) Proposal 5. — The inclusion in any future Act of Clauses permitting the employment of juveniles in studios for the purpose of portrayal in films. (Note 2. — Detailed proposals in this connection have already been submitted by the T.U.C. to the Home Office.) Proposal 6.— That Section 27 (3) (iii) of the Act of 1927 shall be deleted thus removing the restrict ion that scenario writers must be British in the case of British Quota Films. (Note 3. — This Clause in the present Act is an unnecessary hindrance to British producers and is hardly in the best interests of the industry.) 17th June, 1936. (i) Memorandum by Wing Commandeb W. E. Wynn, R.A.F. (retired) At no time during the past nine years has feeling in America been so favourable towards Britain as to-day. This change in sentiment, especially marked in California, is to some extent due to British films, which, to many Americans, have broughl England closer than anything else could possibly bave done, Thej have undoubtedly established a subtle though effectual bond between many American picturegoers and ourselves. British films can becoi still stronger pro-British influence in the United St