Film Weekly 1956-57 year book : Canadian motion picture industry (1956)

CENSORSHIP ALTHOUGH motion picture censorship in the USA is shrinking through one legal blow after another based on the Supreme Court decision of some years ago, Canada remains about the most over¬ censored country in the world. Quite a few anti-censorship articles have appeared in Canadian periodicals in the past few years, while during that time there have also been heard demands for greater re¬ strictions. Film censorship in Canada is a Provin¬ cial matter, although it is considered that Customs officials can exercise Federal au¬ thority to stop entry should they so desire. The great inconsistency of the day is that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, outside the power of Provincial officials, can and does show films without any censorship it does not impose upon itself. The censorship idea not only encompasses film content considered unsuitable by ap¬ pointed officials but bans juveniles from theatres under certain conditions. But neither juveniles nor objectionable content can be banned from the home — and that is where uncensored films arrive via tele¬ vision. This discrimination is kept alive, some insist, to maintain the flow of revenue from per-reel censorship charges. The Canadian Motion Picture Distributors As¬ sociation, while not objecting to censorship as a body, has asked and in some cases re¬ ceived reduction of censorship fees. It con¬ tends that censorship, which has a doubt¬ ful legality because it constitutes pre¬ judgment, should not be operated at a profit. The question of whether censor¬ ship is legal under the British North Ame¬ rica Act has never been determined, a test having been dropped before it reached the Privy Council. Canada has eight censorship boards in ten provinces and fees are paid in nine. That is a greater number than exist in the 48 states of the USA right now. CENSORSHIP BOARDS AND RATES BRITISH COLUMBIA CENSOR OF MOVING PICTURES 636 Burrard St., Vancouver, BC. (TAtlow 4181, Local 56) Operates under the Department of the Attor¬ ney-General and Senior Officer is Hon. R. W. Bonner, QC, Attorney-General. Chief Censor is R. W. McDonald. Chief Inspector of Theatres is W. A. Walker, Provincial Fire Marshall, 41] Dunsmuir St., Van¬ couver. CENSORSHIP FEES 35 MM. — Silent films: $1.50 for the first 1,000 feet and 75 cents for each additional 500 feet or fraction thereof. Sound films: $4 for the first 1,000 feet and $2 for each additional 500 feet or fraction thereof. Additional prints: $3 for the first 1,000 feet and $1.50 for each additional 500 feet or fraction thereof. Trailers: $2 for each 500 feet or fraction thereof. Other (without film exchange license and/or not mentioned previously): $6 for the first 1,000 feet and $3 for each additional 500 feet or fraction thereof. 16 MM. — Silent films: $1 for the first 400 feet and 50 cents for each additional 200 feet or fraction thereof. Sound films: $2 for the first 400 feet and $1 for each additional 200 feet or fraction thereof. Additional prints: $1.50 for the first 400 feet and 75 cents for each additional 200 feet or fraction thereof. Troilers: $1 for each 100 feet or fraction thereof. Other (without film exchange license and/or not mentioned previously): $3 for the first 400 feet and $1.50 for each additional 200 feet or fraction thereof. APPEALS — $25 for each appeal. TELEVISION — Fees for films to be used for TV broadcasting are at the same rotes as above. NEWSCLIPS — $1.50 for each 500 feet or frac¬ tion thereof for newsclips added to a newsreel. Additional prints — $1 for each 500 feet or fraction thereof. AD FILMS — 50 cents for each 100 feet of film or fraction thereof for screen advertising film. EXCHANGE LICENCES Exchonge licences are issued by the Censor of Moving Pictures in Vancouver and the annual fees are $300 for 35 mm. and $25 for 16 mm. 167