Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr-Jun 1957)

INTERNATIONAL U.S.-Britain Exchange Of Tv Scripts Proposed A MOVE for exchange between the U. S. and Great Britain of certain television scripts which, because of their controversial nature, have not been televised in their respective home countries, has been initiated by Mort Abrahams, executive producer of NBC-TV's Producers' Showcase. Mr. Abrahams, who will become a freelance producer next season following the demise of Showcase, said Wednesday that although the aspect of controversial scripts is but a minute facet of the overall plan to institute an international talent exchange program, the "controversial script swap" would enhance both the reputations of British commercial tv and U. S. playwrights. The idea for the international exchange is not his. It was sparked by British theatre magnate Sydney Bernstein, head (with brother Cecil) of the Granada Theatre Chain and the Granada Tv System which services the Independent Television Authority, Great Britain's commercial network. Mr. Bernstein contacted Mr. Abrahams late last month during the latter's brief stay in London to work with the Sadler's Wells ballet troupe. In effect, what Mr. Bernstein proposed, according to Mr. Abrahams, is a two-way system whereby American . directors and writers (so far producers aren't included) would do "one-shots" on ITA while their British counterparts would do more or less the same thing in this country. The British do not employ separate producers (in fact they call the producer the director). Mr. Bernstein feels this hampers the quality of tv, and thus may throw open the program to producers as well. Mr. Abrahams explained that ITA, lacking the funds and the technical know-how that U. S. tv is "blessed with," seeks "prestige" and "experience." One reason may be that ITA has become hypersensitive to charges made by certain segments of its own audience that the U. S. imported tv film series are "crassly vulgar and American." The Bernsteins aren't so much concerned with ratings as they are with attracting viewership. Once this has been accomplished, Mr. Abrahams asserted, "ratings will follow automatically." Since British tv does not have at its disposal the enormous fees U. S. tv gives to its contributors, Granada offers as bait the idea of "showcasing" material found to be taboo in the U. S. The firm already has proved it with its production, a few months ago, of Arthur Miller's adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's "An Enemy of the People." Mr. Miller is persona non grata on U. S. television. Mr. Abrahams noted. Messrs. Bernstein and Abrahams have gotten many nibbles in the past few weeks. Already committed to fly to England are directors Sidney Lumet. Franklin Schaffner, Clark Jones, Ralph Nelson, Charles Dubin and Don Medford. Although some, such as Mr. Nelson, are A FILM STATE DEPT.? TV FILM distributors need an organization comparable to the Motion Picture Assn. that could speak "with one voice" in dealings with foreign countries, Norman Katz, general manager in charge of foreign operations, Associated Artists Productions, said last week. Mr. Katz said that such an organization would be useful, too, in "creating an awareness overseas" of the potential of U. S. film product on tv when future regulations are promulgated by foreign countries. He said he based his observation on the belief that tv abroad eventually will follow the pattern of the theatrical business there. network-contracted talent, they are sure they will get leaves of absence. MCA-TV Ltd., which has a packaging agreement with Granada Tv, also is eager to cooperate, and so are several other talent agents whose clients fall into the "controversial" category. One of these, writer Reginald Rose, has agreed to make available to Granada all of his tv works that are presently "uncommitted," i.e., to stage or screen dramatization. In addition, he and Franklin Schaffner will try to air Mr. Rose's "Thunder on Sycamore Street," first seen in the U. S. in an edited form on CBS-TV's Studio One several years ago. (The Studio One version had Mr. Rose's original protagonist, a Negro, changed into a white ex-convict, and current plans call for another switch: This one to change the Negro into a Jamaican to fit in closer with the "British racial problem"). 'Problems' Are Few Insofar as "problems" are concerned, Mr. Abrahams feels there are few. The pay, he declares, is not the thing. But there are such matters as procuring work permits from the Ministry of Labour, the "tax situation" and other "minor bureaucratic details" to be attended to. The British may have no "union problem," but the Americans may very well have one. Possible hitch in bringing British talent to an already-overcrowded U. S. writer-director pool may rise out of objections voiced by the Radio-Tv Directors Guild. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Mr. Abrahams said. He also made plain the fact that this is a "private" project, unsupported by any U. S. network, though it is sponsored by the Academy of Tv Arts & Sciences. As of last week, the exchange program hadn't been formalized and chances are it won't be for some weeks to come. But "controversy" is still very much on ATAS' mind. At week's end, it was learned that the academy was discussing a move to interest Sylvester L. (Pat) Weaver Jr. in its efforts to clear time for "so-called controversial shows." Mr. Weaver, former NBC board chairman, has made public plans to package a "controversy" series of programs. Media Director Sold on Audit Bureau of Circulations HUGH H. JOHNSON Director of Media Kudner Agency, Inc. New York "I consider ABC Reports one of the most valuable tools at our disposal." B«T is the only paper in the vertical radio-tv field with A.B.C. membership . . . your further guarantee of integrity in reporting circulation facts. B*T, with the largest paid circulation in its field, is basic for subscribers and advertisers alike. B ROADCASTING TELECASTING THE BUSINESSWEEKLY OF RADIO AND TELEVISION Page 106 • May 13, 1957 Broadcasting Telecasting