Business screen magazine (1946)

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Business Screen's 2nd Annual Producer Survey 89% replied that costs were up. None noted lower costs, while 1 1 % found costs about the same. "Costs are way up on foreign-made equipment." "One bright note seems to be an improvement in 16mm shooting and processing costs, which clients are more and more willing to accept over the larger formats." "Costs are surprisingly stable." "Lab minimums are up. No change in labor." "Costs are up, but not excessively." "Inflationary trends are part of civilization and we should learn to accept them like mowing the lawn, soap operas and snowmobiles." 3. Have you thought any more about videotape as a production medium in the past year? Does it offer you any advantages? pfc csults of Business Screen's 2nd V~Z Annual Producer Survey, which L « was submitted to a sampling of pproximately 50 of the independent idustrial producers in the United tates and Canada during July, inicate that business is again up over le previous year, although costs have so risen. More producers are thinkig about videotape production, ex;rimenting with it, and some are faring their clients video ser\'ices I a regular basis. It seems to be a toss-up whether lere is a trend for writers to work diictly with sponsors or not. Much ;hement response was noted on this ie, with auteur types, refusing to ever ; cast into a service house posture. A slight majority of producers saw increase coming in films with story les. More recognized the probable ;mise of many of the "visual pyrohnics" we have seen so often in icent years, although there was not 1 inconsiderable belief that some yeball antics" have an important lie to play in story-telling — a valid sual and recognizable "shorthand" iderstood by all modern audiences. Almost unanimously, producers say at government bidding procedures •e getting no simpler, in fact, are itting more complex all the time, ot a few producers will no longer ek government work at all. Most producers believe that new id lighter camera, sound and editing juipment does make better, as well more easily produced, films, alough many still believe it is the m maker's skills alone which are c entire valid criteria. Here are the questions we asked in is year's survey, an analysis of the imerical response, and significant imments: /. How has business been during the past year? Up? Down? About the Same? Sh, (( d ->^^VA s:^ 1 Business is up 55 ^r of producers queried reported that business was up this year. 18% noted a decline, and 27% found it to be about the same. "Clients don't want to pay higher prices, which is reasonable; films naturally cost more to make these days; so we have an unreasonable situation." "Fewer films, but better quality, and higher budgets." "Business went up in the beginning of the year, was very slow in the second quarter, but is back up again." "Our business has increased by 50% — much of it in new areas of audiovisuals." 2. How are costs? Up? Down? Costs are way up Much thought. Little Action 57% of the producers are thinking about videotape, and some are becoming very active in the medium. 43% feel that videotape is not ready for them, chiefly because of high cost and lack of universal standards. "We've thought about it, but for us it still seems to have too many drawbacks. It's my hope that technical advances will make this medium available to us soon." "We are investigating very seriously, and will probably get into our first large scale program next year." "Thought about it. Done nothing yet." "Too many millions still required for the equipment." "We have a definite interest in Quad and EIAJ as release medium." "No, it just complicates our job. Everyone and his dog is suddenly an 'expert' — worse than home movies." "Yes, we have purchased a one-inch production facility.' "We keep videotape at arm's length and refer VTR business to our friends. We often find ourselves counseling industry clients who want many inexpensive training films to set themselves up with a good VTR facility. Maybe that's heresy, but that's the way we feel." "New lightweight equipment is starting to look attractive. Videotape is now an engineer's medium, film more of a creative medium. More good film people in tape would be a decided advantage." September-October. 1973— BUSINESS SCREEN | 35