Canadian Film Digest (May 1974)

be syes Page 10 The National Association of Concessionaires, Canadian Eastern Region, Number Nine, held its annual one-day convention on April 22nd at Toronto’s Royal York Hotel. Amidst predictions of price chaos in supplies, the vendors still found huge smiles, because they’ve had the best first quarter in their history. The day began with a continental breakfast courtesy Standard Brands, where the two hundred delegates renewed friendships and discussed business. The previous evening the executive met for a dinner sponsored by Crush International. Moving to the Concert Hall, the delegates were welcomed by Eastern Region NAC VicePresident Sydney Spiegel of Super Pufft. He said that in spite of very disturbed business conditions, there are still opportunities for optimists who are prepared to accept challenges. This summation seemed to be the keynote fact of the day, running through all of the discussions. Moderator C.L. Sweeney of Odeon then introduced Harold Chesler, national NAC President from Theatre Candy Distribution Company of Salt Lake City. In his keynote address Chesler said that business has never been so good, and emphasised that the name of the game is not profits. ‘“They’re the results,” he said. ‘‘Service is the key, and the customer is king.” Chesler’s speech was followed by two films made for MacDonald’s Restaurants. The first, called Six Steps to Success, is a training film for new employees. It follows the routine of taayiG infil wcthraatdadd The Canadian Film Digest A panel discussion with the topic ‘Supply and Demand’ followed, chaired by Harold Chesler. Each speaker talked for sevéral minutes, then questions from the floor were taken. Jack Strachan of Coca Cola said the beverage industry is in a state of turmoil because of sugar prices. ‘In the past, drinks have taken up cost increases in food. That’s no longer possible.”’ Jack Stinsons of Neilson’s explained how raw material costs affect overall costs, and how chocolate and other ingredients are bought on the futures market. Jim Fox of Shopsy’s foods said that they emphasised not just nourishment, but quality and enjoyment. The audience _is no longer captive because of competition. Syd Spiegel of Super Pufft said that popcorn is the most favourable element is in the price spiral because of popularity. American Can’s M. McGuinness talked about a crucial topic: cups supplies. He said that in 38 years Dixie Cups had only doubled in price. Enough supplies are available, he said, until new facilities are built. Orders are being placed preparing an order, with speaker-comedien . | © Pat Paulson describing the process. ‘lhe MacDonalds people said that since the employee is young, the film was made with this in mind, and so it’s funny, fast moving, and even self-mocking. And very well received by the delegates. The second film was a record of a contest MacDonalds holds yearly to choose an all-star team of employees. Winnipeg was the site last year, and regional winners came from across the country. mone eemgee ge ween teres (oof ntenonenrnes Charles Sweeney of Odeon acted as moderator for the NAC meeting. Watch your sales and profits zoom. Call us for a presentation SHOPSY’S FOODS LIMITED Ae 4 2 Huxley Rd., Toronto 741-7181 ne ee se 7 = = spiinttiiaimnaasitiinesnce iS at Sydney Spiegel of Super Pufft and Vice-President of the Canadian Region of the NAC offers the welcome to the delegates. National NAC President Harold Chesler is on his right. for Canadian supplies from two mills. John Campbell discussed food services in supplying coffee, oils, etc., and explained that the problem lies in getting supplies to concessionaires; natural supplies in Africa have raised problems, as well as U.S. transportation difficulties. Finally Bert Nathan of Lilly Cups in the U.S. brought up the topic of ultimate levels of price raises. : Syd Spiegel had a bright note for the gatering. He said that while price increases in everything have ranged from 100 to 200 per cent, the federal sales tax of twelve per. cent, after successful lobbying, had been removed. Also anything marked take out will be tax -exempt. The subject of printing a price on a candy package was raised, and Chesler asked how it could be allowed in Canada. Neilsons commented that they had taken the price off new _ packages and that other candy suppliers would soon do the same. Gerry Dillon of Theatre Confections said that they sell as little candy as possible, because the markup is too small. Percentages are 22 percent candy, 8 percent hot dogs and food, and 72 percent popcorn. Morris Appleby, manager of Toronto’s Uptown Theatre, asked if there is any way of absorbing the sales tax, because of the irritation and inefficiency in charging it. Gerry Dillon said that now only National Licorice is The Shopsy Jumbo 747 | on Concessionaires join for day of gloom unpriced, so it can be absorbed. As the other companies follow suit, the sales tax can be absorbed. Discussion then ranged around coffee prices, and a universal price of 20c per cup was predicted by Fall. Chesler said that business, in spite of price increases, has never been better. ‘‘People want escape entertainment, movies are better than ever. But we must maintain it.” Odeon’s Sweeney commented from the exhib point of view. ‘‘We need the concession profit, though. It pays our bills. We just aren’t making enough money at the box office.” Chesler then described plastic supplies headaches. “‘I don’t even use them any more; they cost too much.”’ Much of the panel revolved around drinks. It is significant to note, too, that when discussing prices the Americans are significantly higher than Canadians. One member said that Canadians wouldn’t have the nerve to charge that much. Charles Winans of the NAC, an executive director, then described the activities of the group. He said that the premise is more opportunity because there is more demand for such activities. He mentioned the Concession Handbook, compiled by Ron Hodgkinson of Ontario. Lunch was preceded by cocktails, sponsored by Pepsi Cola Canada. The lunch itself was sponsored by Coca Cola and Shopsy’s Foods. Luncheon speaker was Bob Proctor. His topic was ‘Developing Human Resources’ and he emphasised that you only get out of an employee what you allow him to feel that he is putting in. Afternoon speaker was Julian Lefkowitz, of L & L Confections of Detroit. With countless humourous stories, he talked on topic ‘per-' sonnel and Popcorn’, but what he really discussed was the attitude to take toward business and various methods to increase business. ‘‘You decide on a profit level and charge according to it. Maintain it no matter how costs increase.’’ He chastised those who place popcorn in boxes by popping machines. Seeing only a bulk display has meant a 10-15 biel yah -lengss April-May 1974 and grin At the NAC meet: (left to right) H.T, Blumson of Odeon, Jack Strachan of Coca Cola, Morris Appleby of Twinex. percent rise in business. He said that at driveins with cafeteria-style service, two warmers should be used and free samples should be given out along with a display. About personnel, he described a method that he says is bringing fantastic results. ‘‘Personnel used to be 10 percent payroll. Now with tighter housekeeping Jaws, higher percentages — about 16 — and a desire for fewer man-hours, what we do is take the payroll percentage, add one percent, and say anything under that the manager can keep.”’ Mary Ann Corbett, Concessions Supervisor for North York, a Toronto borough, described non-profit concessions and dealing with a community rather than a small company. The afternoon closed with an announcement regarding the NAC National Convention in Atlanta in October. Since the meét was set up with HOSTEX 74, an equipment show at the CNE Coliseum, in mind, at 4:30 the delegates left for a tour. All in all, a worthwhile day, felt the delegates. And the convention committee, consisting of S. Spiegel, G. Dillon, J.P. Dymont, J. Strachan, R. Hodgkinson, D. Dumond, M.A. Corbett, J.F. Senior, and C.L. Sweeney deserved the thanks of those who attended. Nacom produces A-V show tor Newfoundland celebrations Nacom Ltd. of Toronto has produced a unique film-slide presentation in honour of Newfoundland’s Silver Anniversary Confederation celebrations that includes several technical firsts. Titled ‘Where it’s At’, the show premiered in St. John’s during the first week in April, and began a summer tour to over one hundred and twenty: locations during the next six months in Newfoundland and Labrador. Commissioned by the Confederation Committee for the Newfoundland Department of Tourism, the A-V show tells about Newfoundland and its people. Featured are the pulp and paper industries, oil refining, fishing and so on. And people: at church, working, shopping, step dancing, folk singing, and so on. Highlights of the presentation are outstanding panoramas and an underwater sequence, plus a live entertainer silhouetted on the Screen in the form of the 25th anniversary symbol. George D. McLean, President of Nacom Ltd., and director and creator of the presentation said: ‘‘ ‘Where It’s At’ is the largest film-slide show of its kind in the world to travel for this length of time. There are only two other slide presentations in North America that are as complex and they are both stationary.” McLean said that the show will be travelling with six collapsible screens of six feet in width, giving 180 sq. ft. of pictures. Each screen is divided by a 6” border to differentiate between the various screens. He also said that the equipment includes 12 Kodak GMB slide projectors with ultra wideangle lenses by Kodak of West Germany and Canadian made Bell & Howell film projectors, specially modified for this show and fitted with Buhl 9.5 mm wide-angle lenses. There are just under 5,000 slides in this show and one of the problems was the panoramic shots and how to show a skyline, for instance, on six screens without distortion as the camera moves from position one through six. After consulting with leading slide laboratories and lens manufacturers in North America and Germany, without success, Nacom Ltd. developed a_ technique of eliminating skyline distortion, and is the first to accomplish this. In conjunction with the slides, there will be movies which co-ordinate with the slide presentation on one or more screens. The sound for ‘‘Where It’s At’ will be provided for the First time by three channel sound. There will be stereo music on two channels, voice and sound effects on the third and the inaudible electronic impulses on a fourth separate channel. Under the’ overall supervision of Mrs. Gerry Fleck, the show was programmed by Brian and Noreen Damude, Dave Nicholson and Robin Prater, internationally known slide encoder. Cameramen included Albert Crookshank, a former Newfoundland resident, Scott Richards of neon Ltd., and Scott Strong of Newfoundland. Frank Beresford of St. John’s, who did some of the sound recording and Newfoundlander Bernard Murphy will travel with the slide-film show in the specially made van, for the six months. The sound was under the direction of Matthew Wilcott, of St. Alban’s, Newfoundland.