Canadian Film Weekly (Oct 29, 1947)

October 29, 1947 Canadian FILM WEEKLY Page 5 No Increase In Capac Seat Tax cide a higher tariff in 1949 satisfactory to both parties. When agreed on the new rates would be submitted to the Copyright Appeal Board in Ottawa for approval. The Copyright Appeal Board will be asked to designate a representative who would bring both parties together and facilitate negotiations, so that the tume occupied before the Board would be reduced. It is hoped ' that a joint submission can be made before November ist of next year. Canadian rates to _ theatres have been the same since 1936, when a five-year agreement took effect. The agreement ended during the war and tthe tariff was kept at the same level. Capac, which succeeded the Canadian Performing Right Society and exchanges repertoires with its equivalent agencies in the USA and Britain, derives about $76,000 annually -from Dominion theatres. The Independent Theatre Owners of America, USA exhibitors association, has undertaken action in the courts to restrain Ascap, American equivalent of Canada’s Capac, from applying its new rates to theatres. It asks an injunction and at the same time seeks to restore to the court calendar its earlier case against Ascap, which was postponed for six months by agreement of all parties concerned. Schary Buys Story Dore Schary, RKO production head, has acquired “Honored Glory,” a story idea submitted by Henry Grunwald, contributing editor of Time and Life magazines. Two RKO Pix Win Two RKO productions won first prizes at the recent Cannes film festival. Walt Disney’s “Dumbo” was named as the best feature animated cartoon and “Crossfire’’ was selected as the best social film. In all, Hollywood took three of the top six awards. Mono Sets Cast For "Old Gray Mayor' New cast signed for “The Old Gray Mayor,’’ Monogram’s current Teen-Agers musical, includes George Fields, Don Ripps, Dick Paxton and Billy Snyder. Featured cast re-signed for continuation of the series comprises Freddie Stewart, June Preisser, Noel Neill, Frankie Darro and Warren Mills. Series is produced . and directed by Will Jason, and Gene Krupa’s band is featured in the film. H H producer’s bargaining ability is Exhib and Capac Representatives Pied Wy Deo eee H H chronization rights.” Agree to Negotiate Higher This splitting of synchroniza Theatre Tariff for '49 tion and exhibition rights, caused by Ascap’s Articles of Association and its contracts, contributes largely to its domination “The instant application has ents appear to support their po@"d control of the industry, he for its purposes (1) the presersitions. Capac, Canada’s music Contended. vation of the status quo pending royalties collection agency, inNor has the exhibitor the legal the final determination of this tends to more than double its Tight “to delete from any film action wherein the right of Ascap rates in the future but will enlicensed from them for exhibition to make any charge is directly in deavor to obtain exhibitor apany portion of the dialogue or issue, and (2) the restoration of proval before filing its tariff with ™music incorporated therein.” this case to the calendar for im-_ the board. “Normal economics or the momediate trial so that all ques“Ascap, whose control has per-_ tion picture industry dictate and tions can be disposed of with verted the normal development require that the rights of synfinality,” said Harry Brandt, of the entire motion picture inchronization, as well as of expresident of the ITOA. “The dustry,” said Brandt, has “under hibition and license for exhibition precipitant action of Ascap in the guise of a benevolent assoshould be simultaneously acquirelecting to terminate existing ciation organized for the proteced at the source of manufacture agreements and to impose the tion of the poor and defenseless or production and not divided, new rates demonstrates its absocreative author and composer... because a motion picture film pro (Continued from Page 1) lutely dictatorial control over the achieved a monopolistic control.” duction is economically valueless motion picture exhibition indusMotion picture producers “in without the right to exhibit it. try.” bargaining with the copyright Thus, by withholding the right In the USA the relationship proprietors of music for the right of public performance of their between Ascap and its custoto incorporate such music into copyrighted musical compositions mers is the same as exists in any their film preductions, do not synchronized with motion picother industry. In Canada, howand cannot bargain at the source, tures, the members of Ascap, ever, the Copyright Appeal so to speak, for the right of pubthrough their assignee, Ascap, Board, which meets annually in lic exhibition or performance of control the public exhibition Ottawa, has the right of approthe music so incorporated in the rights of the entire motion picval over license fees. All such film,” Brandt stated. While exture, even though their contribufees must be filed with this govhibition rights to all other com_ tion to the motion picture may ernment body, before which repponent parts of a film are acbe insignificant in relation to the resentatives of Capac-and its cliquired, in the case of music ‘the other component parts thereof.” It's a problem! 4, 4 / J an tad TO , j NY Z , of Je YY YG i oe Vii PP Xt SS 44 g 4, 7 Z! Z 4, . y ti 7 SW hj with GRETA GYNT “ws SA “We want seals by ourselves. 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