Canadian Film Weekly (May 1, 1970)

Page 4 CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY May 1, 1970 MY BAG By Ed Hocura As far as the Motion Picture Institute and Astral Films are concerned, there are other ways to publicize movies without relying on hefty newspaper expenditures to sell them. The former realized ten-fold what it spent to have a booth at last week’s Canadian Marketing Show; the latter realized extensive news coverage for its preview screening of Wedding Night at the Ontario Science Centre. Alex Stewart, of the Motion Picture Institute, and Bill Morland, of Astral Films, can take satisfaction in knowing that their efforts were not in vain. In Stewart’s case, he spent most of three days at the Canadian Marketing Show talking to fellow exhibitors and visitors about movies. The fact that the MPI booth was handing out free popcorn, theatre passes and sound track albums was incidental to the interest shown by major Companies in considering tie-in promotions with film distributors. And just around the corner from the MPI booth was a theatre that Stewart took advantage of with an assortment of trailers he had put together into a novel package. A\ll in all, the MPI booth benefited from a steady flow of people who stopped by to see what was happening in the film industry. With the co-operation of radio station CKEY, Astral Films was able to attract a cross-section of Torontonians to see an advanced screening of Wedding Night. Following the screening a _ panel discussion was held, and while it didn’t attain the results expected it did allow the panelists and members of the audience to get into a fairly lively battle of words on pornography and censorship. Martin Bockner, general manager of Astral Films, and Don Watts, director of publicity for Century Theatres Management Ltd., managed to keep their cool in view of some absurd questions tossed at them. Artist Harold Town, Toronto Telegram writer Dubarry Campeau and a lawyer were the other panel members. The one big fault to be found with the panel discussion was that at the time when it showed signs of developing into something substantial, it was ended. It’s possible that Astral Films may have picked up some good word-of-mouth publicity for Wedding Night, so what the panel discussion failed to produce the film managed on its own. So Billi Morland and Martin Bockner deserve full marks for pro viding the kind of film that other cities could consider in arranging a _ tie-up with a radio station to have a similar panel discussion. The fact that the CKEY-Astral movie night posed the question “Do movies reflect our society of today?” made it something worth trying. That it didn’t achieve what it might have was more the fault of the panel moderator than it was the panel members. Don Watts and Martin Bockner were ready to defend the movie industry, but some of the questions they were asked gave them little chance to get into the nitty-gritty of the problems facing exhibitors and distributors today. Here’s hoping both CKEY and Astral get together again. * * * NAMES THAT PASS IN THE NIGHT: Always a welcome visitor to the office is Bob Yankovich, director of publicity and advertising for Paramount Pictures in Canada. Yankovich chose the day to drop in when I was just putting the finishing touches to this issue, so I don’t have the space to pass along all he told me about his company’s product lineup for the coming months. But it will be in next week’s issue. . . When Ron Emilio, Canadian general manager of MGM, said he was going to make his current sales drive the biggest success he possibly could, he wasn’t kidding. He booked 13 of his company’s pictures to play at 20th Century theatres in one week. The two that caught my eye were Three Little Words and Words and Music, two of my all-time favorite MGM musicals . . . If memory serves me correctly, Inger Stevens almost made it to last year’s Canadian Motion Picture Industry Convention and Trade Show. But at the last minute, the actress who died suddenly last week, had to turn down the invitation extended to her because of a television commitment. Her death climaxed one of the show business world’s most tragic weeks on record, with the passing away also of Gypsy Rose Lee, Anita Louise, Ed Begley, Arthur Shields (brother of Barry Fitzgerald) and Cathy O’Donnell. MGM-EMI to jointly handle UK studio and distribution James T. Aubrey, Jr., president and chief executive officer of MGM, and John Read, chief executive of EMI, have announced an overall association which will result in the formation of two new jointly operated companies — one for film studio operations and the other for film —— distribution in the United Kingdom. The talks between the two companies arose after MGM had decided to close its Borehamwood Studios because a study by that company showed that the operation of a studio in England © was no longer economically viable. Therefore, MGM will close its facilities at Borehamwood immediately and take advantage of the studio facility at Elstree. Accordingly, all trade union representatives and employees were notified. The new studio will be called EMI-MGM Elstree Studios, Ltd., and will be managed by EMI. Its managing director and chief executive will be Bryan Forbes. Other members of the board will be Bernard Delfont, chairman; James T. Aubrey, Jr., deputy chairman; John Read and Humphrey Tilling representing EMI, and Douglas Netter, Herbert Solow and Oscar Beuselinck representing MGM. EMI’s present film production program at Elstree — together with the separate production schedule controlled by Nat Cohen, chairman and chief executive of Anglo-EMI Film Distributors Ltd. — will continue. MGM’s previously announced production program to be guided by Robert Littman will also continue as originally planned. The new company will operate under a seven year agreement to mid 1977 whereby both MGM and EMI will seek to concentrate at Elstree all their UK production during the term of this agreement — and in addition, to bring to the studios all post production work on films financed by the two companies but made outside the UK. EMI-MGM Elstree Studios, Ltd. and its film making facilities will continue to remain available to independent film and TV production companies. In addition, EMI-MGM plan to co-produce 6 to 8 films a year in the UK which will be distributed by MGM overseas. Discussions have taken place regarding new distribution arrangements for the UK market. As a result, a new company will be formed by MGM and EMI. It will be called MGM-EMI Film Distributors Ltd., and will be managed by MGM. Its managing director and chief executive will be Michael Havas, presently managing director of MGM distribution in the UK. The chairman of the new distribution company will be Douglas Netter of MGM and the deputy chairman Bernard Delfont of EMI. Other members of the board will be James T. Aubrey, Jr. and Oscar Beuselinck for MGM; and John Read, and two further directors to be nominated by EMI. The company will also operate under a seven year agreement to mid 1977. : At present, EMI’s film products are distributed in the UK by WarnerPathe Film Distributors, Ltd., but this arrangement will be terminated consequent upon the setting up of MGM-EMI Film Distributors, Ltd. Aubrey stated: “We are extremely happy to be associated with EMI because of its prominence in the entertainment industry. The arrangement pleases us because it enables us to remain in studio operations more efficiently and economically, at the same time strengthening the distribution of our product in the United Kingdom. The linking of two such experienced and strong organizations can only enable us to prosper in the years to come.” Commenting on the formation of EMI-MGM Elstree Studios, Ltd., and other joint operations plans, John Read, chief executive of EMI, said: “These developments have the merit in the first instance of providing greater stability for film production in this country. Elstree Studios should now enjoy a substantially greater loading of its facilities than might otherwise be the case. “We have every confidence in our own film making program — announced last year by Mr. Delfont, chairman and chief executive of Associated British Picture Corporation, Ltd. — and the combined programs of MGM-EMI and the independent producers should now provide total viability in the future. On the distribution side the new arrangement with MGM and ourselves will result in an impressive pooling of technical and financial resources. EMI would like to take this opportunity of acknowledging Warners’ understanding and thank them for their cooperation. “This closer association of acknowledged world leaders in the entertainment industry should in fact bring a strong measure of reassurance — and indeed greater prosperity — to the film industry in this country. It will undoubtedly make the investment in our own EMI activities even more secure.” i i a \ ‘ i . + 4 a 3 s 4 re x ; ; fi eae Tere eae Te ne Pon lb yp tia aC SN a lig ll ct on Si etn a Nine Layla sel pe EO, A gf geht ae ncn ape mma EE eaten eerie orate : ; E 8 ‘ 4 . ; ery te \ in fik hang Party (so So ~ ik