The Cine Technician (1939)

April-May, 193; THE CINE-TECHNICIAN 27 The Gold Rush " aMoriey Behind the Screen," a Report prepared on behalf of the Film Council by F. D. Klingender and Stuart Legg (Lawrence & Wishart, 5f) reviewed by IT is the more dangerous to muddle along in an industry in which the differences between showmanship and racketeering is often slight and may pass in the confusion unnoticed. . . . With , say, fifty thousand pounds to spend on a picture it is important to know that only twenty thousand pounds will be left, after the extravagances and the rake-offs, to go on to the screen," says John Grierson in his introduction to this illuminating publication. The book aims to supply the answer to who owns "The Money Behind the Screen," of much more interest to film workers than may be at first apparent. Technicians and others who have collected a number of bouncing contracts during their film career will find at least part of the reason why in this book. Mushroom Growth of Independent Production A.C.T. has frequently complained of the formation of independent production units, most of which are private companies with relatively insignificant capital resources of their own. Production is financed by short-term advances against the expected returns from films about to be produced or in process of production. An analysis of the particulars of charges registered during the first ten months of 1936, which are not necessarily complete, as published in the Kinematograph Weekly, show that the total amount raised in the form of guarantees (and in a few instances in that of debentures) by production companies, other than studio enterprises, was in excess of £4,000,000. The comparative ease with which it has been possible to raise money for production without many of the customary safeguards which might exist in other industries has been a contributory factor to the large increase of new companies registered during the past few years. New film, cinema, etc., companies were registered at the following rate during the first twelve years, according to particulars published in the Kinematograph Weekly and Kinematograph Year Book : — Year. Prod lation.* Renting. Exhibition. Miscellaneous, (including equipment, etc). Total 1925 15 25 11(1 26 176 1926 21 25 138 26 210 1927 26 17 143 29 215 1928 37 16 94 25 172 1929 59 3 150 58 270 1930 36 1 176 IS 264 1931 55 5 174 19 283 1932 46 7 212 38 303 1933 64 6 222 57 349 1934 86 Ml 251 68 415 1935 108 IS 226 (SI 411 1936 87 7 196 47 337 (10 nit Il •) * Including a small proportion of renter-producers. It will be seen that 640 production companies have been registered during this period. Not more than about THREE PER CENT. ARE IN PRODUCTION AT THE PRESENT TIME. GEORGE H. ELVIN, A.C.I.S. Several of them have never completed a single picture. A still larger number have never made a second film. It is impossible to calculate the total sum due to technicians and other workers in respect of salary arrears or broken contracts through financial failure of production companies. But it is a large amount, and owing principally to the methods of financing production of many of the independent producers it is irrecoverable and hopeless to pursue claims. A recent case where A.C.T. members under contract to the company were concerned, showed, upon winding-up of the company, liabilities exceeding £1 1,000, and assets of £30 12s 3d (£3 2s 3d being electricity deposit returnable and £27 10s Od due from one of the directors to the company). Nearly £500 was due to technicians under contract, none of whom received a penny. IN THIS CASE THE FILM WAS NOT EVEN COMMENCED. Profits But No Dividends There is another point of great importance to employees. Salary increases may be opposed on the grounds that shareholders are not getting dividends, and reductions imposed because a company is apparently working at a loss. But this does not necessarily mean that profits are not being made. Money Behind the Screen summarises :: SPECIALISTS IN :: SOUND RECORDING LEEVERS-RICH offer the independent producer unequalled facilities in all branches of Sound Recording. Their experience, both of short and of feature film production, ensures an exceptionally efficient and economical service. RECORDING STUDIO MOBILE FILM UNITS FILM RECORDING DISC RECORDING PLAYBACK UNITS LEEVERS-RICH AND COMPANY LIMITED TELEPHONE MUSEUM 4700 53 BERNERS ST LONDON, W.I