The Cine Technician (1939)

165 T II F. CI X E-T F < II X I C I A X Dec-Jan., 1937 WHAT THE SEPARATE QUOTA SCHEME MEANS (This is an anonymous article. The authot is a distinguished British journalist. For various causes, his reasoned plea on behalf oj the Separate Quota proposals must he published unsigned). T HF STANDING COMMITTEE which is consider spend on making en acquiring a quota picture, link their ing tlic Government's new Films Bill, begins "quickie" to some big American picture and offer it for discussion of the proposal for Separate Quotas as sale in double harness. The exhibitor who, in many ci we go to press. Tins new scheme was made would much prefer to buy a voluntarily made British picpublic only at the beginning of November. ture, is compelled by the renter to buy his quickie or Despite its complexity it Ins already become the do without the big American picture, dominant issue, and it promises an abundance of Parka How do the Government's proposals affeci all this? mentan headaches during the next few weeks. To grasp Very little. The minimum cost of the quota picture what is implied 1>\ " Separate Quotas" it is necessary first which the foreign renter has to make or acquire is of all tn summarise the existing situation. creased to £15,000. The present law requires that out of five full-length But the Bill perpetuates the system under which pictures which the renter (i.e., the distributor) offers for genuine British quality pictures have to compete (even sale, one shall be a British picture. inside the quota market which was intended to pr Concurrently the law requires that out of each five them) with the quickie which will in future be more pictures exhibited, one shall be British. costly but of wdiose quality there will be still no guarantee. Diagram i. Government Scheme Diagram 2. Separate Quota Scheme GENUINE BRITISH FILMS "**<. FILMS MADE IN BRITAIN SOLELY TO FULFILL RENTERS QUOTA' * RFNTF R S -:-" " "IMPORTED" IMPORTED ■ _ _ -i J ^ — L^-n^^ ---; UZ^ ^-CJ^~ "-^~^— " ;. OC[N MARK I I , GENUINE. BRITISH FILMS l 1 .Films maoe in BRITAIN SOLELY to fulfill RENTERS QUOTA R E r, r L R s QUOTA >> IMPORTED " FILMS -J IMPORTED :-~ — — — _ . — -Z= ^-^s.^^-C-^-"^ «^j^J -v_^^-_ -- -^.^ OPEN MARKET s 3 s This system, which was designed to give a quota pro Now look at Diagram 1. Tl ■ ws the treatment tection to British pictures, has in effect resulted in the the British film has been encountering durino the last protected market being largely cornered by the American ten years and which it would still encounter under the sponsored "quickie" which, while fulfilling the strict letter ( rovernment proposals. of the law has wholly vitiated the purpose behind the The vital part oi this diagram is the right-hand biw column under the heading ol "Exhibition." " lr fc*iese compUlSory quickies made for £6,000 apiece A British picture costing 620,000 or 630,000 will still are so inferior," you ma\ ask. "why does the exhibitor Lave to compete for exhibition with pictures made show them in preference to a genuine British picture, to fulfil the renters' quota. Perhaps the British picture made voluntarily, which may have cost £20,000 or will be excellent. More than likely the quickie it is com £30,000 and which in nine cases out o| ten is immensely peting with will be as inferior as ever, but the quickie will superior in quality to _ the^ quickie?" still have the selling pull of being coupled with a big all The answer is tins: The foreign renters, wishing to star American picture, to acquire which the exhibitor recoup some 0f the mone^ thej bave been compelled to will have to pocket Ins pride and his patriotism and