The Cine Technician (1939)

Dec-Jan., 1937-8 T HE CI N E-T ECHNICIAK L76 L.EIGH AMAN (continued from p. 169) A.pprox. number ol persons employed in motion pic The recently inaugurated Cartoon Department at ture industry in U.S.A. : 282,000. Of these, 28,500 M.G-.M. is interesting, for, as can be seen from the still, engaged in production, 12,500 in distribution and •J I 1,000 in exhibition. the methods employed are almost identical to sonic of our own cartoon production units. to conclude, a little comedy relief would be in place. The following figures are. T think, worth giving. They ' reproduce a memo, from the "Vice-President in Charge do -how the si/e 0i the industry here. There shouldn't "f Production ol a major studio to his department lead.. be any excuse for making a had picture' Figures are lo ALL DEPARTMEN'l HEADS. prepared by Nathan D. Golden, of United States Depart Confidential Correspondence. ment of Commerce, as of August 1st, 1937. It just seems impossible to cope icith a certain conTheatre investment $1,880,000,000 dition that is going on here, that is, leaving all un Studios investment $100,000,000 necessary lights burning throughout this entire plant. Distribution investment $20,000,000 When the crews stop for lunch no one makes an Estimated total gross box office effort to kill all the lights, the same thing goes for receipts in 1930 at U.S. theatres $1,000,000,000 any picture that is being worked on. They just sneak Approximate world attendance week out and leave the lights burning. No one seems to care ly was 220,000,000 one iota what is going on. I do not blame the men Approx. annual Hollywood payroll $85,000,000 working, I blante the foremen and the people who are Approx. weekly Hollywood payroll $1,650,000 at the head of each department. Estimated cost of production in 1936 $135,000,000 I "m going to hold you responsible and you in turn World expenditure by American can hold your foremen or anyone who directs this type companies on advertising $110,000,000 of work. First-run theatre rental per picture ranges from There is no reasomvhy this should go on, other than $5,000 to $25,000 weekly. it seems certain people haven't much interest in their Of 704 films released in U.S.A. last year ;"i47 were work and are just here for the ride. American. Origin of others: Argentine 1, China 1, ' hope I won't have to send any more memorandums Czechoslovakia "J. England 40, France 15, Germany out like this again as I am tired 0] being the only one 70, Hungary 12, Ireland 1, Italy 20, Mexico 26, that takes an interest in this type of saving. Mongolia 1, Palestine 1. Poland 4, Russia 13, When Alexander Korda writes a note like that to his Spain 2, Sweden 7. employees, then we shall know that Hollywood is really Number of producers of feature pictures was '214 of on its way to England. Until then I think we're safe — which 1(')4 were in California and 50 in New York. or is that the right word? NO MORE SCRATCHES THE NEW PEERLESS SYSTEM PRESERVES AND PROTECTS MOTION PICTURE FILM ADOPTED THROUGHOUT GREAT BRITAIN, U.S.A., FRANCE AND ITALY BY THE LEADING FILM RENTING ORGANISATIONS AND LABORATORIES. The remarkable feature of the Peerless system is the fact that the film is not unwound, wound, or manhandled during operation. The reels are simply placed in a patent vacuum chamber where certain vapours act on the emulsion, the result being: 1. The film is permanently lubricated. 4. The sound track is similarly protected, obviating 2. The emulsion is considerably hardened, so reducing the distortion. liability of scratching. 5. The process sets the emulsion, sealing the lubricated j. The film is rendered impervious to oil, water or damp pores, case-hardening the emulsion, thus extending ie ss, and is immune to any climatic conditions. .) to 5 times the life of the film. IN FACT THE PEERLESS PROCESS IN EVERY WAY PROTECTS AND EXTENDS THE LIFE OF YOUR VALUABLE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE FILM. PERMANENT PRESERVATION AT LOW COST. BRITISH INDUSTRIAL LABORATORIES ltd. 8/9 LONG ACRE, LONDON, W.C.2. T I< !l »,!jon% :, , . ' lemple Bar 5221