The Cine Technician (1935-1937)

Aug. -Oct., 1936 The Journal of the Association of Cine-Technicians 47 suggests that the regulation should be that not more than one foreign technician should be employed in any category on anv picture ranking for quota. 7. Interpretation of Act — The new Act might usefully carry a glossary of studio and trade terms to help in its application. The Associated Reahst Film Producers, who are affiliated to A.C.T., presented the special case for documentary films, which was supported in its entirety by A.C.T., and was a detailed argument along the lines indicated in 4 above. With this type of film England has achieved international prestige, and its position as "the most creatively and nationally conscious section of British film production" entitled it to special consideration under the Act. It is interesting in this connection to note from the Board of Trade's own evidence,, that the production of British shorts has steadily declined from 150 in 1929 to 85 in 1936, or from 170,000 feet to 96,000 feet. This decrease in shorts is given by the C.E.A. as one of the special difficulties the e.xhibitor has to meet. For the e.xhibit-or, the C.E.A. declares, the margin of selection of quota films is all-important. The present 20'^^ quota "is proving a very severe test." Of 178 British films tradeshown during 1935, the C.E.A. viewers classed 64 as inferior or definitely unshowable. These were the worst type of 'cpiickie,' produced for meeting renters' quota. This left the exhibitor only 1 14 films to choose from. Were sufficient good British shorts being made, he could make up his quota requirements from them. But they were not being made and he had to find long British films to offset the lack of them, which increased his actual long quota to about 24%. The C.E.A. make a suggestion similar to A.C.T.'s, that exhibitors' quota should be reduced to 10%. This, coupled with the fixing of the necessary quota for renters' (which presumably would be 20°,o), they feel would meet the original intentions of the Film Act, "that there should be a margin of two films from which to select one." They are not, however, in favour of the cost basis of qualification, as they feel that it would decrease rather than increase production ; that £2 per foot is not high enough ; while to put it higher would make for an even greater decrease of production, with consequent difficulty to the exhibitor. They would like some standard of quality or exhibition value enforced for quota pictures, to be administered by a committee ; but they admitted, in verbal evidence, the administrative and financial difficulties of such a method. An interesting suggestion to meet partly the abuse of the silent Empire-produced picture, introduced into this country merely to meet renters' quota, is that the new Act should apply by definition to "sound" films only. As they say, "This back door must be closed." The Film Producers' Group are in agreement here. They make the same suggestion as A.C.T., that Dominion-made films should be available for quota here only on a reciprocal basis. On other points, however, while they agree with other sections of the trade in principle, they diverge widely in the details of their proposals. They agree broadly that the present Act has served its main purpose ; that it has led to certain abuses which a new Act should aim to remedy ; [Continued on page 48) 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 I he film is permanently lubricated. 4, The sound track is similarly protected, obviating dis '_'. The emulsion is considerably hardened so reducing the tortion. liability of scratching. 5. The process sets the emulsion, sealing the lubricated 3. The film is rendered impervious to oil, water or dampness, pores, case-hardening the emulsion, thus extending and is immune to any climatic conditions. 4 t(.) 5 times the life of 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. Telephone : Temple Bar 3221 MM