The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

July 1955 CINE TECHNICIAN 101 WHO GETS THE MONEY? \ FEW years ago everyone was ■^ complaining of the dearth of statistical information about the film industry. Now the conscientious student is more likely to grumble about its multiplicity. What with the Board of Trade monthly figures, the B.F.P.A. " Statistical Digest " and the Annual Report of the N.F.F.C., no one can complain of lack of research material. Of course, statistics don't get more films made, but they do tell us how many are made, who sees them and who gets the money. So the second issue of the B.F.P.A. Digest, June 1955, is to be welcomed. Running a somewhat jaundiced eye down its summaries, I notice that in 1954 we produced more films of over 6,500 feet in Britain than in 1953 — 94 against 85 — and at the same time employed 350 fewer people in all grades to make them. On another page I discovered that total cinema attendances dropped from 1,285 millions in 1953, to 1,276 millions in 1954, but that net takings at the Box Office rose from £68.6 millions in 1953, to £71.4 millions in 1954. It would be reasonable to argue from these two facts that (1) fewer technicians and other grades have been required to produce a greater output and (2) the cash customers have been paying more for less frequent visits to the cinema. A.C.T.'s long-sustained contention that the division of total (gross) box office receipts is lopsided is more than justified by the latest figures. The " cake " is broken down in the following proportions : Entertainment Tax ... 32.69^ Exhibitors 42.2% Distributors ... ... 8.1% British Film Production Fund 2.5% Producers ... ... 14.1% (In case you notice an arithmetical discreptancy, the percentages have been rounded.) Of the Producers' share, less than a third goes to British producers; Hollywood, as ever, gets the biggest chunk, although there is a very small but welcome increase for our own product. One-third of all first feature films produced in the U.K. rely to some extent on financial backing from the National Film Finance Corporation, and another point of interest, particularly to Laboratory workers, is that in 1954, 39% of British first features were made in colour as against 21.2% in 1953 and 11.9% in 1951. The overall picture, therefore, is a little better than heretofore, but when one remembers the studios lost for ever to film production, and the years of chronic unemployment, much of it now taken up not by films but by TV, it is impossible to resist the conclusion that there is little cause for real satisfaction compared with the potentialities that were thrown away. Ralph Bond. Films at Question Time Mr. Benn asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Colonial Film Unit was disbanded; what annual savings on the Estimates are expected to be made from this; what consultations were held with colonial governments before the decision was reached; and whether, in view of the importance of work of the unit, he will make a colonial development and welfare grant so that this work can be carried on. Mr. Lennox-Boyd: The Colonial Film Unit was disbanded because, largely owing to the success of its own pioneering work in stimulating the development of local film units overseas, the need for the advisory and training services of a central unit in London had greatly diminished. Colonial Governments were fully consulted. Expenditure from colonial development and welfare funds for the last full year's operation of the Unit was £9,299. To assist those Governments still requiring technical advice on film matters the services have been retained in the Colonial Office of Mr. William Sellers, the former Head of the Unit. Attendances at cinemas during the first quarter of this year were fifteen million fewer than during the corresponding quarter of 1954. This drop in attendances was revealed in the House of Commons by Mr. Kaberry. Replying to a question by Mr. Swingler. Mr. Kaberry said: "Total attendances at cinemas in the first quarter of this year are estimated to number 309 millions, compared with 326 millions in the first quarter of 1954 and 328 millions in the first quarter of 1953. Mr. Swingler also asked what were the total film quota defaults in the last year for which figures were available; and how they compared with those for the two previous years. Mr. Kaberry replied that the last year in respect of which exhibitors' quota returns have been received and analysed was the vear ended 30th September, 1954. Quota failures for 1953-54 and for the two previous years were as follows : First Films other feature than first Year films feature Total 1953-54 ... 734 ... 1.116 ... 1.850 1952-53 ... 884 ... 1.626 ... 2,510 1951-52 ... 1,042 ... 1,901 ... 2,943 SENSATIONAL ! COLOSSAL! DYNAMIC ! CHAPINGO! We do noc say all this for our Coffee Bar, neither do our many friends in the film world who come in regularly for a coffee in the morning or a really good meal at mid-day. They just like it! Come and join them today — or if this is your busy day phone GERrard 0203 for some sandwiches for the office CHAPINGO Mexico in Soho 31 PETER ST., OFF WARDOUR ST.