The Film Daily (1921)

The Independent Market I. Joseph Sameth PRESENTS The Shadow " STARRING tfuriel Dstriche CLIENT PRODUCTIONS ritten and Directed by CHAS. DAVIS, 2d Hearts he Range" with Milburn Moranti and Alma Rayford 3RWARD FILM 3ISTRIBUT0RS Inc. OW 40th St., N.Y.City Independents Organize -A Suggestion Which Meets Approval Among Leaders Could Put the Business On a Sound Basis — Drive the "Short Roll" Operators and "Gyps" Out of the Field and Put Conditions On a Real Basis — Some Reasons Why It Is Needed Why not an organization of independents-buyers as well as sellers? Why not an organization which would put sound business methods in this field, driving from the field those operators who have from time to time been working on "short rolls" and who have given the sellers all kinds of trouble? A prominent member of one of the largest concerns in the independent field, when asked about such a move, said: "We have talked about such an idea very often. There are only about half a dozen large operators located in New York, and when we have had any reason to question any buyer we have talked it over. But there is no reason why we should not be organized, and I will be very glad to talk it over." The head of another large concern declared that such an organization would be "of inestimable value" to the independents. "We need such an organization very much," he said. Said the distributor who is sponsor of the idea: "When you think of what the distributors in the independent field are up against," said Sameth, "it can easily be seen why such an organization should exist. A buyer comes in and makes a deal. We order the prints from the laboratory and tie up possibly $1,000. Then what happens? The prints go out, and the advertising matter as well. That is our money. Then if this man is 'wrong' he refuses to accept the express package and it gets into the 'onhand' department, where it can easily be lost. If we fail to push the transaction through the package rests in the express company and that is the end of it. If by chance we have sold all the rest of the country and this buyer fails to take up the package, it means we are absolutely stuck. If there is some territory open we still have a chance of using those prints. "But why should a business of this importance and size have such problems to meet? If you take a signed order by a recognized business' concern in any other field to your bank you can do something with it. It 1 1 Out Of Business Small Independent Companies May Be Closed if Censorship Bill Becomes A Law Should Governor Miller sign the Clayton-Lusk act and bring censorship to New York State, it was predicted yesterday by a well known film man that this would probably result in a number of the smaller companies being put out of business. "All prints and negatives will be taxed under the bill," said this man, "and I don't see how the smaller concerns will be able to stand this assessment, especially at this time. The tax is $2 and $3 a reel for prints and if a concern has several branch offices and several prints of each subject it means an assessment of something like $5,000 to be paid on August 1. I'd like to know how .many concerns are in a position to put up this amount of money. I mean the smaller concerns. I can see a lot of them going out of business. "Just what will happen to these prints I don't know. They will either be sold outside the state for whatever they will bring, or they can be destroyed. They would make a fine bon fire. That's what the bill is going to do to the little fellow. The big concerns don't count. Famous Players can put up its $70,000 without a quiver. But what about the little fellows?" means something. But in this business an order is meaningless. "This is only one of the problems which an organization can work out. The organization should include the buyer as well as the seller and by getting together occasionally and straightening out our difficulties we can put this business on a footing that is safe and sound. Let's do it." A dvertising ideas poorly executed are wasted dollars. Make your advertising dollars — "fighting dollars.' C. J. Ver Halen and Staff Advertising Engineers 117 West 46th Street, New York City Telephone Bryant 0248 THE HOPE DIAMOND MYSTERY Feat uring Grace Darmond Has greater exploitation possibilities than any picture ever made. That is one of the reasons Pioneer bought it for New York. You can't go wrong if you follow their example. Some Open Territory Still Left HOWELLS SALES CO. INCORPORATED 729 SEVENTH AVE. NEW YORK CITY