The Film Daily (1918)

Sunday, December 1, *— — ii ii in 1918 la)i4% DAILY wcrM, whch has become one of the greatest blessings to humanity and an agency of yet unguessed value to future generations — let this industry be free of such disturbers ! Let it not bo said when the full history of the motion picture art is written that its glory was blighted and its radiance dimmed by a would-be Caesar or Napoleon, who in destroying himself destroyed also the spirit and will of the constructive workers of the industry. I appeal to all those who have sought the motion pic= ture as a life=work, and who have found in the world of the studio, the exchange or the theatre an answer to the ambitions within their hearts calling for expression. I appeal to them to protect their worlds from invasion — not that they might go on making more money, but that they might expand their abilities and increase their efficiency the better to contribute to the motion picture's greatness. "WHAT BRANCH OF THE BUSINESS ARE YOU IN?" "WHAT IS YOUR FUTURE?" "WILL YOU HAVE A STUDIO OR A THEATRE?" As surely as there is a natural law of compensation, as surely as there is an irresistible impulse for selfpreservation, as surely as there is a point beyond which competition becomes an evil — instead of a benefit, so surely, if you want both, will you have neither. FIRST NATIONAL'S MANAGER REPLIES TO ZUKOR'S QUERY J. D. Williams Goes Into Subject of "Specializing." Makes Pertinent Points for His Side. Says Day of Individual Producer, Independent Distributor and Independent Exhibitor Has Arrived. By J. D. WILLIAMS (Manager, First National Exhibitors' Circuit, Inc.) Without feeling the need for deliberation, we have decided to comply with a frank expression of opinion on the vital issue that has been developed in the industry by those factors in the trade which are playing the triple role of producer, distributor and exhibitor. Deliberation before consenting to "Variety's" request was unnecessary because of the belief that the present posi•tion of the First National Exhibitors' Circuit cannot possibly be misconstrued through such a declaration. "Variety's" issue of October 25th contains a lengthy statement on specialization by Mr. Adolph Zukor, of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, base, bulwark and structure of Paramount-Artcraft distribution. "Variety" neglected to say whether it had asked us to provide the second article as the representative of the exhibitorowned distributing faction of the industry, or because it has official knowledge that Mr. Zukor's timely practical cry is aimed at First National Exhibitors' Circuit. However. Ave shall not permit any personal mental quandry over the point to becloud the issue involved in our text: Specialization. For purposes of accuracy I Avill confine myself in discussing "specialization" in relation to the motion-picture industry to the Standard Dictionary's definition of the word: "An occupation or study limited to one particular line." Mr. Zukor says: "The evil of producing and exhibiting coalitions is one of the gravest perils that has ever confronted the motion-picture industry." Inasmuch as other portions of his statement appear, by broad innuendo, to refer to First National. Ave thought, upon reading that sentence that he had this organization in mind in pointing out that "evil." I have gone carefully over our records and consulted my associates for fear I might not know as much as Mr. Zukor implies that he knoAvs about our company and its limitations, and therefore the wrong in stating that First National is not an association of producers and exhibitors. In fact, as I suspected, the articles of our incorporation specifically state: "That there is nothing herein contained which shall be deemed to empoAver the company (First National Exhibitors' Circuit) to manufacture motion pictures." First National is, has been, and will continue to be a company specializing exclusively in the distribution of motion pictures. We own no manufacturing interests, we control no producing organizations, we operate no studios, we have no weekly payroll of extreme, worri= some and undue proportions in which are four=figure sal= aries for a list of stars, some of whom are profitable, but more of whom are not. But. if such a coalition of producer and exhibitor as Mr. Zukor charges, really exists in the industry, and I am unaware of it if it docs, what harm does it threaten to the manufacturers, distributors and exhibitors who believe in specialization. avIio correctly understand the meaning and application and limitations of specialization and who practice it honestly and sincerely in the conduct of their business according to its proper and accepted definition? I agree heartily with Mr. Zukor's reference to the "physical law that a body cannot occupy two places at the same time." and to "the psychological law that a mind cannot do two separate things equally AA-ell and at the same time." We have had seAreral sterling examples of its truth right in our own industry. And. possibly, more are about to be given. To me it seems obviously foolish and energy-wasting to worry about competition with a man or firm trying to do two things at one time if I were specializing in either one of those two things. I would feel absolutely confident that the knowledge, ability, efficiency and strength I would achieve in doing only one of them