The film daily year book of motion pictures (1938)

Genzan the same amount as the highest admission fee for 3 i>ersons. Mokpo Yl.OO per day Some towns 0.3 to 0.5 percent of the total receipts. Rural districts ..1.5 to 5 percent of the total receipts. Distributors selling films pay a national business tax of 12/10,000 of the amount of sales and a prefectural tax of about the same amount. Distributors renting films pay a national business tax of 7/1000 of the amount received in rents, and about the same amount to the prefecture. Distributors, acting only as agents, pay a national business tax of 10/1000 of the amount of their commissions, together with a similar amount to the prefecture. The import duty on films is set forth in Item 2, Article 636, of the Japanese Import Tariff ; viz.. Unit Rate Films for photographs: 2. Developed 1 kin including inner packings Yll.13 (1 kin is equal to 1.32277 lbs.). Theaters — The number of moving picture theaters in Chosen is approximately fifty-six, though films are shown at about sixty-five other theaters and halls. The following statement regarding moving picture entertainments, audiences and admissions was furnished by the Statistical department of the Government General of Chosen : Number of movie Number of shows audiences Admission in 1936 in 1936 fees "Movie" theaters 16,935 6,795,416 Yl, 762,435 Other theaters 7,067 1,430,812 353,451 Other places 3,220 666,103 135,025 27,222 8,892,331 Y2,250,911 The average price of admission to moving pictures in Chosen in 1936 was Yen 0.25 or about eight cents American money. In Seoul the highest admission is Yen 1.00 or about thirty cents, and the lowest is Yen 0.10 or about three cents. Dramatic, romantic, tragic and comedy films appear to have eciual popularity. Owing to the present China Emergency, war and battle films are viewed with special interest. Sound — Forty-six theaters are wired for sound films, twenty-four of which have American equipment and twenty-two of which have Japanese etiuipment. .\ccording to local dealers one or two new theaters will desire to obtain American sound equipment, and about fifteen existing theaters would like to install American equipment in place of the present Japanese equipment ; however, by reason of the "'Chosen North China Emergency Tax Ordinance," promulgated on August 12, 1937, projectors and parts and accessories thereof imported or sold shall be subject to an advalorem tax of 20 percent in addition to the import duty of 40 percent provided for in Article 553-1 and 554-2-A of the Japanese Import Tariff, a tax that makes present installation difficult and unlikely. COLOMBIA Legislation — Xniu-. Censorship — The cciiM)rship of films comes under ilirect control of the National Government in accordance with the provisions of Censorship Decrees Nos. 331 an<l 700 of 1932. Boards of censorship in each Departmental capital, consisting of three members and three alternates (five members and alternates in the City of Hogota), serving without remuneration review pictures in each department. Once a picture has been passed by two members of any de partmental board of censors the law prescribes that it may be exhibited throughout the Reluiblic without further censorship. However, in practice certain departmental boards of censors insist upon approving a previously censored 1193 picture before all<jwiiig it i<. l.c >hown in the district under their jurisdiction. Censorship is not strict. Competition — Approximately 80 percent of the features released in Colombia are American made. During the past year there has been a considerable increase in the number of British features displayed, and also some increase in the number of French, German and Mexican pictures shown. Copyright Relations — Colombian basic copyright law dates from 1886 and subsequent laws do not specifically deal with motion pictures. Present copyright laws are considered inadequate. Colombia is not a member of the International Convention. The following laws and decrees make up Colombian copyright Legislation : Law 32 of 1886, Decree of 1886. Law 57 of 1887, Decree 1226 of 1922. Law 104 of 1922. Decree 1708 of 1930. Production — There are no studios in Colombia, jiroduction being limited to occasional news reels and advertising films. Taxes — The National Defense Tax of 10 percent on gross receipts of motion picture exhibitions established by Law 10 of 1932. was modified by Presidential Decree effective as of March 1, 1935, as follows: 5 percent on tickets up to and including 20 centavos, 6 percent on tickets from 21 centavos to 30 centavos, 7 percent on tickets from 31 centavos to 40 centavos, 8 percent on tickets from 41 centavos to 60 centavos, 10 percent on tickets of over 60 centavos. This reduction represents a saving of about 3.5 percent of the former tax, and lowers direct taxes on the motion picture exhibitor to about 20 percent as compared to 23.5 percent previous to the recent decree. Poster taxes: for one-sheet posters, 0.80 centavos per set of 30; for two-sheet posters, 1.60 pesos per set of 30; for three-sheet posters, 2.40 pesos per set of 30. Theaters — There are approximately 250 theaters in Colombia. Sound— Of the 250 theaters, 230 are wired for .sound motion pictures. Imports from the United States — 1937 — Positive Sound 3.272,980 ft. $76,114 Negative .^ound 14,126 ft. 230 1936— Positive Sound 3,411.393 ft. $77,103 Negative Sound 14,126 ft. '230 COSTA RICA Legislation — Official exchange control has been in effect since 1932. but in practice foreign exchange IS readily available. If exchange is available as a result of Costa Rican exports to a particular country, first preference is given to the utilization of such funds to pay for imports from that country. There are no quota or contingent laws in eflFect or contemplated, nor any laws giving other countries preference over Ameiican films. Censorship — -All of the 325 films shown since January last have been censored, of which none were rejected. The largest competitors of American films are Mexican. Of the total number of films shown in 1937, 80 percent have been American. American films are well received, but at the same time there is a demand for films in the Spanish language. Copyright Relations — Protection is accorded copyrights and foreign producers from piracy, but in a recent case existing legislation was found to be ineffective for protection against piracv. (Raventos vs. V. Saenz.) Production — There is no domestic film industry in Costa Rica. Language "dubbing" iu films shown in Costa Rica has iiot, as yet, gained popular approval. Foreign films shown in Costa Rica are not, required to be "dubbed" with the Spanish language. The language of the country is Spanish. Tajtes — Taxation is not excessive. A tax is imposed by the government of 5 percent of the gross box