The film daily year book of motion pictures (1928)

Hays Organization in 1927 (Personnel of the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America, xmth Names of All Members, Appears on Page 514. A List of Film Boards of Trade Will Be Found on Page 525, While a Detailed Record of Arbitration Board Activities Appears on Page 759.) ONE of the interesting developments of 1927, insofar as the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, Inc., is concerned, was an agreement entered upon in December with the Authors' League of America, and the Authors' Guild and Dramatists' Guild of the Authors' League, which makes it possible for a rejected play or book to be rewritten so that in its new and ultimate form it will prove acceptable to producing members of the Hays organization. The plan is still too new to ascertain how it will work out. It is hoped that, by this formula, hitherto unsuitable material for picturization will become available for the general advantage of the public, the industry and the producer. This development and other work of the association throughout the year are discussed in the following article: The M. P. Prod, and Dist. of America, Inc., with Will H. Hays as president, concludes its sixth year on March 5th, 1928. Starting with seven members, the organization now includes 27 of the most important producing and distributing organizations in the industry. In 1927, companies elected to membership in the Association were United Artists Corp., Pathe Exchange, Inc., Chadwick Prod., Inc., and the Caddo Co., Inc. Important progress was made by the Association toward bringing about further confidence and cooperation between the public, producers, distributors and exhibitors. A cooperative agreement was made between the M.P.P.D.A. and the Authors' League of America, the Authors' Guild of the Authors' League and the Dramatists' Guild of the Authors' League, which encourages writers of books and plays to continue to furnish and still further to increase the supply of proper material for screen use; gives authors adequate protection in negotiating for the sale of their material ; further emphasizes the recognition of the proper property rights of authors and dramatists; and insures a still greater quantity of suitable motion pictures. This agreed plan permits the author of a book or play which has been rejected as unsuitable for the screen, to submit a new story under a new title which in no way suggests the old title, containing all that is suitable in the original story and omitting all that is unsuitable for the screen. If the story is accepted and produced it will be advertised as an entirely new story and will not be presented as an adaptation or a revised version of the rejected story. In none of the publicity or advertising will mention of the rejected book or play be made. The production will be a picture made from the new story and it will stand on its own feet as such. Theaters will then be prevented by contract from misleading the public by suggesting in any way that the new story is related to the book or play which may have acquired a reputation as such but which has been considered unsuitable as screen material. This agreement was signed by Owen Davis, president, Authors' League of America ; George Middleton, president, Dramatists' Guild; Inez Haynes Irwin, president, Authors' Guild, and Will H. Hays, and was the first step in a plan whereby authors and producers will work together for the further benefit of the author, the industry and the public. Medical Films in Production The first of an important series of medical films, first proposed to the American College of Surgeons by Will Hays, was completed by the Eastman Kodak Co., a member of the M.P.P.D.A., in cooperation with a committee of the American College of Surgeons of which Hays was honorary chairman. The committee was composed of Dr. J. Bentley Squier, New York, Chairman; Dr. W. W. Chipman, President of the American College of Surgeons, Montreal ; Dr. Franklin Martin, Director General, American College of Surgeons, Chicago ; Dr. Allen Craig, Dr. Bowman Crowell, and Dr. Malcolm McEachern, Chicago, Associate Directors of the American College of Surgeons ; Dr. C. H. Mayo, Rochester, Minn. ; and Dr. George W. Crile, Cleveland. Before the end of 1928 a great number of different surgical films will be in distribution and students and doctors throughout the world will be learning new methods of surgery through pictures taken of various operations by the greatest surgeons. Drive Against Fake Stocks The Association continued its active campaign against fake moving picture schools, fake scenario schools, fake studios, illegitimate stock promotions and untruthful advertising. In this campaign it has worked closely with the Associated Advertising Clubs of the World and the various Better Business Bureaus. Public Relations Work for "Extras" In Hollywood, a department of public relations works closely with producers in carrying out the pledge of the Association "to establish and maintain the highest possible moral and artistic standards in motion pictures." A definite formula was developed with reference to the selection and rejection of certain story material that might offend and the pledges of the producers are strictly adhered to. Much constructive work was done in the studios to maintain proper working conditions for the employees who are given advantages enjoyed in few, if any, other industries. The Free Casting Bureau in Hollywood continued its efficient operation in the hiring of extras. In the first eleven months of 1927, $2,511,361.80 was paid for 306,900 placements — an average daily placement of 916 (612 men, 273 women and 31 children) extras at an average wage of $8.18. Pedagogue Films Progress was made in the development of teaching films by members of the Association and 1928 will see the use in school of films prepared by educational authorities that will properly instruct the youth. Relations With Foreign Nations Through the Association's Foreign Department contacts have been established with foreign ambassadors, legations and counsellors in this country in order that the producing companies may be well informed regarding customs and ideals of foreign countries and that the producers' policy "to offend no foreign nation, race or creed" may be properly carried out. 349