Film Fun (Jan - Dec 1918)

Film Fun EDITORIALS An Ark of Safety TF ANY fractional part of the deluge of disaster that is foretold for the film industry is to arrive on schedule, it is urgent that we organize for safety. The fifth largest industry in the country has involved in its destinies an enormous number of people, but its growth has been so rapid that such unessential things as statistics have been disregarded. It is estimated that some sixteen million people are directly concerned in transportation matters, that being second in volume and importance in the country's industries, and for present purposes it may serve and not be far from the facts to estimate that the livelihood of some five million or more people will be affected by this flood if the storm breaks. Safety can be assured if this army of film folks is thoroughly organized and goes systematically about getting what it wants. Among the things it wants is, first, of course, an enrollment which will demonstrate its strength and ability. It ought to be possible to form an association on such broad lines as will bring into membership all the film folks, in >;very branch of the business — men and women, producers, distributers, writers, camera men, mechanics and the hosts of craftsmen of one sort and another whose prosperity is so important, not alone to this industry, but to the communities they live in. A fund can be created that will be no burden on anyone. Scores of thousands of us can manage "a dollar down and a dollar a month" almost any time, without serious financial embarrassment even in these war times. An organization with five million members, or even half that number, paying dues at that rate, would soon become a power for good. So many of the boys are in the service that it might be well in the beginning to devote our energies and our funds to war purposes — along lines similar in a general way to the Stage Women's War Relief work. Or it might be wise to build a home for film folks to use at need, whether the need arises from old age or illness or accident or other incapacity. A big, beautiful hotel-and-office building, to contain every requirement for members, would probably be self-sustaining from the start; but apart from such a building and in connection therewith there should be established a hospital and a training school, where the boys who come back from the war needy may regain lost ground, and where their dependents may be equipped for the big battle to win bread without inordinate hardship, for the worst of war always follows the cessation of hostilities and falls heaviest on the weak. It might be well to plan for FILM FUN MACAZINE will he issued the 10th twin establishments, one on the east and the other on the west coast; for it is a safe guess that the greater part of production will always be in California, where the year's average of camera days is 312, and the peak of the load of distribution will always be carried in New York. A membership might carry appropriate privileges, in a general way, like the Travel Club confers, or insurance or indemnity or an annuity. Also it might be wise to incorporate the tenet of the Rotary Club, "All for each and each for all," as a working principle. The big idea is the strength and the power for good that such an organization will surely develop. Film Fun is willing and anxious to do its "two bits" in perfecting such an association. What do you think of such a plan? Loving Our Enemies /"\NLY the Irish seem to understand how this can be, and ^^ ought to be, done. Everybody else seems to think criticism necessarily implies censure and enmity, but not so the son of Erin. An amiable altercation is better than the breath of life to him. If you yield to his argument to-day, by to-morrow he will have shifted ground and will hold forth valiantly for the point you conceded. It is a good arrangement, when you get used to it. This is by way of excuse to some good friends who want us to go on record as to the censor. We don't know. We wish we did. We're ready to argue the question from any angle. Judging by the crying abuses in photoplays, something ought to be done; but if their accomplishment to date be an indication of the worth of their work, then the effectiveness of censors is away below zero. The responsibility should be fixed wherever it belongs, and transgressions should be punished. The police, it is generally understood, are charged with the duty of keeping youth out of danger. It might be a solution of the problem to enlist the co-operation of the chief of police and get him to detail a board of censors from his officers — members to be changed weekly or monthly, to insure a fair deal for all — and let these experts in public welfare decide what is detrimental in films to the good health and good conscience of the community. There is no doubt in the world that they would suppress much that now gets by. This may not be -the right solution, but it is worth consideration. It would surely lessen the confusion that now prevails, due to so many attempting the same thing, with the result that nothing is done, and there's nobody to blame. of each month, instead of the 1st as heretofore*