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♦ Bombay Calling t
'Lhis section is the monopoly of "JUDAS" and he writes what tic likes and about things which he likes. The views expressed here arc not necessarily ours, but still they carry weight because they are written by a man who knows his job.
STANDARD LENGTH FOR PICTURES!
Any industry to stabilize itself on a permanent scale must standardize its problems. Years back this problem of Standardization faced the motor manufacturing industry of the world. In those times different makers manufactured different cars with various sizes of the numerous gadgets which we find in motor cars. The market became shy in purchasing and only leading manufacturers with world wide organizations monopolised the trade. Motor parts had to be standardized if the industry in general was to improve. Motor manufacturers got together and planned the future standardization of spare parts and different accessories. The result was an all-round improvement in the trade.
A similar planning is absolutely necessary in our film industry if at all we are to make any progress in stabilizing our industry.
At present, to take some instances, our producers give us films with varying footage. From 9,000 feet to 16,000 feet is the range of our supply. One producer once gave even 17,000 feet in a single picture.
These various lengths require different periods of projection with the result that no two shows of different theatres begin at the same time.
The average length of a good American picture is about 7,500 feet and that length is good enough for the foreign producer to tell a story effectively, while our producers cannot do the job well with double the footage.
An average programme of 12,000 feet maximum should be the standard length of our pictures for the next two years till we have our newsreels and short features.
Producers who cannot tell the story within 12,000 feet cannot do so even with 15,000 feet in hand.
The average Indian picture is boring and its length taxes the nerves severely. Entertainment to be so, should not be boring and it will pay our producers much better to cut down their pictures to 12,000 feet.
UNIFORMITY IN ENTERTAINMENT
Another problem for standardization is the question of regulating the shows in our cinemas. Every show in an Indian Cinema begins at a wrong time. Shows begin at 2, 2-15, 2-30, 2-45, 3, 5, 5-15, 5-30, 8, 8-15, 10-15, 10-30, 10-45, 11. With such various and erratic timings, people are never sure when a certain show in a certain cinema will begin. The people are always kept guessing and they can never rely upon the theatre owners as in the case of English picture houses.
English picture houses have a definite plan ot business. With matinees at 4 p.m. they have the second show at 6-30 p.m. and the third and final one at 10 p.m. The final show gets over at 12 midnight — just in time for every one to get some sort of a conveyance to go home.
There is some sense in this plan but the methods of the Indian cinemas are foolish. It is high time that the Indian theatres should follow the plan of the English theatres and standardize entertainment in the town.
Indian cinemas should plan their shows as follows: Matinee at 3-30, 2nd show at 6-30 and the third and last show at 9-30. Three shows in a day are more than enough to cater for the crowds of a single day.
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