FilmIndia (1940)

Bombay Galling This section is the monopoly of "JUDAS" and he twites what he likes and about things which he likes. Hie views expressed here are not necessarily ours, but still they carry weight because (hey are written by a man who knows his job. THE PRESS SHOW SCANDAL. Our producers who often brag about their knowledge of psychology when talking of story treatment or about the needs of our audience give a poor demonstration of their intelligence when arranging their press shows. Their very approach to the press show "problem" seems to spell an insult to the journalists— the idea being to get rid of "those dogs" as quickly as possible, so that the producers can afterwards settle down peacefully to the business of robbing the public. As if the journalists are watch dogs that prevent them from doing so. The press people are generally thrown into the first show of a new picture on the first day. This press show comprises of a couple of rows of seats reserved for the press boys who are called to see the picture at one in the afternoon. The rest of the seats are sold to the public. The producers have hardly any time to realize that the press boys are hard worked people who have to whip up their patriotism to maintain an eight-hour day of brain work on miserly salaries paid by the publishers. The capitalists who own the publishing concerns are often a race of hardened criminals who have succeeded in perpetuating a soulless routine of work which demands maximum labour with minimum payment. It has been so in every country since journalism began. The press boys, always conscious of their duty, don't complain to their employers knowing that these capitalists have no ears for others who sweat for them. Complaining won't improve the state of things and the boys only lose their self-respect in doing so. So a militant silence of perfect understanding is maintained by both the parties. But the press boys expect more humane treatment from the producers, who being commercial men ought to know which way their interests can be advanced. As a picture is a photographic production which requires a well darkened auditorium to bring out its artistic essentials to the best advantage, the producers, in their own interest should realize that a theatre can't i be entirely dark at one in the afternoon. And the journalists who are expected to comment on the photographic merits of the picture get a bad impression of this aspect of the production. Besides, one in the afternoon is hardly a time for entertainment or for relaxation to the hard-working press boy. If a producer is aware of the business routine in the city, he ought to know that the working people take their lunch at the press-show time of our producers. How then does he expect a press boy to attend a press-show without missing his lunch? And show me one picture that is worth missing a lunch? Arriving at the theatre at that infernally early hour, the press gets the most unenviable seats in the theatre, which cater for every discomfort possible, from the bug in the chair to the bug-bear of a stupid doorkeeper who seems to realize a bit too slowly that the press people have been invited as guests. The press boy can not even take a friend with him to help him through the boredom of three hours, because the press-ticket is only for one person. Under such disheartening circumstances our journalists have been conscientiously working for our film producers for the last twenty years. I am tired of appealing to the producers' sense of decency. I find the least response in this. I therefore appeal, once again to their conscience which lies in their pocket. I think it will be more profitable to them to invite the journalists at a more suitable time and in a more congenial atmosphere. A pleased and satisfied journalist makes a more sympathetic critic. If our press shows are arranged at the six-thirty show, I am sure many journalists would like the change. On their way home from the day's work, they would welcome any entertainment, whether good or bad, and feel relaxed after a tiresome day. Similarly, the miserly one-man invitation may be extended to at least two persons, as the press boys also have friends in their offices. Giving the journalists good seats, aye, the best in the theatre, at the press show is but one more canon 7