Film and TV Technician (1957)

October 1957 FILM & TV TECHNICIAN H* Museum of Modw* ^ UltAU EDITORIAL DOES THE BOARD OF TRADE WANT BRITISH FILMS? DOES the Board of Trade want a healthy British film industry, or could it not care less? Is it, in fact, aware, even now that the making of films is one of the country's essential, repeat essential, industries? The answer, of course, should be an unqualified ' yes ', but recent happenings in connection with British production facilities make one pause and wonder. A.C.T.T. members will recall that in the spring of last year the six Trade Unions concerned with film production were asked for their views on the measures necessary to help the industry. Among the many points covered in the Unions' reply was the question of shortage of studio space. We pointed out that the studio facilities then existing were far from adequate while the demand for studio space would undoubtedly increase. Our advice on this point went unheeded at the time. A month ago, A.C.T. Films, faced with the problem of finding studio space for a forthcoming production, raised the matter with the President of the Board of Trade. " I have been instructed by my directors," the General Manager of A.C.T. Films wrote, " to draw your attention to the very serious situation that has now arisen concerning the availability of adequate studio space for the production of British films. This situation is particularly grave for the smaller independent producers such as ourselves, and we believe that we are not the only company of this type to be experiencing this problem at the present moment. " Several months ago we drew the attention of various authorities to our fears that such a situation would eventuate, but we were informed that there was no reason to suppose that a studio shortage of any serious proportions would arise. " We believe that the current situation is partly caused by the closing down, for structural reasons, of a number of stages at Shepperton Studios. This has meant that several productions which were to go into Shepperton have had to be accommodated elsewhere, with the result that accommodation that might normally have been available to companies such as ourselves has now been booked. " This shortage is also tending, we believe, towards an increase in studio rentals and this again will present an additional burden to the producers of modest budget films. " We would beg to suggest that the whole matter should be reviewed by your Department or the Cinematograph Films Council or some other appropriate body as a matter of urgency." We understand that the Board of Trade, in its reply to this approach, took its stand on a statement made by the President of the Board of Trade in February 1955 in which he said: "I must make it plain that I have no responsibility for the erection or sale of individual film studios. The Government's policy for the film industry is carried out on a much broader basis." The view of the Board of Trade is, apparently, that a review of studio space would not serve any useful purpose. No useful purpose ? Is the encouragement of the smaller independent producers to make British films for showing not only to Britain but to the world a " useful purpose " or is it not? Is the Government aware, too, that there is a growing tendency to use film for the making of Television programmes ? It is already clear that American Television producers are turning increasingly to film because in this way they can sell a television programme not once but several times. In Britain we shall be faced with the alternatives of doing the same or seeing our television screens become more and more Americanised while British TV programmes are scarcely seen abroad at all. Is encouraging British television a useful purpose or is it not? The Board of Trade must think again — and think quickly. FILM & TV TECHNICIAN Editor: MARTIN CHISHOLM Editorial Office: % Soho Square, W.l Telephone: GERrard 8506 Advertisement Office: 5 and 6 Red Lion Square, W.C.I Telephone: HOLborn 4972