Minutes of evidence taken before the Departmental Committee on Cinematograph Films (1936)

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE 127 SIXTH DAY Tuesday, 30th June (Afternoon Session) PRESENT : The Rt. Hon. Lord MOYNE, D.S.O. (Chairman). Mr. A. C. CAMERON, M.C., M.A. The Hon. ELEANOR M. PLUMER. Lt.-Col. Sir ARNOLD WILSON, K.C.I.E., C.S.I., C.M.G., D.S.O., M.P. Mr. W. H. L. PATTERSON (Secretary). .Mr. H. Bruce Woolfe called and examined. The Committee had before them the following memorandum by Mr. H. Bruce Woolfe: — 1. Since the Cinematograph Films Act became law a change has taken place in the relative values of "long" and "short" films. From being an unconsidered trifle of little importance the short film, by reason of its suitability for non-theatrical, educational and cultural purposes should now be considered not as a " fill-up ", to use the jargon of the trade, but as having a definite purpose to fulfil. Of late years the production of " short " films has fallen considerably. On all sides we hear complaints that there are not enough of this type of subject. Educationalists declare they cannot instal projectors until there are more films of the type they require. Practically all denominations of the Church adopt the same view point; film societies, welfare centres, and all groups of people who desire to see something different from what is offered them in the cinema theatres, are of the same opinion. Short films are needed, but the Cinematograph Films Act, by granting quota and thereby placing a premium on the production of feature films, irrespective of quality, has contributed to the ousting of the short film. The main items which form the subjects for short films, i.e., natural scenery, industrial and manufacturing processes, scientific films, and natural history films are automatically barred from acquiring quota (Note 1). Any cheap feature production (provided it has spent the requisite proportion of wages to British subjects, and has been made in the British Empire) is granted quota as a matter of course. Further, if a renter is lacking quota on short films, he is allowed to get over the difficulty by acquiring features to the same amount of footage that he lacks in short subjects. Foreign renters can therefore acquire short films made in their own countries and match them with inferior British feature films. This artificial competition of long quota pictures has brought the short British film into a bad state. 2. Another factor in the paucity of short films is the tendency in the cinema theatres in recent years towards the adoption of a double-feature programme. This tendency has developed in such a manner as to seriously affect the production of short films of all descriptions. It is in this department of the cinema industry that this country occupies a proud position. Our new reels are second to none; our documentary films are recognised as being equal to those produced in any other country, while our scientific and semiscientific or " interest " films are recognised as the best the world produces. None of these types of films, with the exception of the news reel, can be produced and marketed successfully. Unless conditions change the production of these films will cease for all practical purposes. At the present time very little is being produced in the documentary field except for propaganda purposes, while if we consider short films, we find that those with any pretence to quality are made at a loss. 3. If the non-theatrical market was extensive enough to enable short films to be produced on an economic basis it would not matter that the theatres were unable to show such films. This, however, is far from being the position at the present time. It will have a most harmful effect in the development Note 1.— Cinematograph Films Act, Part IV. 27 (1)" 37873 of the educational and cultural film if the supply of the type of subject that is most desirable and necessary for this purpose is restricted. 4. Increased interest is now being taken in i his field and efforts are being made to overcome tlie shortage of films which so handicaps the installation of projectors in non-theatrical halls, which installation is essential to the development of the educational and cultural film. 5. The position at the moment is therefore as under : The production of British short films, with the exception of News Reels, which have a specialised market, but which, by the nature of their hurried production cannot be considered as helping to develop the cinema, is severely handicapped, while the production of British made second feature films of poor quality is encouraged by the granting of Quota : and the general level of British production thereby reduced (Note 2). The development of the cinema as a medium of culture and education is considerably delayed owing to producers of the type of film necessary to add this development being unable to procure revenue from the theatres. Phis is owing to the fact that screen time to the extent of 25-30 per cent, of the programme is taken up by the showing of second feature films, thereby considerably restricting bookings of short films. HOW CAN THIS POSITION BE IMPROVED? 6. In Germany, by showing a certain amount of educational films, theatres are given a rebate of Entertainment Tax. In Italy, it is compulsory to show an " educational or cultural " film in each programme. Neither of these methods are satisfactory, as both open the door to propaganda. In this country Exhibitors would oppose very strongly, and I think would rightly oppose, any measure which would enable their screens to be used for this purpose. I believe that if the short film is given a fair chance it would soon regain its one time popularity (which it has never lost with the public) and I would therefore suggest that the Clause in the Act, Part IV, Paragraph 27 (1), should be altered so that short films depicting subjects of National, Imperial or Public Interest, Scientific and Natural History films should be allowed to receive full Quota. 7. It has been suggested that a cost clause should be fulfilled by any film before it can qualify for Quota. While this may cause producers to think a little more before embarking on production, it cannot ensure quality. 8j. I believe that no satisfactory solution of this problem will be found until a Committee acting under the Board of Trade Advisory Committee is Note 2. — Leading producers in this country, who have done so much to lift the industry to the position it now occupies, i.e., the second producing country in importance in the world, do not produce second features; these are made almost entirely by people who have forced their way into the industry not with any idea of developing it as an industry, but solely with the desire to sell anything from which they <an make a profit. G 2