We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
MOTION PICTURE COMMISSION. 85 STATEMENT OF JACOB SCHECHTER, ESQ., OF NEW YORK, REPRE- SENTING THE UNIVERSAL FILM MANUFACTURING CO. Mr. ScHECHTER. Mr. Chairman and f^entlemen of the connnittee, I represent the Universal Film Manufacturing Co., which is a cor- poration organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, and which began doing business during the month of May, 1912. Prior to the organization of the Universal Fihn Manufac- turing Co. there were several manufacturing concerns putting out various brands of film, as foUoAvs: Imp Films Co., releasing the "Imp" brand; Powers Motion Picture Co., releasing the "Powers" brand; Rex Motion Picture Co., releasing the "Rex" brand; Nestor Film Co., releasing the "Nestor" brand; Champion Film Co., re- leasing the " Champicm" brand; New York Motion Picture Co., releasing the " Bison " brand. All of these companies consolidated and formed what is now called the Universal Film IManufacturing Co. The Chaik^ian. They v.ere all manufacturers? Mr. ScHECHiT.R. Yes, sir; they were all manufacturers. The Universal Film Manufacturing Co. also arranged to have released through it the film numufactured by the Eclair Motion Pic- ture Co., the Crystal Film C^o., Victor Motion Picture Manufacturing Co., the St. Louis Motion Picture Co., and others. Some of these manufacturers produce mere than one brand of film. The brands of film that are now being released by the Universal Film Manufac- turing Co. are as follows: Imp. Rex. Bison, Gem, Victor, Eclair, Crystal. Gold Seal, Nestor, Powers. Aninuited Weekly, Frontier, Joker, Sterling. In order that this committee may have a clear understanding of the nature of the moving picture business in all of its branches, I desire at the outset to explain how it is transacted. There ai-e three branches of the business—manufacturing, distributing, and exhibit- ing. First in regard to the manufacturer Mr. Towner. Suppose a man thinks he has a good thing for a mov- ing picture exhibition and wants to have it presented or at least con- sidered ; how is that done ? Mr. ScHECHTER. It would not be possible for a man to enter into all the branches of the moving picture business by himself. Mr. Towner. I am not asking about the business. I am asking about the man who has the idea, what the procedure is when he de- sires to have it presented by moving pictures ? Mr. ScHECHTER. Under such circumstances the author of a partic- ular book or scenario would bring or send the same to the people who manufacture or produce the films, for them to examine and pass upon the availability of the books, or scenario for moving picture purpo.',es. The manufacturer produces the moving picture. Mr. Towner. "What doe< the manufacturer do? You say he pro- duces it; what does he do in producing it? Mr. Schechter. I was about to explain that. The manufacturer employs actors to pose and act before a camera, which makes a series of instantaneous photographs. The film may be the reproduction of an original story or theatrical production con- ceived by a writer or author; it may be a composition depicting