Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1945)

BRITISH UNION HAS NEW TRAINING PLAN A. C. T. Calls for Period of Vocational Education with Examinations by PETER BURNUP in London The Association of Cine Technicians has come forward with its own comprehensive plan of apprenticeship to the production side of the industry. Recently Max Milder announced a plan for training ex-soldiers as managers for theatres of Associated British Cinemas. A.C.T. is to be felicitated on the job; for here is the first all-in endeavor this side to give a proper craft status to studio work people. The Association demands as a postulate to its plan the immediate formation of a joint apprenticeship council on which Government departments would have representation; has asked for an early meeting with the Producers' Association and the Ministries of Labour and Education to discuss its proposal. Council To Develop Scheme The function of the apprenticeship council, says A.C.T.'s planners, will be the preparation of an all-embracing scheme, with practical and theoretical syllabuses devised on lines which will become manifest after an examination of counterpart schemes already functioning in the nation's other staple industries. A.C.T. suggests as a working framework of the plan the following considerations: 1. A period of vocational training before leaving school ("pre-entry education"). 2. A period of employment during which the employer undertakes to teach the employee his craft. 3. Additional training, mainly theoretical, which would be obtained during this period of employment. 4. A certificate received on completion of the specified training period entitling the holder to rank as a "skilled worker." 5. Examinations, in conjunction with educational bodies, which would confer additional qualifications. The joint apprenticeship council, which is the cornerstone of the plan, if its proposed principles be accepted, will become the only avenue of entry into the production side of the industry in view of the fact that A.C.T. lays it down that, in the fullness of time, only people who have been granted its certificate shall be permitted to work in Britain's studios. In Line with Other Industries That's a harsh concept at first sight, but it's wholly in line with current conditions in other industries. Some film men, moreover, are disposed to welcome the thought; seeing in it not only a praiseworthy endeavor to lend dignity to the studio-workers' craft but a much desired amendment in the present regime under which a producer very often finds himself at the mercy of some little clique of the disgruntled who, in some way or other, have muscled into the business. A.C.T.'s suggestion, in other words, is that studio-craft is a worthwhile job whose qualifications demand high standards of early education followed by closely-regulated "continuative" courses of study. The inevitable corollary is that the accomplished craftsman merits a share in the industry's control. A.C.T. makes it plain that it wants the industry to cast its net as widely as possible in its search for new entrants; insists that no premium be asked of the aspirant apprentice, that the industry itself should bear the cost of training its recruits; suggests that the public schools of technology should be asked to advise on the appropriate curriculum of the "preentry" education of would-be-film technicians. Films Council Approval Seen There it has the approval, by inference, of the Films Council (whose famous Monopoly Report recommended that some such scheme as this might profitably be considered by the industry) and of the Exhibitors' Association which lately has had under consideration the recruiting of projectionists. Exhibitors in different parts of the country from time to time have urged that their Association might well establish some standard of qualification for the projectionist's job; should enlist in that regard the assistance of technical schools up and down the country. So far as can be ascertained the proposition is still in the amiable discursive stages. Maybe, A.C.T.'s forthright move will give the Cinematograph Exhibitors Association discussions the impetus the question demands. British Monetary Quota Up 50% London Bureau The British Government last Thursday ordered an increase of 50 per cent in the monetary quota provisions of the Films Act, with the revised quota relating only to distributors adopting a monetary basis. Under terms of the order, deficiencies in the value of British films acquired for exhibition in England may be offset by acquiring, for an appropriate amount, British films for showing in the United States, provided that labor costs of $12 per foot shall be paid on pictures shown in Britain ; that such costs aggregate the equivalent of at least $4 per foot had the distributor adopted a footage basis, and that every $8 of the price paid for British films exhibited in America shall reduce the footage obligation by one foot. The monetary quota provisions heretofore provided that each American company must make or acquire one British film per 100,000 feet of imports ; that each film ,must be at least 7,000 in length and that a payment of at least $82,000 in wages be made to British labor. International Pictures Renews Deal with RKO Ned Depinet, president of RKO Radio Pictures, Inc., last week announced renewal of a distribution agreement with International Pictures covering release of its product during the 1945-46 season. Under terms of the agreement, RKO Radio will distribute for 1945-46 International pictures including the Gary Cooper production "Along Came Jones, starring Gary Cooper with Loretta Young ; Tomorrow Is Forever," starring Claudette Colbert, Orson Welles and George Brent; and the bom a Heme Technicolor film, "Countess of Monte Cnsto." English Seek ty Restrict Foreign \ i Theatre Holding o London BureM A proposal calling for Government contr acquisition of British theatre holdings by fo interests was submitted last Wednesday by British Producers Association to the Boar! Trade. The producers' unit urged Hugh Dalton, t dent of the Board of Trade, to include in legislation based on the monopoly report filed year by the special committee of the Films Cot a clause which would prevent the acquisitioi foreign companies of holdings in British theE At present there is no law in Britain w prevents foreign interests from acquiring stock only in theatre companies but in industrial commercial firms as well. Individual compa including film organizations, however, have tected themselves from control by foreign < panies by establishing in their by-laws constitution safeguards against this eventuality The producers association, of which J. Ar Rank is president, also recommended to the b that provision be made in any legislation "strict safeguards" to control the film hold already held by foreign investors. If the board recommends such legislation it is passed by Parliament, it would mean freezing of American interests in British circ and theatre companies at the present levels. ( rently, Warner Bros, has an interest in Associ British Cinemas ; Twentieth Century-Fox Gaumont-British circuit and United Artists Odeon circuit. The board is not expected to propose any le lation until all recommendations from every bra of the industry have been submitted to it. In New York this week, several foreign dep ment executives observed that the British j ducers' proposal was aimed at preventing the c trol of theatres by American companies, not investment of American film money in Bri circuits. One industry official said he did not believe British would pass any law which would st American investments, but that a bill might passed which would seek to prevent an Ameri company from gaining more than a 49 per c interest in a British firm. Commercial Film Users to Get More Raw Stock Producers of commercial and industrial fil were assured a "substantial" increase in 35 raw stock allocations for the second quarter Tu day by the War Production Board. They w told that their raw stock situation in relation the total industry and Government needs mif improve in the next quarter, beginning July 1. Members of the commercial producers' advise committee met with WPB officials in Washingt Tuesday and discussed methods of setting up equitable method of distribution of the 35n film among the several companies. The incre in allocation of industrial production is rougf estimated at about 40 per cent of the first quo but in footage actually amounts to only a very million feet. Negative stock in 16mm is ve tight, positive stock considerably improved color duplicating film very scarce, the board the committee. Attending the meeting were the following coi mittee members. Harold E. Wondsel, Soundma ters, Inc.; Frank Balkin, Chicago Film Labor tories; Norman E. Wilding, Robert B. Strici land; Burton W. Depue, Burton Holmes Filrr Inc.; Edward J. Lamm, Pathescope Compai of America; Earl Carpenter, Escar Motion Pi ture Service; James L. Baker, Mode-Art Picture: L. R. Rehm, Atlas Educational Film Co. ; Robe C. McKean, Caravel Films, Inc.; R. H. Ra Ray-Bell Films, and Frank K. Speidell, Audi Products. 52 MOTION PICTURE HERALD. MARCH 31, 19