Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1945)

NEW WPB RAW STOCK QUOTAS DOWN-FREEZING IN SIGHT Washington Bureau The inexorable decision of the law of supply — and never mind the demand — was to be laid across the motion picture industry in film allotments for wartime, and the duration, llthis week-end. It did not appear probable that exhibitors would immediately feel any limitations and [Shortages beyond those currently apparent. I| The War Production Board Wednesday issued formal orders cancelling all authorizations ko use 35mm raw stock issued to both motion picture and newsreel producers and distributors prior to December 29. The WPB action was not unanticipated, it having been made known early this month that 1944 authorizations would not carry over, but the order was in conformity with a ruling of the board. All persons whose authorizations are now ineffective have been notified by the WPB and jadvised to apply for new authorizations on form WPB-2165, copies of which were sent them, if they need 35mm film in the current quarter. j The board also requested information concerning the quantity of raw stock used by each company this month, explained as designed to ^nable the WPB "to obtain more accurate injcormation concerning past usage and to balance |the current demand against supply more ex Reorganized Advisory Committee Meets WPB By Wednesday night the members of the reorganized Motion Picture Industry Advisory Committee, twenty-one men representing disribution and production, majors and indepenlents, were converging on Washington for a Thursday-Friday meeting with the War Proluction Board to hear the answers. Meanwhile ill manner of interests and agencies, including issorted government bureaus, with screen reations and projects were bestirred with confern. Mostly they had inklings of decisions. To be deduced from any intricate indications, t seemed probable that under the pressures of vartime necessity motion picture productionlistribution would be found frozen in structure, icope and over-all operation as of now. ' There appeared in this however no guaranty IS to the number of prints, or of the quantity )f released footage, to be available for exhibiion. There ca*n not be more. There may be ■ess. Whatever the flow it is the indicated and )robable plan to keep it in the ratios which :ontrolled through the year of 1944, company 3y company. Vo Restrictions on Use of Allotments I The film allotted may be used in release of jnore prints of shorter pictures, fewer prints of onger pictures, in features, shorts or any )roduct whatever. Interestingly significant are the probabilities )f inescapable freezing limitations upon the isually continuously shifting corporate patterns )f the business. _ From now on until the lid is off all operaions probably will be within the allotments of ilm to institutions now in business, which is to ay eleven production-distribution concerns and |i number of independent producers established is of 1941-4^] — the basic years of the rationing brmula. It is of more interest than fundamental im)ortance that the formula is not precisely on he ratios of 1941, but an evolvement out of '41 igures with adjustments by concession of the ndustry units affecting '43 and '44 consumpion. The new order therefore will emerge as stablished by the practice of 1944. There is no prospect of a final commitment as to how much film the industry is to get in 1945, or even for the first quarter of the year. The indicated figure is somewhere in the vicinity of 300,000,000 feet, a matter of some twentyfive million feet less than the last quarter of last year. Meanwhile the raw stock shortage made news in other sectors of the industry this week. On Tuesday Samuel Goldwyn, independent producer releasing through RKO, invited trade press reporters to his ofifice in the RKO Building, Rockefeller Center, to express his indignation at the system of allocation of raw stock to distributors. He demanded that the WPB dispense film directly to independent producers. (Story on this page.) Short Subjects Delayed By Shortage of Film Study of short subject release records showed that exchanges are running about six months behind normal release dates because the lack of raw stock is holding up prints, particularly on Technicolor subjects. (Story on following page.) On Tuesday also it was indicated that the newsreels, which had been threatened with a cut of 9,000,000 feet in their allocation for the first quarter of 1945, would have to shave only 1,000,000 feet from their current consumption. No curtailment in the number of prints is contemplated but it was indicated that the WPB would set a maximum length of slightly under 700 feet per issue. Meanwhile study of footage for the year showed that the newsreels are devoting about 80% of their total footage to news of the war and home front messages pertaining thereto. (Story on following page.) Film Classics Assured Of Stock for Reissues War Production Board officials have given assurances that the raw stock shortage will be eased by April, the beginning of the second quarter, L. E. Goldhammer, president of Film Classics, told the company's territorial distributors last weekend at a meeting at the Coronado Hotel in St. Louis. This was the first national conference held by the company since its formation. WPB executives also assured the company it would receive its full quota in April, Mr. Goldhammer said, adding that it was indicated there also would be adequate supplies of raw stock for advertising accessories. The raw stock crisis and accessories problem were the principal topics of discussion at the meeting. Plans for establishing 16mm branches and post-war preparations were tabled in order to devote the fullest consideration to the raw stock situation. Film Allocations Hit Independents Goldwyn Contends Samuel Goldwyn, independent producer, in New York Tuesday, demanded raw stock allocations for independent producers. Wednesday morning, it was announced that the industry's advisory committee on raw stock to the War Production Board had been enlarged to include the independents and distributors specializing in reissues. Representatives of both groups were to meet with industry and WPB executives Thursday in Washington. They included: A. W. Schwalberg. International Pictures ; James Mulvey, for Mr. Goldwyn; Neil Agnew, Vanguard; Roy Disney, Walt Disney Productions; R. M. Savini, Astor Pictures, and a representative of Film Classics. Sees Raw Stock Most Vital Issue Facing Industry During a press interview Mr. Goldwyn refused to answer questions directed to ascertain how he, a foremost independent, was meeting the raw stock shortage. Mr. Goldwyn's statement follows : "More important than any previous issue facing the motion picture industry is the problem of rationing of raw stock by the War Production Board. "The question to be decided is whether the independent producers are to look to their government or to the distributors for their raw film stock. Up to now, ration cards had been handed out to distributors and not to producers. The producers, as the original creators of the industry, demand a standing which will permit them to survive. No longer do they intend to remain subservient to the distributors who, by holding ration cards, have in many cases possessed the power of life or death over an independent producer. "Newsprint, the other great medium of public expression, has been rationed to the publishers and not to the wholesalers and distributors. "No producer complains because there is not enough raw stock to go around. They all know that there is a war on. Producers do complain that during a war the vast accumulations of finished films by the producer-distributor combinations is in effect a most dangerous and unsound hoarding. Some of these films have been stored away for a year or more. Calls Accumulations Form of Hoarding "We must prevent these accumulations and recognize that in effect, they constitute a hoarding that will strangle the creative efforts of the independent producer at the very time when the importance of the independent producer in this industry is greater than it has ever been. "There is a further point, a very important one — which is that the purpose of film rationing is the public good and for the public interest— that and nothing more. In it, the independent producer has a great stake, and the (Continued on following page, column 2) /lOTlON PICTURE HERALD, FEBRUARY 3, 1945 13