Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1946)

TRADE DEMANDING °fficial °rders MEXICAN QUOTA Compliance with Argentine Quota Producers and Exhibitors Petition President Elect for Protective Action by LUIS BECERRA CELIS in Mexico City A formal demand for a law making it compulsory for each Mexican theatre to devote 26 weeks of playing time to Mexican product is contained in the program which leading producers and exhibitors have presented to president-elect Miguel Aleman, who begins his six-year term December 1. This program, say ihe industry leaders, was inspired by the promise Mr. Aleman made them shortly before the elections. At that time he told industry interviewers that he would do all possible for the industry were he elected. Seek Industry Bank The producers' part of the program is the suggestion that the Government help them establish a bank in Mexico City which would have a greater capital and scope than the Banco Cinematografico, the industry's own bank which the Government and the industry established in 1938. The producers offer to help capitalize the bank, asserting they are well able to do so since there are now more than 60 recognized producers in the country. Their plan calls for the bank tocontrol the quality of production so that Mexican films may better compete with foreign films. The legislative phase of the program, it is learned, is the demand for a law which would force all theatres to devote a half year's playing time to native product. Producers complain that at the present time foreign product is keeping SO Mexican features off the screen. Ask Tax Reduction The exhibitors also ask for a 50 per cent reduction in their taxes during the times they are showing Mexican features. Further, they ask that there be only a single Federal tax instead of Federal, state and municipal levies. The Producers Association, in a special publicity bulletin, expresses regret for the common talk that the picture industry is in a state of collapse. The bulletin calls such talk "alarmist" and avers there is "not the least foundation for it." The bulletin adds : "Our industry is suffering from very grave problems. It would be childish to say that it doesn't. But we are living in a country that has numerous problems of various kinds and in times when all the world is embroiled in a tempest of problems, so the Mexican film industry is not alone in that regard. But we have a firm, tenacious and decided intention to solve our problems. We intend SCHENCK MEXICAN VISIT ROUSES SPECULATION The presence of Joseph M. Schenck, 20th Century-Fox executive producer, in and about Mexico City has the local industry speculating over whether or not 20th-Fox will become a Mexican exhibitor. While some news reports have quoted Mr. Schenck as saying his company is much interested in acquiring theatres or circuits in Mexico and have quoted him further as mentioning the circuit operated by William O. Jenkins, an American, sources close to both Mr. Schenck and Mr. Jenkins assert that the matter is only in the discussion phase. to surmount all the obstacles that afflict the Mexican picture industry." V The Picture Production Workers Union has adopted resolutions urging the Government to enact a law for the protection of the industry and to insure ample bank credits for the trade so as to assure "more and constant production." More than 3,000 workers attended the meeting at which the resolutions were adopted. V Filmex claims to lead all other Mexican producers for 1946. The company already has released 18 pictures and perhaps more will be released before the end of the year. V RKO is making an investment of $400,000 in the studios which are nearing completion at Churubusco, a Mexico City suburb. They are expected to be in service next March. V The Cine Iris in Mexico City soon will show only Mexican, Spanish and French pictures ; the first theatre in Mexico to follow such a policy. ASCAP Wins Judgment in Washington State Suit Judge J. F. Wright of the Circuit Court of Washington last Friday granted the application of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers for declaratory judgment, finding that ASCAP was complying with the Washington State Law of 1937, Chapter 218, regulating public performance of music for profit. ASCAP and several other copyright holders and publishers brought suit in Thurston County Court on January 16, 1942, asking for the judgment so that they could legally collect fees for the use of their copyrighted musical compositions by commercial users of music. by NATALIO BRUSKI in Buenos Aires Cesar F. Marcos has resigned as director of the Public Entertainment Board (Direccion General de Espectaculos Publicos) after assuming the office comparatively recently with the general approval of all concerned. Although the motives for the decision have not been made public, it is generally attributed to political maneuvering. Direction of the Public Entertainment board has been assumed by Alfredo Bolognesi, who had the post a year ago. One of his first acts was delivery of a note to every exhibitor in the country asking full compliance with the clauses in the decree which require the compulsory exhibition of Argentine product in all Argentine theatres. At the same time he warned that non-compliance might mean the closing of the house for an indefinite period. In the case of transgressions on the part of producers it might mean the loss of product under government action. V The Asociacion Argentina de Productores de Peliculas (Argentine Association of Motion Picture Producers), formed by three of the most important local producers to curtail the actions of present circuits, has decided to build its own theatres in the key zones of the country. To start with, it has been decided to build five houses in Buenos Aires, requiring an investment of ten million pesos. V The formation of an Argentine Chamber of Theatre, Cinema and Radio Activities took place at a meeting of representatives of the Argentine Society of Theatrical Impresarios, the Association of Cinema-house Operators, the Association of Argentine Radio Stations and the Association of Independent Producers of Argentine Pictures. Delegates of Associated Argentine Artists, Argentine Filming Establishments (EFA), Producers and Artists of America, Pampa Film, Sur and Terra also attended. The draft of by-laws presented by Dr. Nestor Maciel Crespo was discussed. He was appointed general counsellor of the new chamber and it was decided to issue special invitations to the Association of Producers of Argentine Pictures (APPA) and to distributors of foreign product to join the organization. Among the temporary appointments made were: Mr. Hector C. Quiroga, president; Joaquin Alberto Lautaret, first vice-president ; Eduardo Pellicciari, second vice-president; Jose Messuti, treasurer; Julio Joly, assistant treasurer ; Arturo Brochard, assistant treasurer; Eduardo Amoroso, Jose Adolfo Zatzkin, Venancio A. Rubio, Marcelo Moreno and Alberto Martin. 28 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 23. 1946