The motion picture industry (1933)

Production ^><^>^>-<^o^><^^> 105 tralization of the production function. They believed that risk and profit sharing was not practical, that it would not meet with the approval of the players, writers, and others, and that it could not succeed under existing competitive conditions. These executives also objected to any form of market classification. They were of the opinion that success in the motion picture industry was dependent upon the production of pictures for the masses and that any digression from such a policy would be unwise. The company did not adopt at once a policy of decentralizing production. Late in 1931, however, it did decide to produce under the unit system. At that time a number of producers were considering the advisability of changing to the unit plan. One of the first companies to put the system into effect was the Columbia Pictures Corporation. This company was reported10 late in October, 1931, to have adopted the plan, using four associate producers, each of whom was to confer with the general manager in charge of production on story selection, adaptation, choice of director, cost, budget, etc. In November, Fox was reported " to have instituted the unit system with two producers and four associate producers, and later in that same month it was reported 12 that Paramount had decided to adopt the plan with seven associate producers. It is not likely, however, that merely decentralizing production, either as among individuals within a company or geographically as between the East and West Coasts, will solve the problem of better pictures at a reasonable cost. It should help. It is probable, however, that real progress must be accompanied by a different point of view on the part of those responsible for production. There is a good deal of psychology in the situation which contributes to the maintenance of what is so frequently designated as stagna 10 Film Daily, October 27, 1931. 11 Motion Picture Herald, November 14, 1931. 12 Ibid., November 28, 1931.