The Moving picture world (May 1922)

May 13, 1922 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 143 Heavy Taxation Threatens to Throttle the Film Industry Throughout India Calcutta, March 22. FILM production in India in its various aspects has been dilated upon from time to time in these columns. It is a matter for sincere regret that production has been hampered so far and quality of the output has attained no standard owing to misapplication of energy, want of expert knowledge of the industry, wanton waste and lack of universality of appeal in the subjects themselves. All these blemishes, however big they may be, are remediable, so that the day may yet come when India, as a producing field, will vie with California, in both quality and quantity of production. But when is that day arriving? It is up to Indians themselves to hasten the eventful day, and the sooner it arrives the better for them, as otherwise some other country, probably more backward today, will usurp the place that should have been occupied by India. It is a strange fact that politics interest the people of this country more than the problem of the daily bread. Millions of rupees are being wasted on a visionary scheme of self-government that can never materialize, even if the British chose to leave the country tomorrow. Could Create Great Business These self-same millions could, however, establish India as a producing unit in the film industry, for instance. With a capital of, say, ten crores of rupees, equivalent to, approximately 33 million dollars, producing companies might establish the most up-to-date studios in the principal centres, offering employment to hundreds at each centre and thereby helping so many families that might otherwise have to join the ever-increasing ranks of the unemployed. Money is not lacking in India, but the man with money loves hoarding, while the species that is fond of gambling will gamble away thousands in the hope of making millions and yet think twice before he will invest in an undertaking that is sure to show steady returns, provided the management is sound. Personally, it is my firm belief that if an .American company came out with half or threequarters of the capital subscribed in America and started producing operations under expert-direction and with qualified Indian acting talent, the results of their labors would in no time attract the balance of the capital from wealthy Indians, who generally want to be convinced of the profitable nature of a new industry, before they will part with their shekels. To Raise Duty The Government of India, in the plenitude of its wisdom, is effectively killing the film producing and film-renting industry, now in its infancy, by proposing to raise the import duty on raw stock fas well as positive prints and negatives) from the existing high rate of 20 per cent, to 30 per cent. You must be aware that until the beginning of 1921 the ad valorem duty of film-imports used to be 7j/2 per cent. Classified under the head of "Luxuries," films were made to bear the import duty of an additional 12J/2 per cent., and a year is not over since and Government proposes, to increase this heavy impost to 30 per cent! As if to prove that it has the best interests of the film producing industry at heart., Government has declared that films produced in India may be exported free of duty and re-imported fee of duty the next two years. But what film can be produced in this country, if over and above other drawbacks and deficiencies to which reference has been made by me in this and preceding articles, the import duty on raw filmstock which already carries the unjustly heavy burden of a 20 per cent, levy, is increased to 30 per cent. All cinemas are now licensed — which Pay Fees On Every Hand means the payment of a prescribed fee ; all films are now examined and passed by some Board of Censors or other upon the payment of a prescribed fee ; all operators are being licensed upon the payment of a fee which must accompany applications for licenses ; and now comes the proposed 30 per cent, import duty (ad valorem), while the Entertainments Tax Bill is being discussed in the Council of the Governor of Bengal. This bill proposes a rise of 25 to 50 per cent, in the price of seats at cinemas and theatres and has naturally raised a storm of protest. The price of positive prints has increased by fully 100 per cent. Rentals have not gone up correspondingly, indeed, rentals have not gone up at all and renters are being asked daily by exhibitors to lower their rates so that exhibitors may just live. The proposed Entertainments Tax Bill would apply to Calcutta where there are only ten cinemas and to the hill-station of Darjeeling, where there are only two. Must Shoulder Expense It means, therefore, that Calcutta in particular, must pay for the amusements of the whole presidency of Bengal. A similar bill was introduced into the Council of the Governor of Bombay a few days ago but thrown out by a large majority as being iniquitous and unfair, and, mind you, there are about thirty cinemas in the city of Bombay against Calcutta's ten. Startling figures have been published showing the state of cinemas and theatres in Calcutta, and it has been nroved in the course of the evidence given by exhibitors and importers of films and plays that the proposed tax would ring the death-knell of the majority of these houses of amusement through the decreased patronage that must inevitably follow upon the passing of the bill. The Entertainments Tax has been proved to be an obnoxious measure in England and been responsible for the closing of several cinemas and theatres and concurrently with the protest that is being made in England for the repeal of the act comes the proposal of the Government of Bengal to institute the tax in Calcutta, as if business conditions are better out here in this city. If the showman's business is going to be hit hard through the passing of the proposed Entertainments Tax Bill, naturally the producing branch of the industry would, also, suffer, and were one also to take into account the proposed increase in the ad valorem duty on films imported into the country, the future of the whole film industry looks very dark and gloomy indeed — apart from other considerations and causes contributing to its failure so far in India. I have the the highest authority for stating in this connection that one of the largest film producing companies in India has practically decided upon immediate closing and the many "experts" engaged by it from .\merica. England and Italy have received the usual notice of termination of service. All the foregoing remarks serve only to emphasize the all-important fact that only the fittest will survive among film-producers in India, and it is therefore imperative that organization on the soundest basis possible be aimed at by people engaged in the industry. "Indio." Minister May Lose Church Because He Runs Picture Shows The Rev. Thomas J. Irwin, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Lawton, Okla., is threatened with the loss of his pastorate because he conducts picture shows in the church and recently officiated at a bathing suit wedding. He will face trial before the El Reno Presbvterv on May 9 on charges of conduct unbecoming a minister of the Presbyterian Church. The moving picture equipment has been a feature of the church for several years, having been donated by the late Jake Hamon. Republican national committeeman from Oklahoma. Several attemnts have been made to destroy the outfit in recent weeks, and on one O'xasion the Rev. Irwin took a shot at a prowler he found lurking about the church property.