Wid's year book (1921)

Realart's Honor Plan The Honor Plan, inaugurated by Realart which offered to exhibitors, for the first time, the privilege of playing the productions first and paying what he believed them to be worth afterwards. JOHN S. WOODY, Realart. Stanley Opening Opening of the Stanley Theatre at 19th and Market Streets in Philadelphia at a cost of more than $2,000,000. JULES E. MASTBAUM, President, Stanley Company of America. No Production to Cost Over $125,000 The realization by at least a portion of the producing factors of the country that production costs must be radically revised downward. The greatest service that the financial institutions that ally themselves with the manufacture of motion pictures can perform in this industry for the next twelve months will be an abrupt refusal on the part of bankers or financiers to lend anyone in excess of $125,000 for the production of any individual picture. Only by this kind of a curb, exercised by the men and the institutions controlling money, can a wasteful and extravagant industry be made to come to its senses and re-establish sane and conservative production costs. F. B. WARREN. Nothing Outstanding I cannot recall any one great incident that stands out in my mind as having occurred during the year. "AL" LICHTMAN, Gen. Mgr., Asso. Producers. Encouragement of Independent It would be too difficult for me to conclusively name the MOST .important ««nt »ffecVng the whole of the «otion.pictu« industry th« year. But, my personal opinion is thaMheth^rrecoBof the independent exhibitors, and their recog nition and appreciation of the independent exchangeman and producer, are about as important as anything else. -vhihitnrs With proper encouragement by exhibitors, exchangemen can extend essentia encouragement fo independent Producers (who are « realitv the goose that lays the golden egg;, and Thereby Insure a continual and « nhm.ted supply of good pictures, and avoid the danger of stagnation or shortage. . let us all concentrate our minds on encouraging the independent producer. ROBT. W. PRIEST, The Film Market. Organization of Independents From the standpoint of the industry the most important event of the past year has been the organization of independent factions in this buffness The strength of the exhibitors as disclosed at Minneapolis and the decisions made there should result in the greatest good for the industry as a whole derived from any one event during the past twelve months. . Another important happening is the decision on the oart of Congress to place a tax on foreign films. Unquestionably this helps the independent producer and his associates in the creation of motion P-ture ^ert.tnment.^^ Production Orgy Ending T consider the most important event in the past year the inevitable climax to the wild orgy of spending in P-duction.^^ jjqlubaR. Censor Board Standards Standards of the Ontario (Can.) Board of Censors, 45 Richmond St., W., Toronto No picture will be allowed which shows a successful balking of the law. The board will use judgment in eliminating unwarranted display of foreign flags, and will also call for a respectful presentation of all British flags. All pictures showing animals being treated unkindly, tortured or killed will be condemned. Pictures which deal with firearms or display of knives or guns may be eliminated or cut. Shocking and unnecessary details of deeds of violence and struggle scenes will be cut out. This also applies to the rough handling of women, children, the aged or infirm, and close-up views of horrid, bruised or mutilated faces, or faces showing agony and suffering; also the struggles of drowning people and close-up views of dead people's faces floating in the water. Constructive suggestions which might be conducive to producing lawlessness or crime, e. g., methods of safe cracking, picking locks, raising cheques, robbing houses, molesting persons, etc. In no instances will suicide or incentives to such be shown. Close-up scenes, prolonged or instructive scenes of murder, or showing of executions will not be allowed. Each question of costume or taste must be considered on the basis of morals. Pictures of women almost wholly dressed, but displaying a lavish amount of lingerie, are startling. The same, is true of excessively low-cut gowns. Under no consideration will the board pass any pictures containing incidentally or extensively the nude form. Burlesques or scenes of ridicule of clergy. Salvation Army or any other religious work will be eliminated. All pictures must be kept clean from suggestion, vulgarity and profanity. Scenes in houses of ill-repute and scenes of debauches will be cut out, also any instructive details of gambling, etc., will be eliminated. Vndue and unnecessary drinking scenes will be eliminated. Fifty per cent of all serials must be shown at one sitting. The board will insist that sex problems be tieated with seriousness and reserve. Constructive suggestions of the use or means of illegitimately procuring habit-forming drugs, narcotics, poisons, etc., will be eliminated. Instructions prohibit the display of any advertising which shows scenes of violence, display of guns or knives indicating shooting or stabbing, nudity, vulgar display of women's forms, objectionable titles regarding sex relations, or any eliminations that have been made by the board. Standards of Maryland State Board of Censors, 211 N. Calvert St., Baltimore Improper exhibition of feminine underwear. Bedroom and bathroom scenes of suggestive and indecent character. Offensive vulgarity and indecent gestures. Women promiscuously taking up men. Indelicate sexual situations. Nude figures. Indecorous dancing. Attempted criminal assaults upon women. Excessive drunkenness, especially in women. Overpassionate love scenes. Men and women living together without marriage and in adultery. Prostitution and procuration of women. Excessive use of firearms. Disrespect for the law, third degree scenes. Doubtful characters exalted to heroes. 213