MOTION PICTURES

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 17 March 1927, Page 5

MOTION PICTURES

THE BRITISH INDUSTRY. BILL TO SAFEGUARD IT. BIG INTERESTS INVOLVED. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. Received 11.15 a.m. to-day. LONDON, March 16. The President of the Board of Trade, Sir P. Cunliffe Lister, in moving the second reading of the Cinematograph Films Bill, said that the provisions followed the methods considered by the Imperial Conference. Only five per cent, of the films at present being shown in the Empire were of British origin. The cinema was one of the great advertising powers in the world. Foreign films operated against Brirish trade throughout the Dominions Exhibitors throughout Britain recently received requests that if they objected to the Bill, to telegraph to their local member of the House of Commons, on prepaid telegraph forms which weie endowed. The* requests came from the European .Motion Picture Company, of which the chief shareholders were Americans. Producers in America were enabled to forge ahead during the war, when British film-making was stopped. The Bill was necessary to give security to British film makers, but the compulsorv quota of British films had deliberately been kept low, because it was recognised that competition was necessary for success. The British Mm industry involved great interests, national and imperial, and the determinations of the Imperial Conference must be translated into action.

EMPIRE! WIDE ORGANISATION

LONDON, March 15

An announcement Is mad© lor the formation of an Empire wide all British film organisation, involving £1,000,000, and employing the foremost British authors, producers and actors. This foreshadows the springing up of a British Hollywood in the vicinity of London, in which the first studios will be available at the end of 1927. _ Affiliated companies are being formed in Australia, South Africa, Canada, India and Paris, The organisation will be the British Incorporated Pictures, Limited. The initial capital will be £SOO,(XX). The organisation will produce and distribute high-grade films, affiliated companies undertaking the distribution in the Dominions, and also producing individually. Half the capital of the British company is already assured. The remainder will not be offered, for isubsoription before the production of the first film, when British exhibitors ■null be offered the opportunity to participate.