CINEMA INDUSTRY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 7 May 1928, Page 5

CINEMA INDUSTRY.

FRENCH METHOD OF PRO ! EOT IO N. (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—BY ELECTRIC TELEUIU PH—COPYRIGHT.) (“TIMES” CABLES.) LONDON, May 4. M. Herriot states- his cinema commute© ha-s considered Mr. Hay’s objections to the films decree regulating the number of American films to be shown in France- and has appointed a sub-com-mittee to negotiate an agreement, which he will himself examine to ensure that French interests are not damaged. He adds: “I told Mr. Hays that it was my business to defend the French industry. 1 shall do- my best to conciliate the opposing interests, but there is no question of the revision of the decree.” The Paris correspondent of “The Times’’ states that Mr. Hja-ys discussed the situation with the Oinema Committee, after which M. Herriot made a statement that no changes would be made in the- decree stipuating the proportion of French films that must be exhibited, which wa-s- inviolable, but the methods of application would be changed by a system of licenses to be- issued by French importers instead of by a quota. It is unofficially stated that licenses will he issued in the proportion of seven American films to one French instead of four to one. An American buying a French film need not exhibit it, and he may also obtain licenses from a French exhibitor who has bought American films. The Oinema Committee is of opinion that it has thus prevented the threatened withdrawal of Americans production while protecting the French industry.