FILMS OF THE FUTURE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 101, 9 April 1936, Page 14

FILMS OF THE FUTURE

What of Television? COLOUR IN NEXT FIVE YEARS The writer of this article, Darryl F. Zanuek, stands pre-eminent as Hollywood’s greatest genius of produelion. Now only 28 years of age, he numbeis among his successes films which have been 20th Century’s greatest moneymakers. His efforts for Fox Films Cor poration Ltd., and 20th Century, stand supreme in the field in which he has attained such importance in so few years. His ideas, modern and far sighted, must bo credited. "The story I am to tell you is one in which detailed prophecy would be impossible,” he says. "The best 1 can do is to give a conservative sur mise. When I realise that ten years ago the greatest brains in the industry laughed at the presumptuous idon of sound on films, I wonder what 1 dare to predict may come in the next quarter of a century. "Many of us, realising the inevitable advent of television, have thought that in 25 years’ time theatres will be a thing of the past. Television will be here in five years, but it is impossible that it should overpower the theatres j

"Despite any invention that may come in the next quarter of a century, the psychology of people is such that in order to cujoy themselves they must leave the home circle and congregate in a community and enjoy entertainment in groups. "There may be huge changes in the form of this entertainment, but otio fact must remain stable: there will be entertainers rrd directors end producers to supervise the entertainers. And so it is obvious that, come what may, the basic form of entertainment and the theatre, as we know it to-day. will persist. "From the very first ‘two-reolers' the present-day million-dollar extravu ganza films have not changed fundamentally. Basically we still have a story; the changes—big ones, too--that have taken place are merely- superficial. In a nutshell, the successful pie hire of to-day is still the successful picture of fifteen years ago. “So much for the psychological changes, if any, that will take place in 25 years. Technically, it is a far different matter. There will ho tremendous changes, but no individual can definitely predict with certainty. "I believe that in a few years, not more than 15, a televised talking motion picture will be in every home. But the point is this: it will not affect the theatre. It will merely take tho place of the radio as a home pastime, "Another development whiclj we may expect in the near future is that of colour films. Technicolour has al ready come close to true colour, but it is by no means perfect. Colour will be universal, if at all, on the screens in the next five years. "Another serious question which, much debated at present, must crystallise in the nearby future, is that of 'depth’ in pictures. Variously called ‘third dimension,’ this is something

over which scientists have been worrying for years. "Some doubt has been expressed whether or not motion pictures could assimilate all these changes. 1, for one, believe that they can. Did not sound, necessitating new machines, theatres oftentimes, new screens, become universal within a year? "Theorists can imagine many future possibilities. A double sound track, for instance. It is not at all unlikely that these as well as other revolutionary changes will become part and parcel of the motion picture industry,”