NEW COMPANY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21244, 14 January 1939, Page 12

NEW COMPANY

AVOIDING LAG IN BRITISH PICTURE INDUSTRY A new company has been formed in London under the name of “Capad.” | This company will bring about a clo? ■ working arrangement between various British studios and production concerns. The directors are Messrs Anthony Havelock-Allan, Regmaid Baker. Michael Balcon, Stephen Courtauld, Richard Norton and Arthur Rank. Mr Baker states that “the company is being formed with a view to sponsoring the production of economical British films at any of the major film studios for release through A.B.F.D. (Associated British Film Distributors, distributing unit for A.T.P.). The machinery of “Capad” will be available for all approved British productions. “Capad” is an abbreviation of “Co-operative -Association of Producers and Distributors.” The general idea is to get a certain amount of co-operation between the studios and the personnel—to interchange what is available, so as to avoid “lag.” Some of the pictures will be made on a co-operative arrangement as well. At the moment Pinewood and Ealing are the two studios involved, but we are informed that the new company is “dickering” with another major studio. Stephen Courtauld, who built Ealing Studios, is the world-famous artificial silk manufacturer, and is considered one of England’s wealthiest men. R. P. Baker, a fellow chartered accountant, Is managing director of many English companies. Michael Balcon was for years pro-ducer-in-chief of Gaumont-British, Gainsborough Films, and latterly M.G.M. (“A Yank at Oxford”). Anthony Havelock-Allan has produced 24 pictures in three years. (Six in five months and three days). Arthur Rank is the multi-million-aire flour merchant, who built Pinewood Studios. Capt. Richard Norton is a producer of high standing in England at Pinewood.