Talkie Studio for Australia

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 998, 14 June 1930, Page 25

Talkie Studio for Australia

ACTORS’ DEPUTATION TO GOVERNMENT UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF The purchase and installation by the Federal Government of motion picture equipment at a cost of £BO,OOO, for the production of talkies in Australia, was advocated by a deputation of actors, Producers, and Australian authors which waited upon the AssistantMinister of Industry recently. It was stated that by this means 50,000 employees, or former employees, of the theatrical profession would be absorbed. Mr. R. H. Longford, motion picture producer, said that the total amount of taxation received from films imported into the Commonwealth from 1914 to 1929 was £1,643,504. During the sitting of the Royal Film Commission the sum of £IOO,OOO was invested in the roduction of Aus-tralian-made pictures. Since the Com mission’s findings, and as the result of subsequent awards, that amount had dropped to less than £IO,OOO. Acting on the findings of the Commission, the Federal Government increased the taxation on foreign films and collected over £300,000. Out of this sum it had awarded a yearly prize of £IO,OOO to be distributed in the various cash prizes.

Outside that prize-money the Government had done nothing of a practical nature to assist or foster Aus-tralian-made pictures. He suggested that an efficient apparatus, costing from £60,000 to £BO,OOO, comprising a complete plant, with studio, laboratory equipment, and film-colouring process, should be purchased and installed by the Government.

The return to the Government would be assured by either hire to the producer at the average daily rental of £IOO or £2OO, or by a percentage of

the gross returns of pictures made in the studio. Other members of the deputation suggested the introduction of the quota system. Five per cent, quota of Australian films on every programme was recommended. It was explained that 33 feature films could be produced each year. Mr. J. S. Garden, who introduced the deputation, suggested a quota of at least 2J per cent. The Minister, in reply, promised to bring tbe matter before the Federal Government. He was impressed with the necessity of providing employment to unemployed musicians and members of the theatrical profession.