The Director General referred to a letter received from Sir Horace Wilson relating to leave, and the Directors were instructed to make the necessary arrangements.
2.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FILMS, PHOTOGRAPHS & GENERAL PRODUCTIONS DIVISIONS
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The Director General observed that in view of the discontinuation of the Monthly Progress Reports for the Cabinet he thought it would be useful if Directors made verbal reports from time to time at the Wednesday meetings. He invited Mr. Beddington, Mr. Francis and Mr. Vaughan to speak about the recent work in their respective Divisions.
(a)
FILMS DIVISION
Mr. Beddington referred to the following points:-
(i) Arrangements had been concluded with the C.E.A., under which a five minute short (running to seven or eight minutes) would be shown in every programme throughout the country. Fourteen were to be distributed under this arrangement and eight of which had been finished. In addition ten more were in production.
(ii) “Men of the Lightship” was being shown in 1000 theatres within the next eight weeks. He thought that the cost of the copies of the film would be got back. The Press had been very helpful and so far the evidence showed that the film was much appreciated. Arrangements were in train with 20th Century Fox for U.S.A. distribution.
(iii) The non-theatrical distribution scheme was to be ready about the 1st September, but this date would probably be extended to the 15th. There would be 215 units and a programme of 24 films plus entertainment items. The performances would be both from travelling vans and stationary with 16 mm reels. Arrangements had been made in consultation with the C.E.A., and he considered that there was no overlapping in the subjects shown in this arrangement and those under ordinary commercial distribution. No special arrangements had been made for the Army and the Air Force.
(iv) Reorganisation of the Films Division had been put in hand, and he thought that there should be a Production Manager and a Press Officer.
(v) There was a project for the production of news-reels in Cairo for the Near and Middle East and possibly for the Dominions.
(vi) The G.P.O. film unit was being re-organised.
(vii) The producers had formed themselves into a new Committee and a representative would attend weekly meeting of the Users Division.
(viii) There was a new Film Attaché in Madrid and there would be a salesman later.
(ix) Plans for South America were in train.
(x) Acting on Sir Walter Monckton's suggestion, there would be a bi-weekly meeting of the newsreel representatives, when representatives of the three Services would attend and complaints might be investigated.
(xi) Three detachments from the G.P.O. film unit would work with the R.A.F.
Referring to the difficulties, Mr. Beddington said that he was anxious to keep up the quality of the five minute films. Each film cost £500, but he thought it necessary to have experimental money. In the trial run it was generally found that an alteration was required and these alterations might cost £30 - £40. In answers to questions he said that in the first week of a film showing it was calculated that ten million people would see it and in the following three weeks another ten million. He was a member of the Planning Committee and was able to translate their requirements into terms of films. A large number of suggestions, however, came from other Government Departments. The Director General and the Deputy Secretary thought it was important that the quality of the news reels should be maintained. Accordingly it might be necessary to make alterations, or even to scrap, certain films if they were not satisfactory. The Committee agreed that the financial arrangements appeared to be reasonable. The Deputy Secretary said however, that it was necessary for the Ministry to assume a proper measure of responsibility in deciding if demands put to it were sound or not. It was necessary to exercise a right of criticism or veto on projects which were not suitable for translation into films.
(b)
PHOTOGRAPHS DIVISION
Mr. Francis said that the main development had been a certain transfer of activities from the foreign to the home field. Whereas before we distributed over 20,000 photographs per week abroad, we now sent about 9,000. Not only had the possible territories diminished, but there were also plans for decentralisation to the Middle East, and negatives were now sent for local printing to Cairo. One or two sets of prints sent by Air Mail therefore were equivalent to a very large despatch of photographs from this country. There had been an increase of work for the home field and also of “research”. Progress had been made with exhibitions. Arrangements for the 500 “Propaganda windows” changed fortnightly, and this might be increased to 700. There were also arrangements for screens to be exhibited with topical material in conjunction with the requirements of the R.I.O.’s. There were now about 300 screens which were adapted for 15 to 20 changeable photographs. A loan library scheme was also in train, consisting of about 1000 pictures, the first 500 of which had been ordered. It had been arranged that news cinemas would exhibit displays of pictures and the Gaumont and Bernstein circuits had agreed to displays in foyers. This might be extended to other concerns. With the assistance of the Commercial Relations Division photograph exhibitions had been arranged abroad, in particular with Kodak.
Department was constantly approached by other Departments for requirements which did not always seem reasonable. Moreover, a doubt arose who was to bear the cost. For example, the Ministry of Aircraft Production wanted photographs for its Spitfire and Bombing Clubs; the National Savings Committee also asked us for photographs. The Deputy Secretary said that the principle adopted was that if other Departments wished us to publicise them we would undertake it, but if they wished to do the work themselves we could not assist. Mr. Francis also referred to the increasing work thrown upon the Photographs Division by disputes between photograph agencies and the Service Departments as to facilities. There were also a great many demands on the Photographs Division from the User Divisions for photographs which could hardly be expected to be used. Much time was taken up in obtaining photographs of places, etc., under the “crisis” scheme, which would never find their way into print. Sir Kenneth Clark said he thought that there should be an experienced Picture Editor who would look at these applications and decide whether they were worth the time and trouble. The Deputy Secretary said that the same consideration applied to photographs as to films. It was the responsibility of the Ministry to satisfy themselves that applications were sound, and we should not dissipate our powers by trying to meet other requirements without due investigation into the purpose which they served.
Mr. Francis also referred to the question of engaging permanent photographers for the Ministry. He thought that, although this might produce good technical results, it would antagonise the outside interests. In the discussion which followed it was agreed that we should ask outside interests to do any particular work for us and so avoid the risk of friction with these interests.
(c)
GENERAL PRODUCTIONS DIVISION
Mr. Vaughan said that the material for home use had [illegible] greatly expanded and the output had gone up some 50% to six and a half million pieces for the month ending July 25th. 297,000 packets had been despatched, showing an increase of 20%. The amount of material in hand for the Foreign and Empire Divisions also constituted a record. He gave lists of material being put out (attached).
Referring to the difficulties, he said that there was a considerable demand, particularly from U.S.A. for stories from R.A.F. pilots or the Navy of exploits. When the Air Ministry was asked to provide this a delay of up to a month sometimes occurred, and the material then produced was unsuitable. The delay in the case of the Admiralty was a little less, but might be as much as a fortnight. Lord Davidson asked whether some of the excellent material now sent abroad could not be distributed at home, but Mr. Vaughan said that an agreement with the P.& T. Press Association precluded us from starting new ventures at home. Although there would undoubtedly be an advantage in distributing this material, it seemed better to retain the goodwill of this organisation. We might also incur the opposition of the advertisers, who were prevented from publishing catalogues, etc.
