The Washington times., 1914-09-25
THE BEST
Photoplay Department in
WASHINGTON
South America Is A
Big Open Field
For Producers
Of Film.

: In connection with the opportunity
which is being presented to Ameri-
can industry generally in South
America through the shutting down
of business in Europe as result of
the war. there is no roster outlook
than that offered by the motion pic
ture field. 1t comes as a sort of a
shock 10 the average tourist from the
United States to find European things
Central and South America of
much later date than one finds in
this country. 1t is probable that
these countries enjoyed the benefits
of the motion picture show long be-
fore the United States fell under it's
spell. as il was a staple European
amusement when il was still a freak
in this country. 1t will be remem-
bered that great opera singers like
Caruso and Calve and Tettrazini
were heard in Buenos Aires some
years before they came to New York,
and that hundreds of other things
that are thought to be new in this
country are found to have been in
troduced in South America long be-
fore
The reason for this is that South
America has depended on Europe en-
tirely for much of its manufactured
goods. and that European novelties
and amusements have followed the
largest export of such things. Also
things that come to the United States
must first compete with native pro-
ducts before they are finally adopted.
There Is not a single country of
South America that is a manufactur-
ing center of any sort. In Argentine,
for instance. everything used and
worn. and practically everything eaten
by the people comes from abroad.
Before the European war started
these things came from Europe.
Now they must come from this
country or the South Americans will
be compelled to do without them.
The moving picture is one of the
big South American staples and
the exhibitors in those countries
must look to the United States for
a large part of their supplies in
The Motion Picture News in Costa
Rica makes a pertinent inquiry re-
Earding the plans of producers. He
states:
Why is ii that producers in the
United States do not endeavor to
supply the motion picture market
in Central America? We would be
glad to see a branch office of any
OF the regular program firms estab-
hshed in this city. San Jose. or any
of the other cities of this republic.
An exchange would have a hun
ared theaters ready to take a reg
ular service continually.
We get the Pathe pictures here
and the exhibitors like the sub
tects made by this company. but we
want an opportunity to make a
wider selection, possible only with
releases presented to US for con-
sideration by more than one firm.
IF Americans pin their faith on
the slogan America for Ameri-
. N NV etn nr II
should begin to think of pushing
their goods in all the countries
south of the zone. Now that the
export trade of Europe is dead the
Americans have a chance, unlimit-
ed in scope.
This not only applies to the ex-
port trade OF the United States in
general. but in respect to the film
business in particular. Is it laziness
or what that prevents your manu-
facturers from making this expan-
sion?
I'm sending representatives they
should. however, take a tip from the
Germans. who always made II n
point to study our needs. They
never made the mistake of sending
an agent who could not speak Span
ish fiuently. Films always had the
titles in Spanish. What few Ameri-
can pictures We received have in tho
VI CdstS ndu lIe III
English.
The producers should stop and
put themselves in the place of our
people. How can the spectators fol-
low the story of play with titles in
an alien language? How would An
audience in the United States re-
ceive an Italian or French picture
with all the titles printed in a for
eisn tongue?
And. by the way. do you know
that we Costa Ricans are ahead of
you Americans in some respects?
We have seen manv films long be-
fore they were shown in the theate-s
OF the United States. For instance.
We exhibited 'Germania.' on Jam
uary Is. of this year; Les Miserables'
on July Is, of this year. When The
Last Days Of Pompeii' was adver-
tised as coming We were showing the
picture here.
We play to excellent business.
though there are only three millions
Of people to draw from. against your
ninety-fve millions. Our prices are
much better. The American exhibi-
tor charges about % cents, but ".
get about 81 In gold