Evening star., 1923-11-22
MOVING PICTURE
/ FIELD INCREASING
independents Active During
Production LuII-idea of
Depression Wrong.
BY j. c. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

SPECIAL Dispatch to The Star
NEW YORK, November 22.-The
volume of moving picture produc-
tions has not been diminished as a
result of the policy recently an
nounced by some large producers Of
temporarily restricting their picture
play output. Their action. according
TO men in closest touch with the in
dustry. has stimulated the so-called
independent" producers to renewed
activity.
The latter have seen in the situa-
uon an opportunity to fill the places
or the productions held UP, as we'll
as to secure the services of popular
stars and directors of ability tempo
rarily thrown out of work. As a re-
suit they are deep in plans for addi-
tional and elaborate productions.
Independents Very Active.
Frank r. Wilson, president of the
Motion Pictures Capital Corporation,
IN which n score of the larger inde-
pendent managers are associated.
stated today that in the last month
his concern had more applications for
ala in financing pretentlous and ex-
penstve pictures than ever before.
The independents have not suffer
ed the initiation which caused the cur
1ailment by the large producing man
ayers, MT Wilson added. The lat
ter tied up huge sums in their artistic
and technical stats and gave them a
free hand In expenditures. The staffs
were spending some one else's money.
some producers have been spending
their own money ana have been cor
rGSD0ndinply nj ANT
it, -
In spite of its present size. the
motion picture industry is still in its
infancy. according to opinions eX-
man Kodak Company, which manu-
Lectures and distributes a large pro-
portion OF the motion picture film
and accessories for the world.
Film Field Increasing.
The use OF motion picture film In
the educational and industrial fields
IS showing marked increase"
george Eastman, founder of the COM
pany said. These fields have almost
1nexhaustible possibilities. The in
crease Is especially marked in the
schools and classrooms, where the
showing of pictures in conjunction
with text book instruction is rapidly
becoming popular. For subjects Of
this description or where portable
projectors are used danger has been
eliminated by the use of nom infiam-
lnable or safety positive film.
Because motion pictures are now
the leading medium of entertainment
IN this country. the industry probably
has aroused more general interest
than any other. Much concern was re-
GENTLY caused by newspaper reports
that several of the leading studios
were to discontinue production, which
led to the belief that there was de.
preston IN the industry. This has
since proved to be misunderstand.
ing. The action was considered neces-
sary as means of cutting high pro-
duction costs. There is apparently
nothing in the situation to indicate
mat curtailment of production will
continue once normal costs are re-
sumed
Public Interest High
Neither is there anything to indi-
cate lcsscning of the pubifc's inter
est in motion pictures. This is shown
by returns to the federal Treasury
from the 10 per cent amusement tax
placed on tickets to movie theaters.
During the first nine months of this
year this tax yielded a sum 90 per
cent above that produced in the cor
responding period of 1922"
IN discussing the use of motion pic-
ture cameras by amateurs. Mr. East
man said that this particular branci,
or the industry had only started and
that motion pictures for the home
were sure TO become increasingly
popular.