Independent producers who can spend $100,000 or better on their product are finding the way less difficult than it has been in the past to obtain major company release for their artistic efforts, and have, at the same time, virtually put the skids under "quickie" production. Apparently, the $20,000 and $30,000 pictures are gone forever, and even when made for such sums there is no place to sell them. Producers with adequate capital are finding an outlet through Universal Columbia and RKO, the distributors selling the films on a percentage basis, When Jean Hersholt become dissatisfied with "his roles at the major plants his agent, Howard Long, and William Stephens formed a company to picturize Hersholt's radio character. With RKO retaining a third of this amount for its sales and service efforts, the net to the actor and his two financiers will be substantial. Parenthetically, the sponsor of the Hersholt programme receives nothing from the picture, but the advertising agency handling the radio account owns the character and is paid a flat sum for each story.
Other prominent independent projects are the Jack Skirball. John Wildberg programme of three pictures for release through Columbia and Lee Garmes's arrangement to make three for RKO, beginning with "And So Goodby:
Independent production is looked upon with disfavour by some studios because of the low cost of the individual efforts. It is not a question of quality but of having such figures appear on the books. It would be embarrassing to have a $125,000 production gross $500,000 when studio-made products costing twice that sum return an equal or even lesser amount.
A recent screening in Shanghai "Meet Dr. Christian," was one of the first of these independent productions to be released through a major company.
Brer Fox Programme Friday night's programme at the Brer Fox, scintillating and unique, marks high progress in the advance of the Fox Follies of 1940, who during the past four weeks, have entertained the most critical patrons of this colourful night club. The same programme, repeated last night, heartily was encored, being marked by three. ensembles, a trio ole. "An Apple for the done to the popular Ameri-y and sympathetically accompanied by the orchestra—Geza, Gino, Tafet and Schlittrer—ending with a good night kiss to the au-Fence really was a smart turn. The Oriental Snake Charmer, by Marie, Valia and Alla, bears repeating.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.