DAILY DAILY

VOL. 168 No. 64 Hollywood, California­90028, Friday, September 5, 1975 20 Pages 25 Cat*

U, PAR, IATSE REACH ACCORD PROBABLE ROUGH U.K. TV SLEDDING Tentative Agreement Calk AHEAD FOR GRAPHIC FEATURE PIX

for 39% Wa9

e Booif 0ver

42 Mos.; Now Up To locals London, Sept. 4 ­­ How the new generation of graphic fea­ture films will fare In the foreign tv markets has to be a key economic question engaging syndlcators. Because so many of the newer films arc resistant to editing for the tube on the grounds that to do so would render them meaningless and thus unplayable, the impact on new theatrical Inventory Is fore­seeable. Likewise the scheduling realignments that even accept­able adult fare is bound to dic­tate.

Aa forecast, the vexations arc starting to emerge In at least one Important market. Great Bri­tain. With a five­year clearance still operative on pIx for U.K. telecasting, the brunt of the Hollywood "new wave" cine­matics has yet to be felt here.

But anticipation has already led to creation of three new "late" film alols In primctlme — two on the BBC channels, one on the Independent commercial (ITV network) channel. All three new time slots commence after 9 p.m., the longtime ar­bltrary demarcation re adult programming on the British alr­lanes.

Stiff Criteria But even these more accom­

modatlng time periods will have to contend with stiff criteria from standards & practices. One contemporary scx­and­vlolcncc drama just nixed by both BBC

Terminated ETV Tickets Eyed By Ala. Citizens Org

Washington, Sept. 4 — An Ala­bama citizens group has applied for three of the stale's nine ETV stations whose licenses were snatched by the Federal Com­munications Commission this y e a r b e c a u s e of a l l eged programming and employment discrimination.

The Alabama Citizens for Responsive Public Television Inc. met the FCC deadline with requests for the tickets at Birmingham, Montgomery and Demopolls. Org Is the first to file for the licenses since the FCC turned down renewal applica­tions In January. The FCC opened the door for competing applications while also permit­ting the Alabama Television Commission to re file — which it did last spring.

By JACK PITMAN and ITV Is Sam Pecklnpah's "Straw Dogs," a major 1971 release via Cinerama. And there arc strong indications that other current and recent theatrical releases will In due course meet the same fate here.

The problem doesn't rate a shrugoff. British video con­sumes more features annually than most systems, about a thou­sand titles per on all three chan­nels. More importantly, Britain remains the top dollar market for vanities outside of the U.S., though West Germany. Japan and Canada don't trail by much.

What one video exec desig­nates as a "grade A" feature can fetch anywhere from $30,000 to $75,000 In this market currently. ("Bridge On The River Kwal," the Bond pIx and other power­houses command considerably more — as much as $200,000 and up.)

Another vaultlc turned down by BBC recently was "The Kill­ing Of Sister George," because It contains some explicit lesbian footage. That one, however, was reprieved per a pickup from ITV

for Its new Sunday night at 9:10 "adult" slot this fall.

Other pix lined up for that showcase Include "Bob And

(Continued on Page ?fl, Column 1)

Volenti Mum On U's AMPTP Adieu Reached at his home in

Washington, D.C.. J a c k Valentl, president of the Mo­tion Picture Association of America, said he had no com­ment on Unlversal's with­drawal from the Association of Motion Picture & TV Producers.

Valentl, who had been In transit from N.Y. to D.C., ad­ded that he has been "out of touch" with Coast develop­ments since 10 a.m. Thurs­d a y . But . he a s s e r t e d , "nothing Is Inevitable right now." An International Al­llancc of Theatrical Stage Employes strike, says the MPAA chief, "wouldn't do anyone anv good on cither side."

Impact Of Pic Versions On B'way Plays Hard To Gauge

By FRANK SEGERS New York. Sept. 4 A ques­

tion debated from time to time along the leglt­to­fllm nexus Involves the boxofficc Impact on a continuing Broadway produc­tion of the opening here of the film version of the same prop­erty.

It doesn't happen very often but that doesn't preclude forma­tion of a showbiz nostrum which goes as follows: the opening of t h e fi lm v e r s i o n s p e l l s imminent demise of the stage original . Like many other not ions t h a t c o l l e c t i v e l y comprise conventional Industry wisdom, It's not necessarily true.

Nevertheless, most produc­ers, Including Morton Gottlieb, don't like to take chances. Gott­lieb, producer of "Same Time, Next Year," will coproduce (along with Walter Mlrlsch) the film version of the Bernard Blade comedy for Universal Pic­tures.

When the film rights purchase was disclosed, Gottlieb told everyone within l i s tening distance that the deal was a rec­ord for a straight Broadway play

a $1,000,000 advance against !(%, of the gross over $10,000,000 (to be divided 60% to the au­thor and 40% to the produc­

f Continued on Page 6, Column 4)

Universal and yesterday reached a tentative agreement with International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes on a new contract, which gives labor a 39% wage boost over a 42­month period; Improved benefits In pension and health­and­welfare, but does not contain a cost­of­living clause. Deal Is subject to ac­ceptance by three IA locals which had been given strike ap­proval on 1973 pacts to make their own settlements with the studios on those tickets, also to membership ratification.

Par late Wednesday decided to withdraw from the multi­bargainlng unit of Association of Motion Picture & TV Producers In order to negotiate a new IA deal along with U, but It has not withdrawn from AMPTP (see box).

Association of Motion Picture & TV Producers, from which U bolted In order to make its own deal with IATSE. was given the Identical package by IA, and Its brass were mulling It late yes­terday. IA sources were optimis­tic the association would accept, and that an industrywide strike would thus be averted. Four locals not yet signed to 1973 pacts arc IA Sound Technicians Local 695; IA Film Editors Guild Local 776; IA Studio Projec­tionists Local 165. all of whom have voted strike and been given official sanction to walk; plus IA Film Technicians Local 683.

By DAVE KAUFMAN Paramount which has not yet had Its strike

vote. Intensive negotiations be­

tween IA, U and Par got under­way yesterday ayem at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in a suite rented by the two studios. Spearheading negotiations for U were MCA board chairman Lew R. Wasserman; MCA prez Sid

AFM LOCAL 47 ON RESID WARPATH OVER REPORTED 'ANDY' AIRINGS

American Federation of Musi­clans Local 47 Is once again press­ing for unpaid residuals, and Is

NBC, Phil D'Antoni Make Multi­Pilot Deal

NBC­TV has made a multlple­pilot deal with exec producer Phil D'Antoni. the pilots to cover a three­year period, program v.p . Marvin Antonowsky revealed yesterday.

The exec said the D'Antoni vehicles have not yet been selected. D'Antoni, in partner­ship with Barry Wcitz, is producer of "Movln' On," now going Into Its second season on NBOTV.

urging AFM International to take up the case and go to court.

Local 47s board of directors has sent a letter to the Inter­national executive board urging It to "use all legal means to col­lect monies wc feel are due our musicians."

Monies currently in question are for the "Andy Williams Show. " 1969­70 and 1970­71 seasons.

Local 47 says It has been In­formed by Overseas TV Reports that there have been two or more showings of the show In Toronto. Vancouver. Kitchener, Montreal, London­Wlngham and Pctcrsborough markets, "as well as numerous other United

(Continued on Page 17, Column 5)

Par Retains Its AMPTP Membership

Paramount, while bargaln­ing on its own with Universal yesterday, did not withdraw from Association of Motion Picture & TV Producers, as U had the previous day. In­stcad. Par departed from the multi­employer bargaining unit within AMPTP. studio confirmed.

Member companies, under AMPTP bylaws, can elect to conduct labor contract nego­tiations independently. This happened In 1960 when Universal­International, be­fore being absorbed Into MCA. made separate deal with W r i t e r s Gui ld of America during its strike.

Shcinbcrg. and Gareth Hughes, v.p. of Industrial relations for the Valley lot. Repping Par were Art Ryan, v.p., and Dick Schon­land from labor relations.

Wasserman explained that because of the Internal Impasse within AMPTP, U had Informed the association It was leaving, said U was at the table to nego­tiate a contract In good faith. Strikes and lockouts arc only to

(Continued on Page 17, Column 1)

Proposed Meld Would Leave One Mexican Distribution Agency

Mexico City. Sept. 4 — The Cimex distrlb agency as a sep­arate entity will disappear from the local scene as a result of a study proposing a merger of Clmcx and Pcllculas Mcxlcanas Into one organization to handle distribution of all Mexican film products.

Per Pel Mex chief Juan Bandera Molina. It appeared to be more logical and also simplify organizational changes

(Continued on Poge 18, Column I )

It's a wrap! I lot or Qooa reasons tor ■

they're all wrapped up In our location manual Producers di­

rectors and location managers may obtain copies from Karol W. Smith, Director, Governor's Motion Picture & TV Commission,

303/992­2205. Colorado.