Educational screen & audio-visual guide (c1956-1971])

one of the fine things about the 28minute b&w film Beyond the Night, whose lociile is Brazil. "The Clever One" took what he wanted— until he happened to stop to listen to what it was that gathered that little street crowd. These strange words— forgiveness for sinners— would not leave him. One day the 'quick haul' did not appeal as before and the Clever One was in real trouble. The church in Brazil is reaching out and this film shows one way it is done. Interesting, instructive, this film is for youth and adult groups seeking to understand both the church and its Gospel better. Should lead to discussion and to reading if you provide some books. Waters In The Wilderness, another 28-minute film, takes us to Iran and pictures the ways in which Christianity is meeting the challenge of traditional Islam. In fine color photography we see the deserts, the rivers, the snow-capped mountains, the villages and the people. Their faces are turned toward better things and their minds are beginning to turn, too. Who will help them achieve a better way of life? The church is already doing so. Not as an explosion, but as yeast in dough; not in revolution, but quietly and slowly. This, too, is for young people and adults. A good film; recommended. You can go to Africa via the film New Faces of Africa. In 29 minutes you can learn from this film and you can get an impression that won't leave you: nothing can turn back the African from the freedom he is determined to win. You will be sure to note that he must win this freedom in more than one realm. The political aspect is dominant in the headlines, but, when you hear representative Africans speak with stinging candor in this film they talk of poverty and ignorance as well as freedom. Fine job of film making! Bound to interest both youth and adults in your church and community. This film, by the way, would be excellent for service clubs. It is not 'churchy' and won't hurt the sensibilities of the assembled and assorted brethren. The film rents for $12.00; the next one above for $10.00; and the first for $6.00. Try your film library first, and then Presbyterian Distribution Service — 225 Varick St., N. Y. 14; 200 W. Adams St., Chicago 6; and 234 McAllister St., San Francisco 2. Your Own Sound You can't always tell when you leave the main road. It is not easy to recognize a blind alley right off. Nor can one be sure that a new idea is going to be a flop. Do you recall the year tape and wire recorders were shown in about equal numbers at the National AV Convention? Did you 'bet' on wire or 'tape'? Well, the talk was lively and both types of recorders had their backers. We now know the verdict of history. It took insight to predict what happened. That insight had to do with several inherent factors. One of them was ease of editing. That's part of the sense of tape in the first place. If you overlooked that, you were in for trouble. There were other factors, too. When magnetic stripe hit the 16mm film, I got a personal demonstration of 'a machine which would make all present film projectors in the churches obsolete'. I hstened with care and made up my mind. I was somewhat less optimistic about 16mm striping than were the sales messiahs announcing the new era. Again history is handing in a verdict. If you need a machine to record on striped film and you are in need of film which you have striped and you are pretty good at this difficult operation, then that is what you should have. But, its like bandage strips and baths: one is for the whole body, the other for a specific spot. Some churches got worried under sales pressure. Fortunately, most of them did not have the money for the plunge so they were saved from going 'creative' in this new way. Now General Film's Rewind for April, 1961, brings us up to date on the present status and utihty of magnetic stripe film. Thanks. Brief Notices 0 International Communications Foundation (9033 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, Calif.) has sound-color filmstrips on Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal. Sets of 11x14in. 4-color captioned study prints are available on Turkey, Iran and Pakistan. Look and Listen Books (pictures plus LP record commenting on them) are available on Iran, Nepal and Afghanistan. Complete audiovisual kits (filmstrips, artifacts, study prints, etc. ) are available on the countries named above. For prices and further information, write direct to ICF. We found the quality level good. You must judge utility in relation to your needs. 0 A good film for Christian Education Week in the fall might be Cathedral's The Great ChaUenge. It vividly portrays the influence of church school teachers upon the lives they BESELER VU-GRAPH Operated from the front of a fully lighted room the Vu Graph is a teacher's "electric blackboard." Facing the class at all times, the teacher projects what she writes, as she writes It A new word appears on the screen the instant she says it . . . step by step a problem is solved before the eyes of the entire class as she explains it. Almost without effort the Vu Graph becomes her "right hand of teaching." To learn about the specific benefits of Vu Graph Overhead Projectors for your school write for a free, "no obligation" demonstration ... or "Vu Graph As An Instructional Aid," a free. Informative booklet written for teachers by teachers. r^ » PROJECTION DIVISION CHARLES BESELER COMPANY 209 So 18th St East Orange. New Jersey Educational Screen and Audiovisual Guide — July, 1961 351