Business screen magazine (1946)

Industrial Film Makers . . . PULL YOUR FINGERS OUT Jane Senior reports on the British Industrial Film Festival where film makers were challenged to use their media to the greatest advantage. Opening the British Industrial Film Festival was the first film ever to be made by a trades union — The Inheritance sponsored by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union of America, in 1914. Commenting on the use of fUm for industrial relations, British government spokesman for industrial productivity, John Williams, pleaded with employers to use films rather than house magazines 'which no one reads'. Said Williams, "film is a powerful motivational tool and should be used as such — and then hung up until it is needed again." Scriptwriter Ted WilUs, now a member of the House of Lords gave the following advice to employers, unions and film makers: 1 . Film professionals should change their image and show themselves as responsible communicators who can play an important part in industrial communications. 2. Closed circuit television using motion pictures and video tape should be more exploited. 3. Regular programs of film pro duction rather than the occasional use of film should be regarded as an important feature of industrial budgetting, both for management and unions. 4. To obtain acceptance of the importance of film in promoting good industrial relations, there should be a planned campaign to get rid of the ignorance and mystique which surrounds the process of making a film. Willis concluded with the direct, but non-aristocratic phrase 'pull your fingers out' — which is equivalent to the American "get off your fannies and get on with the job." Forty-two films were screened at the three-day Festival attended by Britain's leading industrial film sponsors, producers marketing and public relations specialists. The motion pictures they saw were selected from an original entry of 170 films representing the work of 74 British production companies through 1968-9. For the second year running Britain featured a special cate PRODUCERS . . . "YOUR MAN IN HOLLYWOOD"® AREA CODE 213/459-1019 . . . will hcmdle with core, all your West Coast production requirements — negotiate name talent — set up and supervise animation, direct second unit shooting, dubbing — expedite lab work — and — serve as your ambassador when you or your friends visit Southern California! H. LEROY VANDERFORD CONSULTANT Film Production Services & A-V Communications 1051 Villa View Drive P. O. Box 2444 Pacific Palisades, Calif. 90272 Hollywood, Calif. 90028 gory for films which have a direct sales objective, in line with the current trend in British sponsorship. This was the largest category, with an entry of 41 films. Among them were films sponsored by the European divisions and subsidiaries of North American companies, including: Focus on Vahie (Caterpillar Overseas S.A.), Micro-reproductions (Ozalid), Take a Man Like You (IBM. (UK)). Who is this Man? (Mobil Europe Inc.), The World of Real Time (Univac Division of Sperry Rand) and Your Face is Your Fortune (Alcan (UK)), Fijth Era (Parker Pen). Discussing the use of film as an export sales tool. Lord Brown, Minister of State of the Board of Trade said that of the films which had been screened at the festival, ten were being used by the British Government to sell British goods overseas. Three hundred copies of these films were now circulating in 10 language versions — at the low cost of $"14,000. The award winning films reflected the widespread use of films in Britain today. In the public relations categories Music (National Music Council of Great Britain /James Archibald & Associates) and Mullardahility (Mullard Ltd./ Ronald H. Riley & Associates) proclaim British achievements in music and electronics for international audiences. An industrial prestige film The Curious History of Money (Barclays Bank/Larkins Studios) not only won a Festival Gold Medal but the director. Beryl Stevens was honored by industrial film journalists as the year's outstanding creative artist. Other films which demonstrated a high degree of communications in marketing were HaUmarkiiif> ( The Goldsmith's Company/ Kenneth Myer Productions) which will shortly be seen in U.S.A.; One of Our Own Kind (Vickers Ltd./Vickers Film Unit) — printing machinery; Shellgrip (Shell International Petroleum/Shell Film Unit) — a new method of road surfacing; The Chequerboard (H. H. Robertson (UK) Ltd /Robertson Film Unit); Elegant Girl (Vauxhall Motors (GM subsidiary)/ Anthony Kilkison Associates) — launch of a new car; No Ordinary Shower (Walker Crosweller/Rayant Pictures) — bathroom equipment. In the training field, Tlie E haviour Game (Barclays Ban Lion Pacesetter — Charles Bar er) offered a new approach the training of bank tellers. j Two awards honored films { specific purposes — the awa; for the best export film went Profiles (high Duty Alloys /Ro aid H. Riley Associated) de; with precision engineering ai the award for the film which co: tributed most to the awareness' the contribution of science i technology to social progre went to The Land Must Provii (Shell International Petroleuir made to show Shell's support . the F. A. O. /Fertiliser Indust: Co-operative Committee. -iS) A still from "The Curious History Money" made for Barclays Bank Lir ited in association with CharN Barker & Sons Limited by Larkii Studio in Association with The Fil Products Guild Limited. Lord Jackson of Burnley, FRS, Pi Rector of Imperial College Londo and Past President of the Britis Association for the Advancement i Science, presenting the Scienc Award to Mr. Hugh Wickman, She International Petroleum Co. Ltd. ft the film "The Land must Providt (Sponsored by & produced by She International Petroleum Co. Ltd.). Lord Brown, Minister of State, Boar of Trade, presenting a bronze awar to Edgar Anstey, British Transpoi Films for "Right Time Means Rig! Time." 18 BUSINESS SCREI