Documentary News Letter (1944-1945)

88 DOCUMENTARY NEWS LETTER NON-T IN THE RIDINGS D.N.L. has published, from time to time, articles and statistics on the general non-theatrical film activities of the Ministry of Information. Here is an impression of three years of such work in one particular area — the East and West Ridings of Yorkshire. It is contributed by John Maddison, Film Officer for the North-Eastern Region, since 1942. people of a remote community in one of the high level Yorkshire Dales on the edge of the Lake District, assembled to see the first sound films ever shown in their village; some having tramped miles through the newly fallen snow to be there. ... At midnight, in an immense underground canteen like a strange palace, three thousand aircraft workers following with northern detachment a documentary argument for the democratic way of life. . . . The School clinic of a mining town where the Medical Officer introduces films of health and immunisation to a gathering of working class mothers, many with babies in their arms. . . . The academic and the practical joining hands in the long upper room of an inn in a rural Pennine centre, as a scientific expert from a nearby University meets questionings stimulated by the showing of a film on clean milk to a group of farmers. ... A railway institute in one of the most ancient of English cities, the setting for the pride and enthusiasm of an audience of civil engineering managements and workers witnessing film records of achievements which paved the way to the successful assault on Fortress Europe. These and many other human and exciting memories are, one feels, sufficient reward for long and often harassing hours spent in carrying through the mobile film plan during the war years. Here as elsewhere the scheme began modestly almost exactly five years ago. A small band of five projectionists, well equipped, but with a very small repertory of films, set out then to give shows to all kinds of voluntary organisations. The scheme has grown; there are now twelve 16 mm. units and one 35 mm. unit drawing upon a considerable library of films housed regionally. But from the beginning the basis for general informational shows has remained existing local groups, the Women's Institute, the Working Men's Club (Yorkshire is rich in these), the Townswomen's Guild, the Church Fellowship, the Adult Education Group, and the Youth Club. The secretaries of these organisations have come to look upon films as a regular element in their programmes of activities. In all this time, recurring shows have brought to such audiences a steady objective picture of a world at war. The screen in its own potent ways has sent across to them many messages, some temporary and negative, others more permanent contributions to healthy democratic thinking. The enthusiasm for these shows persists. The Secretary of one East Riding Women's Institute wrote a short time ago "The film shows are something we look forward to in this village". Early in the scheme the need to provide a film service for industrial workers in their own canteens was recognised. The approach had to be somewhat different — the clangour and bustle of a works canteen is, for example, an unsympathetic background to the quiet and leisurely film well suited to rural audiences. Programmes must be short (they run usually for 25 minutes, and consist of one or two films) and incisive. Factory audiences have usually known a good thing when they have seen it and have shown a reassuring dislike of occasional frills and falsities. Words and Actions and Crown of the Year, to take two widely differing examples, were films appreciated by Yorkshire workers in heavy industry. As with the general evening audiences the content of programmes presented to factories has on the whole been uncompromisingly solid. A recent survey of the attitude to these monthly film shows of workers and managements in nearly 200 factories has revealed that they remain a desired part of leisure activities. AH this has not been a one-way traffic in ideas. Audience reactions have been gathered through written reports from independent organisers (received on standardised forms for at least 95 per cent of the shows given) from a great many conversations with local contacts and from periodic conferences of projectionists, at which these have told of their experiences and the reception of their programmes. Much has been learnt about techniques of distribution and presentation and a smooth working machinery has been evolved. Experience has been gained in the building up of eighty-minute programmes for general audiences. These programmes must not contain too many major themes ; there must be nice alternations between argument and movement and change of scene; and the last item should be robustly conceived and impressive. A considerable network of voluntary helpers has been created, many organising whole series of shows in their own area. The confidence and interest of these voluntary workers could only be maintained by a steadily improving standard of films available, and through their knowledge that they had a genuine stake in the working operation of the scheme. Important too has been their recognition that the Government servants with whom they were co-operating were willing I.C.I. Film Productions Imperial Chemical Industries are engaged in the production of films as visual aids in scientific education. The following productions have been completed: From the TECHNIQUE OF ANAESTHESIA SERIES: Open Drop Ether Nitrous Oxide Oxygen Ether Anaesthesia Endotracheal Anaesthesia Intravenous Anaesthesia Part 1 Spinal Anaesthesia (Available to approved medical audiences only) From the HEALTH OF DAIRY CATTLE SERIES: Mastitis Contagions Abortion Tuberculosis From the SCHOOL SCIENCE SERIES: Water Water Cycle THIS IS COLOUR (A lechnicolor film about the British Dyestuffs industry and the nature and use of colour) THE HARVEST SHALL COME (A sociological film about the British agricultural worker) With the exception of This is Colour (in 16 mm. only) these films are in 35 mm. and 16 mm. sizes. All are Sound films. All the above are available through lite Central Film Libiary, to which applications for loan should he made. Other films in production will be announced when completed. IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES LTD., NOBEL HOUSE, BUCKINGHAM GATE. S.W. I