Educational film magazine; (January-December 1920)

A natural sensitiveness anil intolerance of any mention of the ieyal restrictions wisely imposed upon those who would otherwise recklessly expose life and property to the hazards of careless handling of dangerous celluloid films is to be expected from those who frankly place themselves in the category of such violators. A casual reader of the eloquent peroration against the danger of negative film in the house will be impressed' by the argument until he recalls the assurance of the same writer earlier in his article that the danger is "purely speculative." Is it not, however, rather an insult to the intelligence of the reader to intimate that, as a taker of his own motion pictures, he does not know that all negative film is inflammable? Furthermore—as to its comparative hazard—the average home cinematographer seldom or never takes his negative out of its tin box, in fact probably never saw it! After taking he sent it to the laboratory (sealed*, to be developed and printed, it came back in a light tin box (if it was not stored in the laboratory vault for future prints i and this box 'will probably never be opened again unless at the laboratory for idditional prints. Also, not one projector owner in a hundred is also a camera owner and. if there were any demand for safety negative, be sure it woidd be speedily forthcoming. jVs to the universal adoption of slow-burning film, no one questions •its <lesirability; but Mr. Gundelach heard the representatives of the ■• largest film manufacturers in the world assure the Society of n Picture Engineers that it was impossible for them to change . ; manufacturing facilities to that end without several years of preparation and. as the theatrical field neither required nor desired the change, it could not be forced upon the entire industry merely for the benefit of the manufacturers of unapproved portable pro- ,ie<-t''r5; all other branches of the industry being already properly •■ care of by the society in wisely adopting the two standards le two widely differing classes of users—the theatrical and the jieatrical fields. ^ s= By Henry Bololo Sales Manager. EdacationaJ Motion Picture Biireao, Inc., Bo«ton. Mass. There is a curiously acrimonious attitude running constantly luough the discussions of the relative merits of standard versus safety standard width film. Indeed. I have found that the very aention of the words ""narrow width'" to a standard tread film man >perates like tlie red rag on the disposition of the bull.. Now, if truth is to be got at. we must be generous-minded. ^Se nust analyze our own motives as well as our own arguments. I for le shall attempt to achieve this point of view. I shall, therefore, begin by admitting that, though I am in the larrow tread business. I believe that the arguments, academically ipeaking. are largely in favor of the standard tread interests; that S, non-flam manufacturers. If a national non-flam, standard tread aw could be passed, I would most certainly favor it. But for me this is not an academic question. It is not subject argument and discussion. I am faced with hard facts. Regardless pf my views or desires. I have been compelled to reach the following nnclusions. after years of experience in the educational film field: First, that tlie laws in most communities are such that standard read macliines must conform to so many restrictions in their usage hat the sale of such machines is difficult and slow; and Secondly, that the only way to obey the law and increase sales to use the safety standard film on non-flam stock. In other words. I am convinced that the only way to make the in-theatrical motion picture a paving proposition at the present ime is to use non-flam narrow tread film; and only by making the losiness profitable will the truly educational film, or rather the edagogical film, become a reality in the countless schools which iemand it. The important thing is to obtain action and results. Neither one be obtained by attempting to remove immovable barriers to ediate achievement. The laws and the underwriters are im- ivable; they can only be changed by a long and expensive cam- ign. Where are the stockholders in an educational film company rho will spend the money necessary to remake the laws? There will never be any considerable business in the non-theatrical .dd imtil the following conditions are met. viz.: A supply of films ACCUR.VTELY suited to the need; A machine which sells for about SIOO.. and which does not require booth, licensed operator, special wiring, exit lights, etc. A producing organization directed and controlled by the non- leatrical interests involved. For instance, church films made by Imrchmen for churches; school films by educators for schools, and {thers. Film service at a price which schools and churches can actually fford to pay. The above conditions compel the use of the narroiw tread machine, a starting point. There is no immediate avoidance of that fact. Ihere may be an ultimate avoidance—but, the ultimate will not pay immediate dividends. The greatest service wliich can be rendered the non-theatrical field ■It the present time is for a company to make such an outstanding financial success of the business that it will encourage capital to •■liter the field more freely that it has in the past. This will make possible the production of the vast amount of educational material ivhich is now lying neglected for lack of money to produce it. I know of only one company which has even approached success —I mean financial success—in this field, and that company manu- factures a safety standard machine and films. That is the only company which can sell its product in quantity. My point of view is, of course, tliat of the opportunist. I want to see something done—something tangible. I want to see films actually in use in the thousands of schools that want films, and I want to see them in the schools NOW—not in five or ten or fifteen years, when the laws may have been changed to suit standard tread conditions, but NOW! The important thing is to put films into M;hools and churches, and conform with the requirements of today. The future is fully able to take care of itself, as th^ past has shown from time immemorial. E.\ST>L\N COMPjVNY SUPPLIES SLOW-BURNING FjlM IN Both 35 .^nd 28 Mm. Width Ejutman Kodak CompaoT Rochester. N. Y. ^^r. Dolph Eastman. Editor and Manager, Educational Film Magazine, 33 \^ est 42nd St., New York City. Uear Mr. Eastman: Replying to your letter of April 8th, we furnish Non-inflammable or Safety positive motion picture film in 3.S and 28 millimeter widths, and both bear the imprint "EASTMA.N S.VFETY FILM" along the margin at intervals of one foot. We furnish no positive motion picture film under 35 millimeters in width on other than Non-inflammable or Safety stock, identifiable as described above. With best wishes. Yours very truly, EASTMAN KODAK CO.MPANY OF NEW JERSEY. (Signed > Geo. A. Blair. Sales Manager, Motion Picture Film Department. George Eastslvns Position on the "Safet\ Film" Qlxstion EastnuLD Kodak CompaoT Rochester. N. Y. ?vlr. B. De Vry, Secretary and Treasurer, De \ ry Corporation, Chicago, 111., Dear Sir: I have read with interest your letter of January 24th and agree with you that there are going to be great developments in the motion picture business outside of the entertainment field but think it very dovibtful whether the new development »ill ever overshadow the old. In any case we cannot see any reason for saddling the vast extra cost 'millions of dollars a year) on to the amusement end of the business just because safety film is desirable and necessary for what may be called the development of a new field. We were the first manu- facturers of cellulose acetate film in the world and probably you know that we made it for two years in sufficient quantities to supply ine whole amusement business in this country. During the war the u-rmand for this material for aeroplane varnish led to our trebling nur plant for the manufacture of raw acetate, so that we are in a better position than anybody else to manufacture this material for him base and always expect to be prepared to furnish it in quantities required for the purpose for which it is most adapted. Our safety him is all marked on the edge "Safety Film"' and we believe that as f.ir as safety is concerned it will be sufficient to pass ordinances requiring the use of film so marked for all macliines that are not enclosed in fireproof booths. Today there is no danger whatever in using ordinary film in the regulation booths and no danger connected vith the handling of the film except in the exchanges. The movement .r. foot to properly hou.se these exchanges will dispose of that danger t 1. -without handicapping the industry with unwarranted expense. Yours very truly, (Signed) Geo. Eastmas, President. 17