Educational film magazine; (19-)

U. S. AGRICULTURAL DEP'T. MOVIE WORK Resume of Its Many Film Activities—More Than 130 Subjects and 600 Prints in Active Circulation By F. W. Perkins In charge Motion Picture Work of tlie Department, Washington, D. C, THE motion picture is a comparatively new adjunct in agri- cultural education, but its value for that purpose is becoming increasingly evident—a fact that is proved by expressions that are coming to the United States Department of Agriculture from the people who are using its films in promoting better agri- culture and kindred activities. The possibilities of the educational movie are just beginning to be realized. Until recently nearly everybody had the opinion diat a motion picture could be used only for the purpose of entertainment. It was thought almost unanimously that the high- est use of the motion picture screen was to portray the adventures of a vampire or to expose the villany of a bewhiskered bad man. But now the beginning of the educational motion picture has been made and there are many students of the subject who believe that in power and influence—to say nothing of benefits—the educa- tional type of picture will far outlive the theatrical type. Motion picture projectors have been installed in so many churches and schools and other institutions of that nature that it is not hard to believe ten years from now every school and church will be so equipped. It may not be an exaggeration to predict that in the next decade small projectors will be as common in the homes of this country as phonographs now are. Human Interest Story Conveys Educational Message The Department of Agriculture is making motion pictures and is using tihem for the purposes of making common property of knowledge developed by the investigations of the scientific staff of the departanent, and in acquainting the general public with the methods and significance of important lines of work being carried on by the department. All of our films deal directly with department work, and most of them are concerned with some important campaign being carried on for the benefit of American agriculture. Most of our pictures are of the straight educational type; that is, there has been no attempt to weave a romance or a story aroimd the subject matter. Recently, however, we have been trying to place these facts in relief and to make them more striking by the use of human interest stories that could be por- trayed by amateur actors. We believe we have obtained good results in some of these efforts—despite the difificulties that arise froim the use of amateur actors—and we intend to do more of this sort of work in the future. In the distribution and use of these films the department has several obstacles to meet. At present we are distributing pictures from Washington to every state in the Union, and this means that we are trying to cover too much territory from a central point. Because of the nature of film distribution it will be neces- sary, for the sake of efficiency, to establish a number of distribu- tion points at various points in the country. We have in mind and we are recommending the establishment of distribution points at each state agricultural college or experiment station. Portable Generators and Storage Batteries Used In the use of pictures there must be electric current to operate a motion picture projector, and in most rural communities no current is available. Our extension and field workers are meeting this difficulty by the use of portable generator units that can carried in an automobile or can be attached to the engine of automobile. Some of them are getting good results from t use of storage batteries which furnish sufficient current for t operation of a small portable projector about the size of a su case. They are taking movies into remote rural communit where motion pictures have never been seen. The use of moti pictures in such virgin territory, of course, is tremendous more effective than in places where they are not novelties. The Department of Agriculture has produced and is distrib ing motion pictures on more than 130 subjects and has mc' than 600 prints in active circulation. These subjects range .' the way from microscopic studies of the minute organisms tl cause plant diseases to the wonderful scenery to be found in ti national forests. Many of our pictures are of interest to c: people as well as to dwellers in rural communities. This is because the work of the department in general is of daily impo ance to every man, woman, and child in the country. The depa ment deals not alone with rural problems but with many matti of importance to the general public, and especially the c; people. For instance, it administers the food and drugs law; forecasts the weather; it builds good roads; it protects a' governs the national forests; it protects game and birds frc despoilation; it protects your table from diseased meats throu the administration of the federal imeat inspection law. It p( forms hundreds of other tasks that are of direct benefit, as w as general benefit, to the people of uihan communities. Department circular 114 describes in considerable detail t motion picture work of the department, tells how the films m be used, and how copies may be purchased at the rate of $40 f the standard reel of 1000 feet, which is about the actual net co. These films are being distributed to scliools, colleges, churches and other n theatrical institutions by the National Non-Tlieatrical Motion Pictures, Ii 282 West 88th St., New York, and their branch exchanges. NEWS OF THE "NATIONAL" ■M-ATIONAL NON-THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES, Inc., t ■'■' nounces that it has exclusive <nstribution rights in the Unit States and Canada for all films made by E. R. Sanborn and Edward Osterndorff of beasts, birds, and reptiles at the Bronx Park Zoo, N| York City. The former is the official staff photographer of the N, York Zoological Society. A number of film specimens are repori ready for distribution. The company has secured a contract for the sale and rental exclusiv in the non-theatrical field of all motion picture projectors made by Cosmograph Motion Picture Machine Company, of Morehead, Ky. .' is also handling the Powers professional model and the miniature eanuli and projector known as the Actograph. The "National" has the distribution of the Novagraph slow-mot pictures. The Austin Motion Picture Corporation, of Austin, Tex., which cently purchased the private fllm collection of Col. W. N. Sellg al films owned or controlled by T. K. Peters, has a*anged for distribut of its material through the New York organization. Many films said be suitable for classroom use are included in the library. Harry Levey, president of the "National," attended the recent meet! of the N. E. A. and N. A. V. I., and screened some pictures for ' edification of the educators. Branch exchanges are rapidly being opened in some important cent; of the country. WW The Coming Glass Works, Corning, N. Y., has had three plctui; made of one reel each. One reel shows the manufacturing of glf bulbs for electric lights. A reel depicts the making of Pirex dish which are used for cooking or In laboratory work, where glass receptac-' are exposed to great heat The third reel portrays the various stages! the manufacture of art glass, similar to the imported Venetian gU The pictures were produced by Eugene Roder, New York. /