The educational screen (c1922-c1956])

January, 1945 Page 7 the Office of War Information and the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs. The plan in- volved the cooperation of the OWI, CIAA, all existing Texas film libraries, the Governor's office and leading adult organizations. It provided for effective state-wide utilization of the best 16mm non-theatrical films from these and other government departments, tlirough the cooperative service of all school-owned and other 16mm sound projectors. The final pattern for the Texas War Film Program was effectuated through the intelligent and practical cooperation of Mr. R. C. Maroney, Assist- ant Director of Distribution, Motion Picture Division, The Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Af- fairs, of Mr. Paul Reed, Head, Educational Division. Bureau of Motion Pictures, Office of War Information, and of Mr. C. R. Reagan, Educational Field Adviser, Bureau of Motion Pictures, Office of War Information. What does the Texas War Film Program seek to do? The purpose of the program is to present to approxi- mately one thousand Texas schools and to adult groups throughout the state, for a limited period, the finest government war films in order to help develop a better understanding of the issues and progress of the War as well as the responsibilities which the individual citizen must assume in the winning of the Victory. What type of film programs are being presented? The films used in the Texas Program were selected by a committee of Texas educators and lay men. The films were chosen in terms of one basic criterion—suitability for use with non-theatrical audiences, both scholastic and adult, to inform them about the war effort and the ways in which they can aid the cause of victory. All films that do not meet this criterion will be eliminated. The films selected for the Texas War Film Program represent the best distributed by Office of War Infor- mation, Office of Inter-American Affairs, Office of Civilian Defense, and British, Australian, and Canadian Governments. All of these agencies distribute films dealing directly with the war effort except the Office of Inter-American Affairs, which distributes films pre- senting the Latin-American countries, designed to build better understanding between the Americas. The film subjects were combined into twenty program units, ranging from twenty to forty minutes in length. These units were scheduled intact for school and adult utili- zation. New releases will be acquired from time to time and used to lengthen short programs, to strengthen weak programs by replacing unsatisfactory films, and to create new programs to supplement the existing schedule. What is the nature of the organization of the Texas War Film Program and hozv does it operate? A State War Film Coordinator was appointed by the State Superintendent of Schools to set up and administer the entire program. Under his direction, the state or- ganization, which involved the division of the state into distribution districts, the establishment of district li- brary centers, the appointment of district and local coordinators, and the alignment of adult groups, was fashioned and initiated. Texas is divided into twenty War Film Distribution Districts, corresponding, in the main, with the Deputy Supervisory Districts of the State Department of Edu- cation. In charge of each district is a District War Film Coordinator. One or more prints of each film program are deposited with him; he is given a list of all schools, organizations, and individuals that own 16mm projectors. It is the duty of the District War Film Coordinator to schedule, with the aid of the Deputy State Superintendent, the film programs to the schools and adult groups, to ship the programs in ac- cordance with the schedule, and to service the films periodically. The distribution schedule is intra-district for the entire period and no fixed pattern is followed, although certain basic requirements must be met. Prac- tically all District War Film Coordinators were re- Tuited from existing film libraries. In each community that has a 16 mm sound pro- jector, there is a Local War Film Coordinator. He receives the film programs from the District War Film Coordinator in accordance with the established sched- ule. It is his duty to arrange for the maximum number of school showings and to make the programs available GoSfee cultivation on a Brazil planta- tion — from a film released by the Co- ordinator of Inter- American Affairs. (Photo courtesy of Jnlien Bryan)