The educational screen (c1922-c1956])

Page 130 The Educational Screen the film and discuss the subject matter shown; or they nvay be used in a film forum with a panel of discussants to analyze the film and supplement the topic with ad- ditional information not shown in the film; or the entire program may be war motion pictures. Local groups, in order to obtain showings, should know their Community War Film Co-ordinator. Their school superintendent can tell them who it is. If for any reason the Community Co-ordinator can not secure a particular film, the local group may write direct to the nearest film library, or the one of their preference. The Community Co-ordinator The Community War Film Co-ordinator is usually appointed by the school superintendent at the request of the State Department of Education. A school which has made such an appointment has a certificate so stating from the State Department. Usually the person named is the school's Director of Audio-Visual Aids, but he may be a person not even connected with the schools but active in the civilian war effort. The responsibilities of the Community Co-ordinators are: (1) To inform local groups of the titles and descriptions of films received in the community; (2) To arrange bookings for ship- ment of films to serve all groups which wish to use them, so as to obtain a maximum use of the films while they are in the.community; (3) To assist local groups in obtaining projector and operator when needed; (4) To suggest ways of using the War Information pictures; and finally (5) To see to it that the re- quired report cards are mailed to Washington for each group that uses the films. Descriptions of the films are furnished by bul- letins released from time to time as new subjects are placed on deposit in Oklahoma. In most com- munities the Co-ordinator will telephone the pro- gram chairman of various groups each time a shipment is received in order to maintain contact. This is the key to the success of a community informational program through motion pictures. The Community Co-ordinator must constantly make known what he has available. No group in the community should receive a shipment of war films (as occasionally obtained direct from an outside source) without notifying the Co-ordinator that the subjects are in town and available for other groups to use. It is much better, of course, for all these motion pictures to be shipped to one person—the Community War Film Co-ordinator—and then for him to arrange the local bookings. Conflicts, of course, must be avoided but the pictures should be shown as many times during the day as possible—for example: in the morning at a High School assembly ; at noon at the Chamber of Commerce ; in the afternoon at a P.T.A.; in the evening at a Metho- dist Church dinner; and at night to the American Legion. In spite of the fact that a shipment of film might be thus busy every day while in a community, there will often be one group meeting the following week wishing to use the same pictures. The Co-ordinator must not be tempted. If he cannot obtain permission to keep the films for an additional period, it is abso- lutely necessary that they be returned on time. Other- wise the next community will be disappointed. The majority of groups will need to borrow a 16mm sound projector and have an operator provided for them. If called upon to do so, the Community Co- ordinator will arrange for these. Now, obviously, only one person is needed to handle the equipment and run the show, but if the Co-ordinator is depended upon to make such arrangements rather frequently he inay need to designate a permanent "committee in charge of showings." Such a plan has been adopted in the cities of Birmingham and Atlanta. In addition to set programs, as ofTered to the Asso- ciate Co-ordinators, the Community Co-ordinators may wish to sponsor a general community "Victory" motion picture show. This is a full evening of war pictures for the general public and has been a very popular evening each week in several Oklahoma cities. With regard to the report cards, which must be mailed to Washington after each showing, suffice it to say that the more reports mailed, the more films will be deposited in Oklahoma for use. A quantity of cards is included with every shipment. The College Co-ordinator The College War Film Co-ordinators are appointed by the Presidents of Oklahoma colleges. Their respon- siblities are : (1) To advise student organizations and clubs of the films which are available; (2) To arrange for general campus showings; (3) To book films desired for the college campus from the nearest or preferred library; and (4) To assure the return of the govern- ment report card to Washington. Student groups use the war films in a number of interesting ways. On one campus a men's dormitory shows films for 20 to 30 minutes at their regular weekly assembly and then has a panel or speaker follow with analysis and comments on the subject; another group opens and closes each meeting with a war film. In general, the suggestions for program use are applicable to the campus. Professors are quick to adapt the material presented by films related to their courses. In one instance, a complete course for college credit is planned with the war films as the basis. The outline follows the topics of the pictures. A series of class meetings will be held on : (1) the theatres of war ; (2) our armed forces ; (3) the home front, and (4) the United Nations. A great deal of information is already available for the use of the Co-ordinators. Most of it is mailed to the Co-ordinator upon receipt of his appointment. Additional material may be obtained from time to time by writing to the State War Film Co-ordinator. The following free materials are available: (1) Mimeo- graphed releases by the Oklahoma film libraries; (2) List of United States War Information Films (periodi- cal), Ofifice of War Information, Bureau of Motion Pictures. Washington, D. C.; (3) The Other Americas Through Films and Records. American Council on Education. Washington, D. C. (1942) : (4) Films for Defense, United States Ofifice of Civilian Defense. Washington, D. C. (O.C.D. Publication No. 3620); (5) 28" X 44" lobby posters from the State Co-ordina- tor, and (6) 8>4" x 11" dodgers from the State Co- ordinator.