The educational screen (c1922-c1956])

Page 372 The Educational Screen 16mm Advisory Committee Confers With OWI Officials REPRESEXTATIVES of the eight national organi- zations comprising the newly created National 16mni Motion Picture Advisory and Policy Committee of the Office of ^^'ar Information held its first meeting in Washington on Xovember 16, 1943. The Committee met with Stanton Griffis. Chief. Bureau of Motion Pictures of the Office of War Information, and C. R. Reagan. Head, Non-Theatrical Division, and with members of the Bureau Staff as well as representatives of other Federal Agencies. Declaring its function to be to express broad and general j)olicies believed to be in the interest of the inost effective production and utilization of 16inm films in disseminating war information the committee reached the following conclusions: 1. While tlic limited number of 16mm war information films available from war agencies have contributed to a better under- standing of war problems and issues, the schools, churches, lodges, men's and women's clubs, labor and industrial organi- zations, and other educational, civic and cultural groups owning over 25,000 sound projectors demand more factual films which treat in a more realistic fashion combat reports, war bonds and inflation, manpower and increased production, health, conserva- tion and salvage, food and nutrition, juvenile delinquency, and other vital war i)rob!ems. 2. To achieve maximum eflfective distribution and utilization on a nation-wide basis, and avoid confusion, contradiction and duplication, all ofticial government war films for the civilian home front should be channeled through the Office of War Information to all existing I6mm distributors on the same non-exclusive basis as used in the distribution and dissemination of official war information through J5mm films, press, and radio. 3. An intensified use of non-theatrical motion pictures and complete mobilization of all 16mm sound projectors in the nation for the war information program were recommended. Since records for the past sixteen months prove conclusively that those states which have set up statewide organizations in- cluding state and local war film coordinators have achieved best results, this Committee recommends that this procedure be ex- tended to other states. The Office of War Information, the eight national associations represented here, and all distributors of war films should make every possible effort to inform the American public more fully of the availability of non-theatrical war films through the press, radio bouse organs, and posters. 4. Public Libraries and other civic groups should encourage war film forums. Suggested plans and procedures on film forums should be widely distributed. 5. Since the U. S. Government is about to launch the Fourth War Loan Drive, it was resolved unanimously that the agencies represented contact directly and through their membership all distributors of 16mm films throughout the country, and urge each of them to cooperate to the fullest possible extent with local War Bond Committees in supplying them with films, pro- jectors and projectionists to increase payroll deductions and to sell more and more bonds. It is further resolved that a copy of this resolution be sent to Ted R. Gamble, National Director, War Finance Division, U. S. Treasury, and that sufficient copies of this resolution be supplied to the War Finance Com- mittees of the country. 6. The Committee further recommends that OWI provide distributors with appropriate trailers or news bulletin on urgent war issues to be attached to programs designed for general audiences. 7. It further recommends that the necessary number of prints of selected government war films remain with distributors for historical reference, and that lavender duplicating prints be made and stored in vaults for the purpose of making nega- tives and prints therefrom at any time in the years to come. 8. To provide for the most effective use of war films and to minimize any curtailment of distribution and utilization, this Committee recommends that the existing service charge be reexamined by the Office of War Information. Recommendations resulting from this survey are not to become effective before July 1, 1944. The members of the Committes attending and the organizations which they represent are as follows: L.C.Larson. Chairman. Educational Film Library Asso- ciation, Indiana University, Bloomington; W. K. Hed- wig. Allied Non-Theatrical Film Association, New York City: Miss Mary U. Rothrock, Audio-Visual Aids Committee, American Library Association, Knox- ville, Tennessee; J. M. Stackhouse, National Associa- tion of \isual Education Dealers. Richmond. \'irginia; Bertram Willoiighby. National War Committee for ' V'isual Education Industry, Chicago, Illinois; George H. Zehmer, National University Extension Association. L'niversity of Virginia. Charlottesville. Mrs. Camilla Best, Department of Visual Instruction, National Education Association. New Orleans, and O. H. Coelln, Jr., Secretary, Visual Equipment Manu- facturers Association. Chicago, were unable to attend. Mrs. Best was represented by Miss Helen Hardt Seaton. American Council on Education, Washington, D. C. Miss Mildred Batchelder, .\merican Library As- sociation. Chicago, also attended. A special luncheon prograin in honor of this Com- mittee was arranged by the Washington W^ar Visual Workers at their regular weekly luncheon on Novem- ber 16th. Representatives of the various branches of the Federal Government and the United Nations par- ticipated. Present Status 16mm War Film Service Who Distribute OWI Ibiiini Filiiis Educational Libraries 109 (Includes public schools, public libraries, and uni- versity extension film libraries) Commercial Libraries 118 Miscellaneous 9 Total 236 What They Arc Doing Monthly booking records and audience attendance cards show an average monthly audience of over 7,000.000 persons. Total Number of Subjects Released Prior to July, 1943 57 Total Number of Subjects Released Since July, 1943 12 Total 69 Less: Subjects Withdrawn 8 NET NUMBER OF SUBJECTS IN USE 61 Total Number of Prints Released Since July 1, 1943 4,300 Total Number of Prints Released Prior to July 1, 1943 25,000 Total 29,300 Less: Prints Withdrawn 2,394 GRAND TOTAL 26,906