The Educational screen (c1922-c1956])

Page 428 The Educational Screen The Film and International Understanding A Slide-Film Technique for World Problems SLIDE-FILMS have proved to he very effective instruments of education in hoth the armed forces and the pubHc schools and colleges. The technique of their use has by no means reached the limit of its development. They have contributed much to the winning of the war. There are those who think that this type of film can contribute much to the winnnig of the peace, provided that proper techniques are developed and used. How To Conquer War, a current slide-film produced by Sydna White of Federalist Films in New York, seeks to present a contribution toward the solution of this great world problem. The technique used is worthy of consideration by all who are interested in the use of the slide-film in this field of international problems. The film uses 190 news photos, engravings and titles to show how man created law to settle disputes with his neighbors and how he has repeatedly formed government for larger and larger units. .\ further development of this process is presented as a means by which man might solve his present problem of war. The film is designed to be used with a speaker's commentary script which is furnished with the film. This scri])t is well organized and arranged. The frames are listed by numbers and titles down the left-hand side of the page. Opposite each frame listing is the commentary which is to be read by the speaker for a frame. A sample listing for six frames is presented herewith : Fr. 4 No spot on earth is now remote. (Air clipper) The miracle of flying — Fr. 5 and airports roimd the globe (Washington airport) Fr. 6 tie our modern cities together. (New York skyline) Fr. 7 Modern farm macliinery alone (Wheatfield) makes possible an abundance of food and clothing never equalled. Fr. 8 ■ Children in the Eastern Hemis (Children in S. E. Russia) phere Fr. 9 and children in the Western (American kids) Hemisphere should be secure in the freedom from want forever. The speaker also reads aloud to the audience the titles which appear in the film from time to time. The adaptability of this type of presentation to various languages is immediately evident. All that the speaker in any particular language needs is a commentary script in that language. This script could be an exact translation, or it could be a script revised to take into consideration attitudes or customs in any particular country in which the language involved is used. Ideally of course, the titles which appear in the slide-film also should be in the language used by the speaker ; but this is not absolutely necessary, since DR. JOHN E. DUGAN, Editor Haddon Heights, New Jersey the speaker reads the titles aloud to the audience. Each title appears on a separate frame, consequently jiroper frame notations in the script could give the proper translations. Since the sjjeaker reads aloud both the comment and the titles, this method would be particularly effective in areas of high illiteracy. The speaker is an important part of the presentation of this type of slide-film. Recognizing this, the commentary script for Hoiv To Conquer War is prefaced by a page of "Instructions to Speaker". These instructions are concisely and intelligently arranged and presented. Although set up for this particular film, they have implications for the presentation of any slide-film by this method. The first instruction is a fundamental one. but so often neglected that it bears repetition here: "One rehearsal of reading titles and script while projecting the film is necessary, two rehearsals desirable, and three better still for the smooth running of the film." Another instruction is: "Read as intelligently as possible to help get the meaning over — and for a normal pace, two words a second. Keep the film moving. The long commentary should be read fast. Change of pace as indicated in the script will make it more effective." (The script has in it notations such as the following: "slower", "faster", "medium", "much emphasis", "drop emphasis".) If instructions are followed, the actual presentation of the film takes approximately forty minutes. This can be continuous, or pauses can be allowed for discussion. If discussion is desired, the script suggests that the film be shown in two sections. It is so arranged that this can conveniently be done. Little has been said about the content of this film, since it is the purpose of this article to discuss technique rather than content. Nevertheless, it should be said that die material of the film is well organized and well presented. It is set up in such a way that it should provoke intelligent discussion wherever it is shown. Hoic to Conquer War uses a slide-film technique which offers challenging possibilities to those who are interested in the application of the slide-film to world Ijroblems. Relatively speaking, the production of this type of slide-film is inexpensive and free of complications. Because of its size, it can be distributed easily and economically. The type of apparatus necessary for its exhibition also is relatively inexpensive and easy to move about, and its operation is exceedingly siinple. Furthermore, it already is distributed over a very wide area. The plan of having the script so effectively coordinated with the film frames, together with the ease with which scripts in various languages can be prepared, makes this type of slide-film presentation one {Concluded on page 437)