The Educational screen (c1922-c1956])

Page 36 Educational Screen After getting to the source, the documentary must get to the people. Concealed cameras have been effective, as in "The City"; sometimes adding an actor to a natural background has been helpful. Other techniques are described to show how sincerity and realism may be achieved within the limitations of technical problems. A documentary director kills authenticity when he sets out to make his film great; when he tries to sell the idea of the film, make it more important than it is; when he allows his style and personality to dominate the reality he wishes to describe. In the expected surge of informational films only those directors will capture a deeper understanding of life who do not turn aside for the bright line and sleek texture, but search intently for the truth as it quietly passes. • Travel Study Via 16mm Films— W. M. Gregory— American School Board Journal, 111:50 December, 1945. A very good argument in favor of films that would show the people and land of the United States to our own school children. Dr. Gregory appeals to producers to implement the study of his country that he cannot travel to see. DISTRIBUTION • Mickey as Professor— Walt Disney— fi7"i and Radio Guide 12; 26 November, 1945. Condensed from an article in the summer issue of Public Opinion Quarterly, Disney explains how his studios were affected by the war. "We have learned much from the films produced for CIAA and others . . ; There has been no limit to the variety of content. It ranged from mechanics to medicine, nutrition to inflation, language to geology, anatomy to infant feeding." Each one of the subjects produced was an experiment. With respect to the future, the problem resolves itself into three main parts : what concerns the film maker ( he can provide technical skill), what concerns the educator (he is the subject expert, the teacher), and what concerns finance and promotion. The author acknowledges the great possibility of educational films in the larger educational process, but as at present organized, distribution is too uncertain. The decentralized system of educational administration means that progress in a large measure must come slowly. He notes great progress in interest and budgets for educational films, but so far it is only a trend and not a large, perceptible movement. RADIO • Possibility of Radio in Business Education — Mary G. Phillips and Helen M. Johnston — Business Education World, 26:28 September, 1945. One of the committees of the Association for Education by Radio is that on business education, of which Mrs. Johnston is chairman. The members of the committee are now being organized. An excellent article for those planning to write educational radio scripts. • The Central Radio-Sound System In Postwar Planning ■ — Paul W. Seagers — American School Board Journal, 111 :49 October 1945. Very good, practical article. PERIODICALS • Public Opinion — X'olume 11, No. 2 — Building .Inierica. A new and very stimulating focus on the common man as a pawn in the eternal struggle for majority support. All interests converge on him through every means of communication to influence the individual's judgment. The techniques are then illustrated and analized because it is believed a cetgenry of "intelligent opinions are the life blood of democracy." • The Screen Writer — Dalton Trunibo, editor — Screen Writers Guild, 1655 .N. Cherokee Ave., Hollywood, Cal. $2.50 a year. A new publication in which the men and women behind the scenes of Hollywood movie making write of their craft and the social responsiblities of the motion picture. PROCEEDINGS • The Proceedinqs of The Third Annual Visual Education Institute of The University of Wisconsin is now available. This Proceedings answers two important questions : What materials are included in a complete program of visual education? What are some of the recommended ways of using films and other visual education materials in the classroom? Extremely practical in its suggestions, the Proceedings receunts seven demonstration and discussion situations as verbatim accounts of classroom utilization of filmstrips; slides; maps, globes, and charts ; silent and sound motion pictures. The Proceedings also includes what nationally recognized teachers, administrators, supervisors, and leaders in the field of audio-visual education think about the two questions mentioned. Among the speakers represented in the Proceedings are: L. H. Adolfson, Roger Albright, V. C. Arnspiger, Mrs. Esther Berg, James W. Brown, Leslie E. Brewn, J. Margaret Carter, C. R Crakes, Joseph Dickman, John Guy Fowlkes, John Grierson, Charles HofF, L. C. Larson, Don Rogers, Robert E. Scottt. -A limited number of Proceedings have been printed and are available at $1.50 each. Requests should be addressed to W. .^. Wittich. Editor, 1204 West Johnson Street; Madison 6, Wisconsin. The ABC's of Audio-Visual Equipment (Concluded from page 28) and film protection include : a readily accessible film path for threading and the cleaning of parts, a minimum of sharp bends and twists involved in film travel, wide-opening film gates, and film tension snubbers on the takeup reel. Generally speaking, film can be damaged on any projector — the careless operator will find a way — and very ingenious he is. However, safety trips, flexible pawls, and sprockets that will lock only in the correct position minimize the possibilities of film damage. Additional provisions aflfecting easy operation include : quick replacement of projector lamp, exciter bulb, rewind and takeup belts ; rapid rewind with a minimum of reel and belt changing ; access to amplifier tubes and fuses without recourse to tools ; plainly marked, accessible power cord and speaker cable connections ; easily detachable or pivoted reel arms ; centralized, plainly marked controls ; theatrical type framing device ; provision for easy tilting while machine is operating ; forward and reverse direction for film travel. Inclusion of a microphone or/and phonograph plug — which contributes approximately 1% to the cost of the projector — makes the projector a potential public address system, when a microphone or record-player is introduced into tlie situation. However.since it is usually undesirable — in terms of weight, ease of operation, and wear and tear on the non-audio parts — to use one's projector as a public address system, purchase of a projector with detachable amplifier insures greater flexibity and efficiency in those situations where considerable use of this feature of the projector is contemplated. With the cm-rent restrictions in the number of projector models available, the problems of projector selection now are relatively simple — in contrast to what tlicy will be when the prewar type plethora is again a reality. Now, then, is a propitious time to perfect the criterions of purchase in terms of situation that will strengthen our point of view in the days ahead. R. E. S.