Educational screen & audio-visual guide (c1956-1971])

The ^^Aehitles^ iieeVz Filmn Are Inaccurate C.onlimied from page 334 must be done to establish the accuracy r)f content of the films presented. Pcrliajjs more fihn libraries must do what we in the Illinois State Museiun do — assume that the films which we loan are an extension of our teaching aids and, to the best of our ability, hold ourselves responsible for the content of those films. We do not purchase a film because a teacher says she wishes it: we purchase the film only if we think it presents a story correctly according to the best knowledge of our staff. We find tremendous popularity among the schools for our loan service. In fact, usually the demand exceeds our ability to supply it. Somebody must be responsible for the accuracy of the material distributed, and I feel personally that it is "high time" that at least those lending agencies of educational films which are associated with educational organizations — schools, libraries, or museums — must screen the material in their own libraries and at least offer only that which tells a correct story. Classroom films must be checked for the integrity of their content as well as for their interest level and teaching technique. The ^"AehiUes^ iteeV^z Films Are Accurate Continued from page 335 similarly clear contradiction between what the picture showed and what the narrator said. This may be partly explained by the special characteristics of the film medium. Even the specialists often appear to be overwhelmed by the impact of a film and fail to notice some of the details. .\ manuscript for a book can be read, studied, and studied again, jiage by page and line by line, as long as the reader wishes. But a film flies by at an inexorable twentyfour frames per second, and the narration marches swiftly with it. Very often a number of things are happening on the screen at once or passing in quick succession. In the midst of this rich experience, the reviewer may not take it all in. c\en if he sees the film several times. Despite this, errors are rare in films made by professional producers. To stress them is to overlook the extraordinary efforts producers are making to give educational films a richness of information of experience and of insight that in many subjects cannot be offered by other instructional materials. Would Dr. Thompson let the risk of an occasional error deprive students of the experience of actually witnessing the life cycle of the Monarch Butterliy or of watching in stop motion the growth of a plant from a seed? Would he deprive students of the opportunity to examine the structure of a single-celled animal, to observe the ear in action, or to take a vicarious trip to a far distant country? All these, and any number of other authentic experiences, are offered by educational films. Frequently the film maker is a specialist in the field of scientific research as well as an expert in film technique. A film often makes a contribution to research. Just now, for example, we are engaged in making a film on protozoa. For this we have joined forces with one of the world's finest microphotographers, Roman Vishniac. Dr. Vishniac is a noted authority on microscopic life, and he has also developed amazing techniques for photographing it. But even under these circumstances we have not been satisfied to rely on one authority alone. We have also enlisted the collaboration of a topftight zoologist. Professor John Corliss of the University of Illinois. The producer in charge of the project and Professor Corliss have spent endless hours studying Dr. Vishniac's photography, checking every detail that appears on the screen. Through Dr. Vishniac's unique techniques, this film promises to be more than accurate. It may actually contribute to scientific knowledge about protozoa. The same kind of searching scholarship and technical virtuosity goes into the making of many educational films. Our film. Ears and Hearing, for example, shows photography of the mechanism of the ear in actual operation for the first time in an educational motion picture. Likewise, the films produced in association with the distinguished biologist, Antpuj. Carlson, were virtually made by scientists themselves in the laboratory. Photography of an actual heart beating, nuiscular responses in animals, and GEO. W, COIBURN LABORAIORY INC. 164 NO. WACKER DRIVE • CHICAGO 6 TELEPHONE DEarbom 2-6286 16mm SERVICES Here's the handiest thing for making a visual presentation or for storing projection equipment. It's always ready for use. Made to be vibration free. Equipped with sponge rubber top and four-inch swivel wheels. Brakes hold on incline. Grey hammerloid finish. Available in several models and heights. Wri'»e lor Literafure and Dealer's Nome ADVANCE FURNACE CO. 2310 E. DOUGLAS WICHITA, KANSAS EdScreen & AVCuide — October, 1956 367