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

Film Production Trends Educational Film Spectaculars Initiated in 1957 I Coronet released sixty-five new educational films during 1957, each available in either color or black and white. Ihesc new films covered a wide range of subjects in the curriculum. \fore significantly, they were divided appropriately among three principal areas — 19 films for primary grades, '19 for intermediate grades, and 27 for junior and senior high .schools. This production program represents a continuous effort to develop a curricular balance in films.a goal established with the inception of the corn By Ellsworth C. Dent Viee-Presldenf, ESQUIRE, Inc. costumed actors, and a wealth of authentic sets and backgrounds — in effect a high point in the production of educational films. Each represents a large investment by Coronet in research and production, but is available to schools at the usual prices for prints in color or black and white. The purpose of this program is to From fhe Coronet Film "The Jamestown Colony (1607-1620)' pany nearly nineteen years ago. Furthermore, the 1957 releases brought the total of Coronet's teaching films to 744, each produced under direct and complete supervision every step of the way. Coronet thus continues its position as the world's largest producer of educational films. Three other trends dominated the Coronet program during the year. One reached its zenith in the release of The Jamestoiun Colony (1607 Through 1620), Coronet's third educational spectacular. This program of spectacular films includes a projected six films to be released during the current school year. The two other spectaculars released earlier are The French Revolution and Audubon and the Birds of America. The next in this special series will be High School Prom, to be released in January, 1958. Educational spectaculars are films employing large scale production, establish an even higher standard for the production of educational films — to give to schools the finest films for classroom use. The Jamestown Colony (1607 Through 1620) was photographed completely at the 1957 Jamestown Festival. It includes the authentic restorations and scores of costumed people, who staged the re-enactments of early life in the settlement. It pre.serves the story of the first permanent English Settlement in America, and makes it available for classroom use as desired. It symbolizes Coronet's pioneering efforts in production on location and its working relationship with historical associations and museums to recreate history as authentically as possible. Releases in 1957 continue another important trend at Coronet — films in series. Five world history films brought to 35 the number in this famous Coronet series; five in American history make 26 in the U. S. history series; while eight in literature bring to 8 the films in American Literature and to 12 those in English Literature. In the field of geography, seven new releases make a total of 62 films all for intermediate grades — and the most complete and up-to-date group available. More films in the area are scheduled for 1958 release. An unusual film in animation was another highlight of the year's production program — Grammar: Verbs and Ways We Use Them. Lively and entertaining figures illustrate a number of imjx)rtant grammatical concepts. The use of animation injects new life into a conventionally dull subject and creates an alert audience, well-oriented for further study. The film was designed for use in juniorsenior high school, although many teachers in the intermediate grades will find it valuable to introduce the subject. Animation was used forcefully in several other films this year, including The Human Body: Circulatory System and Animah with Backbones. Reproduction in Animals contains effective use of photomicrography. Another noticeable trend this year has been the increased preference for Coronet films among those who obtain their films from rental libraries. This is due primarily to the wide range of good subjects available, supplemented by the Coronet program of cooperation with rental libraries to assist in bringing these outstanding films to the attention of film users. These include imprinted catalogues, flyers on individual films and films in series, and regular announcements of new releases in Coronet Magazine and in educational publications. Coronet took another important step forward during 1957 in preparing true correlations with the principal textbooks now in use throughout the United States. Correlation with units of instruction begins, of course, when the film story is being prepared for production. The correlation lists, therefore, are merely for the convenience of film users in selecting quickly those films which are designed to assist in teaching specific concepts. Sample (Continued on page }86) EdScreen Cr AV Guide — December, 1957 577