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

AV in the Church Field by William S. Hockman No Cue Given When we previewed the beautiful fihii River: An Allegory (See EdScreen, March, 1962) my wife and I liiid no cues as to what the film was ihout in terms of the producer's intent and hope. Now I learn from him, Mr. William M. Harlow, that he sent it "l)ecause of its intended universal religious significance." ' This gentle man and sensitive artist noes on to say, "Time like an ever rolling stream" . . . The Bible is rich in leferences to the river as symbolizing the life of man or of a single man. This I envisaged and tiied to capture ' on film." I Wonderful! Just the words which i should have been up front on the soundtrack. Our minds would have held to these psychological rails if they had been laid down. As I write this I am listening to Beethoven's Serenade No. 25. As I have so often, I am enjoying it— in my own terms. Not knowing the intent of Beethoven, if he had one beyond enjoyment of beautiful sound, I provide my own context and cues. So with films; with Harlow's fine labor of love and insight. To get the message we need a hint, a cue, or even a clue. Lacking this I did eisegesis on the film— reading in what I read out, using the film's visual flow and auditory stream to liroaden and deepen my appreciation for the ever delightful flowing of water back to its great mother, the ocean. Now, with this help, get and present River for the allegory that it is. (From 115 Terrace Road, Syracuse 10, N.Y.) The Rate of Change, Too In the field of the Christian church there is nothing more significant than change, and in change it is the rate to keep your eye on. Few churches are like they were 25 years ago. None should be. But few congregations could brainstonn an image of the church 25 years hence. We tried it at our 1962 congregational dinner and business meeting. Many never got out of the low-gear of the practical and the prudential. A few made it, however, and blocked out on tape (ar chived away for those in 1986 to enjoy! ) an image of our church in 1986. Now here comes a filmstrip from the Joint Section of Education and Cultivation of the Board of Missions, The Challenge of Change, which takes us around over the U.S.A. and shows us in 7.3 frames what change really means— in city, town and c-ountry. This filmstrip can help church boards and congregations catch up with America. The Protestant church needs to sense that the rate of change is itself changing, getting faster. E.xcellent photography; good commentary; full of information and useful charts— just the thing for a fine evening of discussion. Better send for your copy now, to 175 Riverside Dr., N.Y. 27, N.Y. How About A Box Score? With the accelerated production of good and usable filmstrips, how would it be to set up a box score for evaluating them? We could score them en content quality, on suitability of content and art to target audience, on inherent quality of the pictures, on importance to usual curriculum requirements, and on general utility. You will have your own points for scoring, I am very certain. But let's put it off for a while so that we can elaborate just a bit about a quartet of filmstrips sailing under the title, "Learning About Our Bible," a production of Family Filmstrips, Inc. Written by Elizabeth Allstrom, narrated by WendeU Noble (first two), and Vic Perrin, the art for all four is by Earl and Carol Marshall. When I showed the third title. Four Books About Jesus, to the Board of Christian Education of my church, it was very much impressed. So much so with the art that 1 had to run it through a second time. I'll quote some of their remarks: "So this is a filmstrip!" (Can't assume, you see, that all our laymen know what's what audiovisually) "Say, that is beautiful art. I'd like one or two of those pictures for my home." (That was an M.D. speaking; a pediatrician) "For Primary children, you say; just the thing, I'd say for Juniors, too." (Longtime teacher in weekdas' and church BESELER VU-GRAPH Operated from the front of a fully lighted room the Vu Graph is a teacher's "electric blackboard." Facing the class at all times, the teacher projects what she writes, as she writes It. A new word appears on the screen the instant she says It . . . step by step a problem Is solved before the eyes of the entire class as she explains It. Almost without effort the Vu Graph becomes her "right hand of teaching." To learn about the specific benefits of Vu Graph Overhead Projectors for your school write for a free, "no obligation" demonstration ... or "Vu Graph As An Instructional Aid," a free, informative booklet written for teachers by teachers. r^:^ DIVISION CHARLES BESELER COMPANY 21 2Y S. 18th St., East Oronge, N. J. Edlcational Screen and Audiovisual Guide — May, 1962 267