The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (Nov-Dec 1922)

LONDON Phone: Regent, 1468-9. elegraphic Address: The Film Renter and Moving Picture News. POS HSUOATUOUOUNEDUOOUNL ‘‘Wrightads, Piccy, London,"’ PUDATAROATAGANNAGAAEGUGANSAAEGOGURG A UUs UUALAGDOCNEADUGENOAUCGINEAYOGOUDOT EGONGA ONONAROAEGuOONUONONAOAINTEE MANCHESTER Phone: Central, 5987. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1922. Recognition At Last. which definitely marks an epoch in the history of the kinematograph industry in this country. The news that we allude to was that an Imperial Educational Conference will take place under the auspices of the Board of Education in July, 1923, and that it has been decidel that a certain part of the time will be allotted to discussing the question of the kinematograph for educational purposes. Further importance is given to this news by the announcement that Mr. F. Norman-Wright, managing director of this journal, had been asked to gather together the best of the educational films in the whole industry, and to submit a program to the committee for their consideration. At last, after many years of ceaseless work on the part of pioneers of this industry, the educational authorities have recognised the important part that the film plays in’ the lives of the people to-day, and, furthermore, the wonderful use that the kinematograph can be in fashioning the lives of future generations. Jt is not too much to say that no more significant happening has occurred in this industry since its inception, and a further milestone has been added to the progress of the all-conquering film. I N these pages last week appeared an announcement England has lamentably lagged behind in the progress of using the film for educational purposes. It is common knowledge that thousands of the schools in America have been equipped with the kinematograph machine, and that children have been taught their history and lessons by use of the film for many years past. It is also a fact that teachers in the schools in this country have long advocated that the film should be added to their curriculum, but it has taken an enormous amount of time to break down prejudices of selfish people who could not, and would not, recognise the importance of the kinematograph machine. To-day, however, there is clear evidence that the Imperial Educational Conference have decided that in future education in this country must move with the times, and Google by their action in throwing open their Conference to a full discussion on the question of the kinematograph for educational purposes they are displaying that wisdom and vision that one expects from so learned a body. The trade should realise exactly what this means. In the past, every speaker outside the industry who has touched on the question of the future of the film industry has always reproached the trade for not dealing with the film from an educational point of view. It is not for want of trying that films have not been included in the great number of schools in this country ere now. Endeavours have been made for years past to interest educational authorities, with lack of success, principally owing to the. selfish prejudices which have existed, and which have militated against any chance of success. Thanks, however, to persistent hard work, there is to-day a real chance of adding a fresh triumph to the kine ‘mhatograph film, and it is to be hoped that every manufacturer of educational films will take advantage of this Conference and assist Mr. Norman-Wright in forming a representative committee for considering the project. If a sufficient supply of educational films are forthcoming, and the Imperial Conference can see that these films will materially assist, as they are bound to do, in the education of children, then the battle is won, but it is to be hoped that there will be no lagging behind, and that everyone interested in educational films will work together for a common end. There igs an enormous opportunity before the trade to-day. It is in every sense one of the mast important happenings that has ever taken place in the history of this industry. See that the opportunity now given, after ceaseless work, is not thrown away, and let all renters and producers of educational films band ‘together for the purpose of showing the Board of Educa tion that here is an instrument which, properly used, can do more to educate children in an hour than could be taught them’ in lessons in a year,