Film and Radio Guide (Oct 1945-Jun 1946)

22 FILM AND RADIO GUIDE Volume XII, No. 7 Film Plans of the Protestant Church BY PAUL F. HEARD Executive Secretary, Protestant Film Commission, Inc. Eventually, w e are told, atomic energy may be harnessed to the will of man, and any one, with a flick of his finger and the turn of a switch, may enjoy all the comforts of life by taking advantage of this cosmic service. Meanwhile there are deadlier and more familiar uses to which atomic energy may be put. Problems of international cooperation, cultural and race relations, government and economics, ethics and personal psychology — pressing problems in these fields still remain fundamentally unsolved. Unless they are solved, no amount of material progress can save the world from an armed struggle which will be its third — and very likely its last. These problems cannot be finally solved by making a survey, or studying the problem, or by years of research. They cannot be solved by conferences or conventions. They cannot be solved in committee, by legislation, or by making a report. They cannot be solved by education. They cannot be solved even if everyone wants them solved and uses all o f the above techniques towards a solution. No amount of good will and technical competence will be really effective in the solution of the world’s problems unless accompanied by the formation of attitudes in the hearts of people which will make possible such a solution. Over and over again, leaders A paper presented at the 37th annual meeting of the Notional Board of Review, held in New York, Morch 28, 1946. Paul F. Heard, Executive Secretary, Protestant Film Commission, Inc. in many fields of human endeavor, in science and industry, in government and international relations, have .stated that the ultimate solution of pressing problems in their fields lies in the realm of the spiritual. This challenge thrown out by leaders in secular fields is one which the Protestant churches cannot ignore. The Protestant Film Commission believes that the solution of these problems lies in the fundamental attitudes and beliefs of individual people. At the same time we are aware of the most effective medium for influencing those attitudes — the motion picture. The Protestant Film Commission has been formed for the express purpose of using and promoting the use of that powerful medium for such ends. During the war as film evaluator for the United Nations Central Training Film Committee and as War Orientation Film Officer for the Navy, I had the opportunity of learning how film was being used by the Nazis to inculcate their ideals and to promote allegiance to their cause. I have seen how the film has been used to train men to fight, and to condition them psychologically and emotionally to kill. It seems to me that if film can be used so successfully in these ways, it must now be used to train men to live, to work together, and to inculcate those fundamental principles of Christianity which are basic to American democracy and to a stable order for the world. The Protestant Film Commission proposes to use the motion picture in two ways. First— it will produce films of high technical and artistic quality for distribution in 16mm to churches, clubs, and schools. These films will utilize the techniques of the propaganda and attitude motion l)ictures which were developed by the armed forces during the war. Producers will be selected from both the east and the west coasts, on the basis of their skill in particular kinds of technique. Second — it will attempt to stimulate in the Hollywood motionpicture industry a greater sense of responsibility in the production of entertainment films which influence the attitudes and behavior of millions. It proposes to obtain in the production of entertainment films a fair representation of Protestantism, the portrayal of more significant moral themes, and the increased application to such production of standards of art and ethics. To achieve the above ends, the Protestant Film Commission will soon launch a fundraising campaign with one mil