Film and Radio Guide (Oct 1945-Jun 1946)

34 FILM AND RADIO GUIDE Volume XII, No. 7 (Continued from Page 31) made documentary entitled Penicillin and a French film, The Pasteur Institute. The high point of The M-G-M Budget-Service Plan, according to Mr. Loew, lies in the fact that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is prepared to aid in financing the entry of a school system, trade union, or other organization into the educational and cultural film field over a period of years.” ‘‘Before a group or school can get started in the educational field, a large initial cost is involved,” Mr. Loew explained. ‘‘It is to help schools and organizations to get over this first, and for many, formidable hurdle that the proposal is put forward for long-term financing. That is why we have named our plan, ‘The M-G-M Budget-Service Plan’ — full film service on a budgeted basis.” The other unique feature of the plan, which is that film service will be offered on an annual or longer leasing arrangement, is a prosopal that cuts to the heart of the educational-film distribution problem, Mr. Loew contended. He pointed out that adjusting cost to the number of pupils in a school or the number of members in a club or trade union will make it possible for costs to operate on a sliding scale. At the same time, it will do away with the large initial expense required for a school or organization to build up a film library of worth-while size. The annual leasing plan, he said, is also quite different from and a considerable improvement over older systems of outright purchase or renting on a per diem basis. Declaring that too often educational administrators, particularly in countries abroad, have had to use films that were im Reprints of the Illustrated Guides to ‘‘David Copperfield,” ‘‘Treasure Island” and ‘‘A Tale of Two Cities” are available at 5c a copy. posed on a given course of study instead o f being an organic part of it, Mr. Loew asserted that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has plans for overcoming this weakness, too. In the first place, all sound tracks will be made in the language of the country of distribution. Secondly, special arrangements will be possible whereby the commentary can be written by the Minister of Education himself or by an educational authority designated by him. Thirdly, in cases where no suitable films are available, M-G-M’s technical experience and know-how will be utilized to have such a film or series of films made. In this way, Mr. Loew pointed out, there will be no question but that the film will be, not only an extension of the particular textbooks and course of study used in a given country, but also an expression — where that may be important — of the national point of view. He said that he will not make any attempt at specific educational film-making at the present time, preferring first to learn by actual experience in the field what motion picture subjects are needed before undertaking production. In the meantime, he said, Metro-GoldwynMayer will do all it can to smooth the path of schools and There is a 25% discount on orders for 5 or more subscriptions to FILM & RADIO QUIDF organizations desiring to bring the advantages of motion pictures to their pupils and members, and will strive to make available almost all cultural and educational films from all lands. ‘‘We hope that our efforts will result in the extension and intensification of the use of educational films,” Mr. Loew said, ‘‘and we hope for something more. This something more is a cultural interchange among the peoples of the world, so that schools in one country may profit from the creative work done in other countries, and people everywhere may participate in the building of the kind of international understanding and good-will that is based on friendly knowledge of one another.” EASTIN (Continued from Page 30) Major Hieronymus was recently discharged from the army after serving for fiftythree months with the infantry, tank destroyers, and inspector general’s department. He landed in France three weeks after D-day, and spent eighteen months overseas, helping set up and operate various ports and staging areas. He wears two battle stars and the meritorious service award. The Eastin office in Colorado Springs was originally opened by Major Hieronymus in August, 1938. He served as manager until August, 1941, when he left to join the armed forces. In June, 1942, it became necessary for the branch to close on account of the wartime shortage of trained personnel. Since that time most of the customers previously served from Colorado Springs have been dealing with the Eastin home office in Davenport.