International Review of Educational Cinematography (Jan-Dec 1930)

72 — Since this system is by no means very costly — for small cameras and projectors may be used for the purpose — it seems not only desirable, but probable that considerable recourse will be had to it to demonstrate how much can be done by the joint efforts of science and practice. This is a single instance; but examples of the kind could be multiplied to demonstrate the practical possibilities of the cinema in a variety of fields. The I. E. C. I. got immediately into touch not only with the several State Departments, which carry on work by means of the film of a kind unknown in other countries, but also with a number of business concerns, institutes, and universities, and from the information received it is now able to make a comprehensive survey of the work accomplished by the film in the sphere of labour In order to be able to gather together all these valuable returns of study, comparison, and official documentary record, the Institute drew up a questionnaire, which has been widely circulated among both government departments and private institutions, so as to be able to determine the fundamental requisites of the use :>f the !ilm in the study of labour problems. This work is now in full swing. The Questionnaire contains the following questions : /. Have you sc far in the course of your business [or the functioning of your Department) considered the possibilities offered by the cinematograph in connection with the problems of vocational orientation and training and scientific management, or, in other words, zvith the general problem of how to obtain the best yield from human effort and production ? II. Have you had an opportunity of examining films made for the purposes of vocational orientation and training or dealing with the problems of scientific management ? III. If the answer to the last question is in the affirmative, will you kindly inform us: a) what are the defects that have most struck you in such films ? b) Were the films of a distinctively technical, scientific, or instructive character, or were they rather of a publicity kind that did not give a correct picture of the subject they purposed to illustrate ? c) from whom did you obtain the films in question ? IV. Are you acquainted with any firms producing films answering to the above mentioned purposes ? Do you know of either private persons or companies producing films of the kind ? V. Do you know of any schools, institutions, clubs, popular universities , etc., that make use of films for the purposes indicated above ? VI. Do you know of any publications — reports, studies, books, etc., — dealing with this problem in your Country ? If the answer is in the affirmative, would you be so good as to inform us regarding them or at any rate to let us know to whom we might apply for information ? VII. Would you be so good as to inform us: a) What systems are adopted in schools in your Country in regard to vocational orientation and industrial or vocational training ? and, if there is any printed matter on the subject, either send it to us or get the government department concerned to forward it ; b) What results have been achieved ? c) Are there any specialized and well equipped laboratories in connection with this study ? d) If so, are they numerous ? e) Are they used for the purpose of theoretic study only, or are practical experiments carried out there ? f ) If practical experiments are made, in accordance with what system ? VIII. Has your Government taken up the question of the use of the film in teaching and vocational orientation, or as a means of improving production and of a more careful and discriminating selection of manual workers ? IX. Have any of the big workers' or employers' unions in your Country taken up the study of these problems ? X. What do you regard as the most practical means of attaining rapid results ? XI. Do you consider that films of this character are suitable for exhibition to workers or that they would not appeal to them ? XII. Do you consider that moving pictures of this kind should be of a distinctly technical character, or that films of a more general and quasi dramatic kind should be published, especially when dealing with general « industria knowledge ». XIII. Have the problems of vocational orientation and training been widely studied and developed in your country ? Are there any laws of a general kind on the question ?