International Review of Educational Cinematography (Jan-Dec 1931)

35 of the wide film. The Society has rendered a valuable service to the industry in preventing the producers from plunging blindly into this new development in the absence of a suitable standard. The danger of the recurrence of the chaos which prevailed in the early history of the film business, when each producer used a different-size film, appears to have been averted. The sizes of camera and projector apertures have been standardized in collaboration with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the American Projection Society, and the American Society of Cinematographers. Other standards adopted relate to the location and width of the sound track in combined sound and picture positives, the position of the scanning line, the length of titles in silent pictures, etc. The standards adopted to date have been published in booklet form and have received the approval of the American Engineering Standards Committee. The Society has also collaborated with the British French, and German technical societies on all matters relating to standards. The results of co-operative efforts of the Society are very manifest in the reports of its committees. The annual report of the Progress Committee has made available in condensed form the technical advances made during the year in the fields of production, distribution, and exhibition. The Studio Lighting Committee has assembled information on the use of exposure meters in the lighting of sets and the elimination of heat from lamps. If the amount of light used on the studio sets could be reduced by only 25 per cent., a tremendous saving could be effected. The committee has reported that tests to date indicate that such a saving can be expected from the intelligent use of photometers. The subject of projection is just as important to the producer as that of sound recording because if the picture is not presented properly its entertainment value is greatly impaired. The Projection Committee has made valuable recommendations for insuring the best quality of picture and sound presentation. A special committee has also collected data on the best method of preserving film to insure its perpetuation and the prevention of film losses through fire. To elate it has not been possible for the Society to extend its activities into the many fields where it would be of greater service to the producer, but through the generosity of its newly established sustaining members it will soon be possible to acquire paid assistance, co-ordinate the Society's various activities, and thereby render a greater service to the industry. J. I. Crabtree, President. EDUCATIONAL AND INSTRUCTIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHY IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA (from the French) Instructional cinematography has been extensively developed in Czechoslovakia, the prime mover in the matter being the Masaryk Institute for popular education, in which the education of the whole country is centralised. This is a semi-official association in close touch with the Government, which has entrusted to it certain specific duties. The Masaryk Institute was responsible for a measure which came into force in 1920 whereby cinema licences are only granted to cultural and humanitarian associations, the management of cinema theatres being left to professionals. Thanks to the Institute, the organisation of film censorship, which is in the hands of the Ministry of the Interior, has been extended to include representatives of educational, artistic and cultural associations and of certain Ministries. The