Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

378 Motion Picture News U. S. Commissioner Reports on Educational Films The educational field of the movies has been practically unexplored, according to John J. Tigert, United States Commissioner of Education. In his annual report, an advance copy of which has been received by the National Association of die Motion Picture Industry, Commissioner Tigert says: “ Although there are now more motionpicture machines in schools, churches, and clubs than in commercial theatres, conditions are such that the industry is organized almost exclusively to serve the interests of the commercial theatre. “ The demand from educational institutions may never equal in bulk or in steady continuity the commercial demand, and yet its potential strength is sufficient to attract attention if only it can be organized and given expression. Representatives of the larger producers have declared their willingness to produce the films, provided they can be assisted in determining what is needed and can be used in the schools, and they have appealed to the bureau repeatedly to take the initiative in organizing some plan of investigation. No producer or organization of producers can afford to make the necessary analysis of school needs and educational possibilities, and they all lack the motive, the personnel, and the school contacts which are essential to the success of such a study.” English Producer Explains Handicaps Met Abroad America, with its censorship problem, by no means has a corner on difficulties in the production of moving pictures. This was the gist of highly interesting information furnished stars and officials at the R-C Studios in Hollywood recently by Walter Tennyson d’Encourt, representative of the International Artists Film Co., Ltd.r of London, who was visiting Southern California to get some first hand information on the production of films in America. Mr. d’Encourt gave one illustration of what producers have to contend with in England. His organization x-ecently sent a company to Spain to get some genuine Spanish atmosphere for scenes in a picture. They took with them from England their raw film and other supplies, but on returning they had to pay the regular customs charges on this film, whether it had been exposed or not. It is in matters of this kind that British producers are still seeking co-operation from their government. A lamentable dearth of technical experts in England and on the Continent and the necessity of filming most scenes indoors owing to the uncertainty of favorable weather conditions were also cited by Mr. d’Encourt as handicaps with which the European producer has often to contend with. t A Reader Suggests Central Exchanges riiiiiiiiniiiiniiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiniimiiiMmiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiMimimniiiniiiiiim THE following letter has been received from B. F. Heustis, manager of the Community theatre, Harbor Beach, Mich. : Gentlemen : “ If it would not be amiss for a small town exhibitor to make suggestions to the big guns and lesser lights of the moving picture industry, I have reasons for believing a plan may be put in operation which would save the producers, the exhibitors, and the public a considerable amount of money. “ If, instead of from 20 to 50 different exchanges in a state, with their corresponding quota of exchange managers, salesmen and office help, there could be one exchange in each state, which would handle all the worthwhile pictures for producers, the savings in salary account, traveling expenses and office equipment would be enormous, to say nothing of the relief from petty detail in the selling of pictures, which exists to day. 1 he savings effected would result in better pictures and in reduction of price to the public, besides affording greater returns on the investment of producers. It would also result in better, cleaner pictures, and removal of the censorship ban in nearly all localities. “ Perhaps this may sound like idle chatter, but it is the proper way for conducting any business — elimination of expense and avoidance of duplication of effort. “ In Michigan we have some 30 exchanges, selling films in the same territory; offices for each exchange must be kept up, and salesmen at great expense, kept following in each other’s footsteps. “ Every picture released for showing in Michigan, must carry with it the same expense and must be shown a certain number of times in order to make it a profitable venture for the producer. Many pictures are shown, which would be better left to die without being shown at all. If it has merit it should be accorded a fighting chance, without being smothered in expense. “ Supposing that the 30 exchanges in Michigan have 100 new pictures for exploitation—possibly more, perhaps less— and one company turns out 40, another 20, another 10, and others, from 6 to 1 per year. 100 pictures are to be sold by the Michigan exchange, in exact proportion, with the expense pro-rated among all the producers. Think of the elimination of expense and of detail. It would be no job at all, to sell every picture in the exchange, new and old, as the proportion of old pictures offered, would be in exact ratio to the new ones. “ Exchange managers could be bonded for faithful performance, financial probity and relieve home-offices of this detail entirely. The saving to all concerned, would be almost beyond computation.” Educational Value of Film Proved by Examinations Pupils taught by a combination of motion pictures and oral instruction pass examinations which average twenty-two per cent higher than those instructed orally only, an experiment conducted with about 500 New York school children by a graduate-student at Columbia University shows. The results of the experiment have just been made public at the university in an announcement stating that the course in motion picture making would be continued as part of the university curricula. The experiment was conducted by Joseph J. Weber, of Hague, North Dakota, a graduate-student in education at the university. Over 500 pupils were placed in different groups, it was explained at the university. All at one time were in Group A and received instruction by oral means only. At another time all were in Group B and had 12 minutes of motion pictures, followed by oral instruction. At another time all were in Group C and had oral instruction, followed by twelve minutes of motion pictures. “ The surprising fact developed that the same pupils when in Group B or when instructed by motion pictures followed by oral instruction, passed examinations which averaged twenty-two per cent higher than when they were instructed orally only,” Rowland Rogers, instructor of motion picture making at Columbia, said. “ When the pupils were in Group C, which had the oral instruction followed by the motion pictures, they were still fifteen per cent higher than when in Group A, or instructed by oral means only.” Congressman to Explain Canal Service by Film There is nothing like the motion picture as a means of exploitation and explanation. Such is the belief of Congressman Peter G. Ten Eyck, from New York State, who has adopted the motion picture film as a means of better portraying just how important the New York State Barge Canal is, a project which represents an expenditure of $50,000,000. The picture will be shown at a meeting of government officials during January for the purpose of counteracting propaganda already afoot to have the United States share in the building of a proposed St. Lawrence ship canal . Houses Closed on Sundays in Springfield by Vote A DISPATCH from Kansas City, Mo., advises that Springfield, Mo., has decided upon closing all places of amusement on Sundays. This policy was determined upon by popular vote on Tuesday of this week when 6,082 votes were cast in favor of closing all shows on Sunday and 3,166 voted in favor of Sunday openings.