Moving Picture World (Jul 1916)

July 22, 1916 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 639 r iiiiiiiiiiiiiy^-yiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMinpitr, .:.^g "" ' ' """111""". :-^J '" 1J""" V^AAAAAJ f/fi^ 1111111 '"" " iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii^-vjuiiiiiiiiiiii inn •VJ-AAAAAAAAAAAAA^^ AAAAXTT/ Motion Picture Educator nam ||^ Conducted by REV. W. H. JACKSON and PROF. HARDIN LUCAS CO-OPERATIVE CONTRACT REVISED. THE responses to my proposal for a co-operative educational film service have been many and encouraging, but the number of unequivocal acceptances has not reached the point where operation of the plan is assured for the coming year. Too many of my fellow educationists are apparently deluded by the smug notion that they will be able to secure the proposed service just as easily by waiting until next September before they actually sign contracts for this school-year series of weekly five-reel educational programs. I have faithfully tried, in previous articles, to disabuse their minds of any such thought. I must now reluctantly announce that only those who have made the initial payments (membership fee and forty per cent.) as provided in the abridged contract can reasonably claim the right to purchase the service at the rates specibed on this page in the issue for May 27. Your delay, Mr. Educationist, in accepting the original proposal makes it possible at this time to revise the contract in certain particulars without injustice to any intending circuit member; more exhaustive study of the situation convinces me that it will be wise to incorporate into the plan certain principles that will work for stability and equity in the operation of each c.'fcuit. The charges are to be increased by only a small amount just now, but there can be no guarantee that those who are least prompt in subscribing will not find the fees considerably advanced by the time their minds are fully made up. The rate of rent as now revised will average a little less than forty-four cents per reel per run — provided the cooperative care of the films proves to be such that they actually last through the school year. The schedule of charges for the use of each reel is arranged on a decreasing scale, according to the number of runs for which the film has been used, and it is estimated that each member will use fifty reels at the 75-cent rate, fifty at the 50-cent rate and one hundred at the 25-cent rate — thus making the total rent on 200 reels (forty weekly programs of five reels each) only $87.50. As stated in the accompanying outline, preference will be shown in the formation of each circuit to groups of members subscribing for totals of about a dozen runs within each weekly circuit. In order to facilitate the grouping of local members into regional circuits without delay, a promoting member will probably be appointed in each center about which a satisfactory cluster of subscribers seems likely to develop. Lest there be a stampede of applicants for such appointments, it should be stated at once that the compensation, if any, allowed to promoting members will be merely nominal, although all approved expenses incurred will be paid out of the net proceeds of the enterprise. I shall be glad to receive suggestions as to the persons in each region most likely to prove efficient in the promotion and supervision of these weekly circuits. Tt should be sufficiently plain to all now that prompt action alone can make possible the inauguration of this plan early in the coming school vear. If we are to have the special positives printed in time for use in September the required number of membership fees and first payments on .cntal must be in hand far enough in advance to permit the necessary preliminary work to be done before the summer ^s over. Bethink you! YOUR delay, combined with like inaction on the part of a few others, may mean the indefinite postponement of real visual instruction in our schools. "Act, act in the living present!" The very generous attitude of the publishers of the Moving Picture World has enabled me to insert in this department, beginning with the issue for April 15, 1916. ample information about this plan of securing educational motion picture films for school use through the active co-operation of educationists themselves. In view of the fact that nothing further can be done until ACTION on the part of prospec fixed circuit, we have determined that the details of the proposed contract will not be republished after this. Therefore, since no further space in this department will be available for announcement, it is up to you, Mr. Educationist, to send in your subscription without further delay. If you want this chance for your school, write me at once, stating the number of runs for which you will subscribe and giving the names and addresses of other probable members in your region. Educational Motion Pictures for Schools. Are, you willing that your school shall become one of two hundred or more co-operating institutions to be routed in one or more interstate circuits for the economical circulation of non-inflammable films for standard machines? Features of This Co-operative Plan. FILMS: Ncm-influm nhil>lc material. Standard gauge and perforations. For (mi/ standard machine. Standard length (approximately 1,000 ft.). PRODUCERS : Unrestricted ; no preference. Many leading firms have pledged fresh positives from any of their negatives that are no longer in active demand in the theaters. We may stimulate further production. SUBJECTS : Wide variety (see programs). Correlated closely with school work. Complete lists not available until after searching editorial work ; then supplied in detail to members. Specialized lists for, e. g., high schools as fast as the number of subscribing members of each type may warrant. PROGRAMS: Weekly, through 5 to 10 school months, 4 to 6 reels each (lock-reel plan). Balanced so as to include, e. g., three reels, literature or history ; one reel, nature, science, geography ; one reel, industries, civics, sports. Perhaps a wholesome comedy. BOOKINGS : Each series routed fully in advance. Each member to receive in advance his calendar showing all dates and subjects. TRANSPORTATION : One-way-only charges from next preceding point, borne by each member; obviously by enlisting your neighbors you save. AREA COVERED : No part of United States excluded. Any chain of subscribers for a dozen runs within a weekly circuit may be supplied in almost any region. TIME ALLOWED: Two-run subscribers retain films from morning to midnight only. One-run subscribers, half-day. FINES: Damage to material fully paid for by subscriber constructively responsible. Delays and errors in forwarding find for the good of the service. RENT: (Payments to be made as specified below.) Average, probably less than 50c per reel per run. Entire year's series of, say, 40 weekly five-reel programs, approximately $87.50 per run. Charges vary according to age of films : A. Under 100 runs old. 75c per run. B. One hundred to 200 runs, 50c per run. C. Over 200 runs old, 25c per run. • REELS AVAILABLE : Number of reels in a given circuit dependent upon runs subscribed for. Approximately half as many reels as runs. If 400 runs sold 200 reels assured. FREE AIDS: (To be provided from surplus.) Pedagogical leaflets to be specially prepared by staff of educators. Lantern slides and stereographs grouped in close relation to topics in the films. Color prints, postcards, etc. MEMBERSHIP : Not restricted, except as distance from nearest members may exclude you ; ergo, enlist others in your religion. Preference will be given to groups of members subscribing for total of about a dozen runs. $20.00. more or less, according to date of joining circuit. Annual fee. $20.00 — more or less, according to date of joining circuit. Promptness rewarded by discount. PAYMENTS: Membership fee. in advance, $37.50 per run, before films can be had (for cash) from the producers; $25.00 per run. after 10 weeks of service (nart of this fund used for leaflets) ; $25.00 Per run. after 20 weeks of service (part of this fund used for other aids). Deferred payments to be represented by negotiable notes sent In with first payment. BUDGET : About $1,000.00 for each weekly circuit. Membership fees cover editorial expenses, -etc. Per run installments applied first to cost of films and operating expenses. Net proceeds divided : (a) Reserve fund, for replacement of films or distribution a* dividend, nr used to stimulate production of educational scenarios and films, (b) Free aids fund, (e) Compensation to manager. Tf the plan as outlined above appeals to vou as_ likelv to enable the pupils in your school system to have their rightful chance to see desirable educational motion pictures, I shall he pleased to have vou write me. Send a small remittance for copies of the full form of contract, which will then he sent as soon as the total remitted, bv all interested will tive users of such films makes the plan operative over a justify printing and distribution, HARDIN LUCAS,