Reel and Slide (Mar-Dec 1918)

REEL and SLIDE play must be obvious. A technical experiment with acids is of itself alone never so. It seems, then, that the best and safest practice would be to prepare the titles and then illustrate them with pictures instead of going about it in the opposite way and fitting the titles to the film. In fact, most educational pictures are made from scripts which are little more than a list of' titles for which the accompanying film is adroitly manipulated in the cutting and editing. To fit the title to the picture limits the director to the inherent qualities and possibilities of the picture, whereas the best advance thought and preparation can be given to the script. It must be always remembered that, ordinarily, films are but a flash. While a picture on the screen might remain in the youthful memory, fifty words of involved explanation seldom will do so. And, since moving pictures are merely supplementary to the text book, the titles should be what might be called a continuation or summary of what the pupil has read prior to viewing the picture. In other words, they should be reminders ; they should touch only the high spots of the lesson. Films in Color IN the projecting room of Prizma, Incorporated, New York City, which has for several years been perfecting color cinematography, I recently witnessed the projection of natural color films covering a great variety of subjects. I was enabled to view familiar, as well as strange and wierd, specimens of animal life of land, sea and air. These were presented in all their colorings with such fidelity to nature as to be startling. I saw moving pictures of the "electric" fish swimming about in their element. Brilliant scarlet in color, they are bejeweled with sapphire hued spots, which glow with a phosphorescence that is almost uncanny and yet is naturally, as though I were peering through the glass side of an aquarium tank. These and other effects would have been completely lost in the straight black and white film. Films in the Library IT is always possible to obtain lists of selected films for library use from the National Board of Review. These are now sent to certain of the libraries of the country, and are consulted by their patrons. In Cleveland there is under consideration a motion picture department which will contain a file of pictures and information about them. Some librarians have gone further and have equipped their auditoriums with motion picture machines. Here are shown the finer dramatic pictures and courses, are given, which have a cultural effect. There are so many pictures now in existence, on travel, agriculture, science and social subjects, that it is possible to arrange free courses of a popular nature. When once the library is equipped with machinery, by a little energy, films can be obtained which can be used with profit for the story-telling hours for the children. There is also a continuous flow of pictures of the current events of the day, which may be used to draw to the library current event clubs and evening audiences interested in such topics. The scope of the motion picture is almost boundless. It has at its disposal the world of nature, the thoughts of men, the history of those long past and gone, and the motives which are continually transforming lifeJ The uses to which it may be put are scarcely understood. It is still so young that it can be guided and molded. Since it speaks a common language through the eye, it has*the power to reach and lift up into culture people who are now indifferent to the book. Is it not worth while to have a part in making this great art contribute its share to the public, who learn of a better and larger life through books? Civic Motion Pictures THE attention of readers is called to the summary of a report made by Miss Ina Clement, for the Municipal Reference Library of New York, in this issue. A few gleams of light similar to this are seen now and then which foreshadow what is to come — a comprehensive film library operated on the same general plan as the modern public library. Until the time comes when this is possible, about all that can be done is to investigate. But, investigation is healthy in this connection. Perhaps the combined efforts of the investigators will determine, at least, what is to be done to put the educational screen on an organized, efficient basis. The Cannibals Are Coming MARTIN JOHNSON, who recently returned from the South Seas with 50,000 feet of marvelous motion picture negative, has completed booking arrangements whereby these unusual films of cannibal life will be seen in the leading theaters. These pictures, which are educational as well as interesting, have attracted widespread attention among educators in the East. Those interested in the educational screen will do well to watch for local -bookings on these reels and make it a point to see them. They offer an example of what may be expected in the future in this line. Eventually they will be within the reach of educational institutions — we hope. Standards WHAT are standards? How are they created? Standards are the accepted principles of practice, resulting from the experience of the majority of experts in a given field of activity. But standards to serve as such must also have the benefit of the test of time. It has taken the motion picture industry almost twenty-five years to acquire standards and it can scarcely be said to possess them yet. Screen advertising, being only a few years old, is suffering to-day for lack of standards — guideposts or lighthouses to which the unsuspecting film user may look for guidance. ^ Before screen advertising needs standards, it needs good, honest productions and a square deal all along the line for the advertiser. When all producers work toward this end, the standards will follow of themselves. In other words, let the films create the standards instead of waiting for the standards to create the films. Standards are always an outgrowth of actual earnest practice.