EDUCATIVE FILMS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 125, 29 May 1928, Page 10

EDUCATIVE FILMS

AND OTHERS SOME BRITISH CRITICISED GOOD FILM LEAGUE You cannot turn a picture theatre into a school, and you cannot turn a school into a picture theatre, but in both theatre and school tho cinema' has. an educational use if applied Avithin limits—a use that will grow as educational film supplies become bettor organised. Such seems to be the message- of tho educational and. censorship section of the report of tho Australian Royal Commiss-iou on the film industry. BOX-OFFICE FAILURES. "Tho nature of educational films is, freely admitted," says tho report, "though unfortunately such pictures are not appreciated by tho majority of audiences, and consequently are not attractions which show good box-office receipts. Picture show audiences attend the theatres to be amused or entertained, and when any considerable proportion of educational pictures is screened, a resentment is sometimes felt at what many of them think is an unwarranted attempt to improve, their knowledge. To placate the feelings of such sections of audiences a judicious and seemly handling of educational films is required. , An indiscriminate showing of long films of this typo may disrupt tho feelings of tho patrons, and the' exhibiter experiencing this result will thereafter entirely eliminate such pictures from his programmes. Therefore educational and scientific pictures should be made up of short films and should leave the audience i with a desire to see more." So much for education in tho theatres. As to the schools, the report states:— "The cinema as an educational factor can bo made good use of. In certain^ States in Australia the cinema has been placed in schools, and pictures ai-o shown as part of the routine school programme. No attempt has been made to supplant oral teaching with tho film, but tho use of the cinematograph- as an adjunct to present educational methods has been established. The cinematograph is being especially adopted to givo assistance in the teaching of certain educational subjects. Demonstrations by slow motion pictures are more vivid than by any other method. In certain schools in Now South Wales the cinema is regularly used for instructional purposes, and the success achieved thero should lead to an extension Of the system. In the United States of America extensive use is made of educational films for instructive and recreational' purposes. The educational side- of the film industry in the United States is on a _ highly organised basis. Numerous films "on scientific and general educational subjects aro available, and lists of the films aro widely distributed. Films aro hired out at small fees, and are systematically delivered and collected. . . .Many educational films, such as studios of fauna, havo been made in" Australia, and these pictures when exhibited abroad have been enthusiastically received." At least one distributing firm in Australia .-has a special section of its business dealing with educational films and has given -valuable assistance to schools, institutions, and theatres willing to screen and desirous of showing educational subjects. Another firm has made such films and gives exhibitions. LEAGUE'S WORK APPROVED. In New South Wales there exists an association of representative citizens called "The Good Film League."'This league's objects are: — (a) To encourage the presentation under good conditions of moving pictures. (b) To secure adequate censorship of all advertisements. (c) To extend the use, under healthy conditions, of moving pictures as a factor in education in the schools. The league, reports the Royal Commission, "in carrying out its objects has performed useful public service, and is generally able to obtain and present the public viewpoint in regard to motion pictures. The formation of similar public bodies in other States would be helpful to the industry .and to the public generally." „. , The "British films" section of tho Commission's report generally has a warmly friendly tons towards the British article, but this passage occurs: "The percentage of British-made films rejected by tho Commonwealth Censorship during certain periods was higher than those imported from any other country. The .rejections have boon mostly on the- grounds of highly objectionable themes and incidents. The position is most unsatisfactory, and it is thought that the matter should bo brought under notice." „ • The Commission further reports, under'thc heading "British films," that "the exhibition of British films in Australia has not mot with universal success in recent years. Exhibitors have stated in'evidence that there is a distinct apathy on tho part of audiences towards British rn'oductions. It must be admitted that many British films which have been shown by exhibitors desirous of assisting the industry within the Empire have been of a low standard of merit and havo lacked entertainment value. Picture-goers viewing films of such a character are careful to see that when British pictures are included in programmes they will withdraw their patronage during the exhibition of the films. This lack of support with diminishing box-office returns still exists in Australia, and will need to be overcome before successful returns from British pictures tan be hoped for. Ro-eontly-screcned pictures of British1 origin have shown a decided improvement in quality and technique, and a maintenance of this improvement will completely overcome any antagonism on the part of audiences to British productions. AGAINST CARPET-BAGGERS. "Statements have been made on many occasions in Great Britain and in the Commonwealth that Britsh films have been boycotted on arrival in Australia. These statements have, howover, been decisively rebutted by the evidence taken in regard to specific cases, and your Commissioners are convinced that such statements are without justification. Tho practice of British producers in selling their films to individuals, or 'carpet-bagmen' as they arc known,, instead of establishing their own distributing agencies in Australia, would appear to bo the main cause for such statements, and if British producers hope to benefit by the largo revenues derived from such films, they would be well advised to discontinue this practice. It has been found that certain persons havo purchased one, two, or three films in London, and have brought them to Australia for the purpose of arranging profitable screenings. They are unacquainted with tho trade conditions here iii this country, and usually the rental prices asked are totally disproportionate to tho general box-office returns or rentals charged for other films. "One large film-importing firm has a

buying agency in London, and purchases many British films, and, in addition, British films have often been and are being released in Australia by representatives of American distributors. British-made pictures have secured adequate screenings in Australia in the past few years. One exhibiting circuit, with interests in 40 picture theatres, during that period has shown films of British origin to' the extent of 14i per cent, of its programmes, but this percentage, it should be pointed out, includes other than feature films. AVith properly organised distributing facilities in. Australia, British producers should not experience any difficulty in obtaining releases for pictures of merit, as there is a genuine desire on the part of distributors, exhibitors, arid the public to assist such British productions." The report refers to the many attempts which have been made, mostly without success, to produce moving pictures in Australia, though, as it pointed out, Australia's climatic conditions and scenic beauties are specially suited for out-of-door motion pictures. It is stated that a large measure of assistance has been given to motion picture producers in Great Britain and elsewhere by Governments, and it is likely that as motion picture production develops, in Australia application Will be made to the Commonwealth Government for .the use in connection' with motion pictures of defence and other Governmental material. MONEY HELP FOR HOME-MADE FILMS. The Commissioners suggest that any request for such assistance, if reasonable aiid practicable, should be favourably considered. Further, they make the following recommendations:— , (1) That, subject to recommendations by the Appeal 'Board (a) awards of merit shall be made each year; for the best^ films produced in Australia which will'build up national sentiment, will be of high moral standard, contain humour, but not containing propaganda which might be prejudicial to international relations or likely to promote ill-feeling with other countries; (b) the awards shall be, in order of merit—first £5000, second £2500, third £1500; ' (c) an award of merit of £500 be given for the best film scenario each year, written in Australia by a resident' Australian citizen, provided that such scenario is up to a standard approved by the* Appeal Board'; (d) an award of merit of £500 be given, each year under similar conditions for the best film scenario containing Australian sentiment. (2) That the awards be made during the currency of the quota system, viz., three years, and be open to extension if necessary. (3) That the Appeal Board may withhold a recommendation for an award of merit for any year should productions or scenarios submitted not attain, the requisite merit deemed necessary by the Appeal Board to enable it to make such recommendation.