Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-09
GOVERNMENT RESEARCH
WORK WITH MOVIES
What the Department of Agri-
culture Is Doing With Motion
Photography.
By the PhOtoplay Editor

moIlOn pictures are playing prominent
part in the research work of the Depart
ment Of Agriculture. according to a recent
statement issued by the Committee on
Motion Picture Activities. which declares
that the work of the department in de-
veloping motion picture films has fairly
passed tho experimental stage in at least
one important particular. The motion pio-
ture laboratory is part of the section Of
illustrations of the Division of Publica-
tions. 1t has fully demonstrated its abil-
ity to produce educational films of a photo
graphic excellence which easily equals the
work of the best commercial motion pic
ture photographers. Since the commence
ment of the work the photographers, al
though handicapped for nearly a year by
makeshlft laboratory and inadequate
equipment, have taken and developed 80
complete films aggregating over 3O,S00 feet
of valuable negative. In addition to this
there are under development at the pres
ent time over 5000 feet dealing with GER
tain subjects either completed or now be-
ing taken as seasonal opportunity permits
field work in the various stages of the
films.
The laboratory was recently moved into
new and especially equipped quarters in
the basement Of the building at 1858 B
street Southwest, and should soon be in
position to produce an even greater amount
of film.
Several problems yet remain to be
solved before any wide outside use of the
films can be made and before any exact
definition of the films as adjuncts In ag-
ricultural education can safely be formu-
lated, states the committee for 1t is rea-
llzed that before any films of this char
actar can be made fully helpful to the
farm ers, for whom they are primarily in
tended. means whereby exhibitions can be
given in places where there is not electric
current must be devised.
With this in view, tests are now being
made Of all known motion picture projec-
tors, and the help of electrical and auto
mobile experts is being sought in order to
develop a method whereby current can
be developed from an automobile or other
portable outfit In remote farming dis
trlcts.
This investigation also includes tests OF
means other than electric power for gem
Grating the necessary light, and in this
work the War Department has placed at
their disposal the results Of tests of mo-
tion picture apparatus conducted by It's
engineers,
The application of motion picture films
to education is still in its infancy. The
term educational film" as commercially
understood is applied commonly to any
subject which is not the portrayal of
dramatic action. Very few of the So
called educational films, the committee de-
clares have been designed with a view of
teaching the spectators to perform any
definite process. Most of them are simply
pictures of places and events and are
educational in the sense that an illus-
trated book of travels would be placed
In this class in distinction to a volume
OF fiction. Attention is being given, there
fore, to the application OF pedagogical
methods OF visual instruction. In show
ing such subjects as the termination OF
seeds, or other processes which must be
taken intermittently over a long period,
the department is determined that the
film shall be an honest scientific record
Of the process depicted rather than the
result OF optical illusions,
The degree to which motion picture films
can be made direct teachers of agrieul-
tural processes is another problem which
Is being investigated. Several Of the
films secured or made by the bureaus be-
fore the work was formally inaugurated.
and a number OF films since developed
have been used before audiences In vari-
GUS sections and careful estimate has been
made OF their value and effect In gem
eral the lecturers who show these films
report that they attract favorable atten-
tion and certainly are received with great
interest by the audiences Some OF the |
lecturers assert that showing the films
had direct educational effect. The more |
experienced held that the chief benefits |
were in attracting larger audiences, the |
pleasure tine people derived from seeing |
the pictures and tho aid TO complete un- |
OF the lecture or subject that |
the pictures afforded. The pictures en- |
ablsd those who saw them to visualize |
into complete action the otherwise alb |
stract points OF the propaganda. The pic |
lures also served to break the fee for a |
more cordial reception of the new ideas. |
the films have a value IA |
Indirect education, In stimulating general /
Interest in the subject and as an element |
In propaganda
The terrible. heavy shaokIes used for
the arms, feet and waist In the prison 4
scene Of the Edison feature, Eugene /
Aram," from that book. in which Marc
MacDermott is featured, are exact dupli-
Gates OF that historic symbol or a cruel
age. Mr., MaeDeFnott Is well htted 10 1
enact the tragic Aram, as he PLAYER n
an Engllshman intimately acquainted
with All the phases OF life It depicts. Mr
MacDermott tells OF similar ana worse
eruelues pTaetleed IN the cid prisons, IN
q room known as the press" room This
OF torture chamber where /
The prisoner was strapped to the floor
By iron bands, hand and foot and a
heavy iron weight slowly lowered on the
PROSTATE victim, with the intent OF max
ns him confess. This weight would press
more ana more on the chest tin often
blood sprang from the nose and mouth
While the more rugged would endure this
Felght crushing them almost far tr.ro |