Film News

Committee should concern itself with slides and film strips as well as motion pictures. The results of the questionnaire provide us with ample material to help plan for the future. A few of the findings were unexpected and some highly creative-—all are worthy of careful consideration. We welcome your comments about this survey and your suggestions for further efforts at sampling opinion on film and its uses . **** FILM NEWS **** The Historians Film Committee will hold its annual meeting in New York City during the AHA convention. There will be several sessions at the convention dealing with film and history ,including one co-sponsored by the HFC. Details to be announced in the December issue. The Committee is seeking a new logo or symbol to go at the head of the Newsletter. Suggestions are welcomed and we urge you to submit your ideas ,with drawing,if possibl to the Editors. We print below one member's contribution to Film News. If there is room we would like to include your notes of general interest as well ...... Eds . WASHINGTON FILM CLIPS .............. contributed by Mark Eller. A bill has been introduced by Representative Frank Thompson of New Jersey which will raise the question of conflict of purpose between the Library of Congress and the National Archives, both of which now collect and preserve film. The bill (H.R.9720)would establish in the Library of Congress a National Film Center and Archive. Rep. Thompson said, "There is a tendency to underestimate the value of the country's motion picture heritage ,both as an art form and as an historical record. Not only do old motion pictures still entertain, but they reveal a wealth of facts to historians and sociologists, film makers and the just plain curious. The visual impact of an event seen on film simply can't be put into words. That is why the use of documentaries and old newsreels to teach school children is increasing." Professor J.Joseph Huthmacher of the Tempie University will hold its University of Delaware informs us that 5th annual Anthropological and the first four programs in the AHA Documentary Film Conference on Feature Film Project are now complete March 8-11,1972. The Conference seeks and ready for distribution. They are: to bring together persons interested Becket ,Martin Luther ,Juarez and The in the use of behavioral recording Emperor and the General. Each program media,including film,videotape and consists of a Super 8mm sound cartridge sound tape for the portrayal of the and a book of readings designed to human condition.place the film excerpt in historical perspective. For information write: Teaching Film Custodians, 25 West 43rd The Program in Ethnographic Film, a Street ,New York N.Y. 10036. committee of the American Anthropological—~—-—-— Association ,promotes the study and use Eric Boehm,President of the American of visual media in anthropology . A Bibliographical Center and Clio Press Newsletter is published three times a in Santa Barbara,has encouraged the year and is available from: Editor, work of the Committee with a donation PIEF,Room 200 South Hall, Temple of $25' ll is a noble example and Mr. University ,Philadelphia,Pa.,19122. Boehm has our thanks. **** SOURCE NOTES **** In this regular feature of the Newsletter we will pass along suggestions to our readers for sources of film and ideas for using it effectively. In this issue we recommend a source of information on film and historical scholarship. The British Universities Film Council is concerned with fostering the use of film for teaching and research within the British academic community. Their journal, University Vision, presents numberous articles relating to techniques of film use in general (e.g. W. Mateen, "Teaching by Film," University Vision No. 6, January 1971) and on specific academic fields from cardiology to American studies (e.g. M.Gidley, "Some American Studies Films at Sussex," University Vision No. 6,January 1971). The first number of University Vision, dated February 1968, and currently available in reprint, was devoted solely to problems of film and historical scholarship. Several of the articles comment on why film as a medium has been slow in winning the approval of scholars. When compilations and documentaries were frequently found...