Script Competition

Prizes Offered In Islands Film Script Competition

ALL residents of the Pacific Islands are being invited to submit film-scripts for a com petition, “Our Islands Neighbours,” that is being promoted by Austra lian Instructional Films, Turella, Sydney.

This company produces six edu cational films per month. Its Wild Life series is well-known. It has decided to include “Our Islands

Neighbours” in its Social Studiei series. The object of the films t( be produced under the heading, “Om Islands Neighbours,” is to mak< Australian children better ac quainted with the races, customs geography and economics of th< Pacific Islands. The number of film: to be produced under this heading will be governed by the number o i

films, suitable for production, sen 1

in by competitors.

The Producer of Australian In structional Films, Mr. Lex Halli

day, advises that the following con

ditions will govern all entries:

Conditions

Each script must have the endorsemeni of an educational officer or teacher.

Length of each script must not exceec 10 minutes. (Read your commentary verj slowly to get some idea of time.) Hints for Writing Your Script (i) Each script should be divided into : columns, showing (1) number of th( scene; (2) description of the picture; (3) appropriate dialogue against that scene. (ii) Slant your story so that it will b€ of interest and use to teachen throughout Australia and New Zealand. (iii) Confine your story to as few loca tions as possible. This will help keep production costs down. (iv) Quote references for your facts in case ATP’s educational panel should wish to cross-check. (v) Remember that “each picture tells a story”—make sure your dialogue supplements, not repeats, each pic ture. (vi) Film can broaden children’s horizons —help them to become good citizens— show them how other children live; so let your film have an underlying purpose. (vii) The little intimate personal or humorous touches count—include as many as you can without detracting from your story.

Accepted Scripts or Treatments will be judged on the following points: (i) The importance and usefulness of the subject matter. (ii) Simplicity and clarity with which the story is told. (iii) Whether it incorporates good teach ing techniques. (The accepted pat tern is—introduction, expansion, con clusion, revision.) (iv) Its factual accuracy.

Brief List of Suggested Topics Industries on your island.

Trade patterns with other islands.

Trade patterns with overseas countries.

How you receive mail and communications.

How you govern yourself—the part natives play in your government.

How your natives are educated —what they learn.

Native customs, crafts and livelihoods.

A typical day in the life of a native family.

A typical day in the life of a native child.

The history of your island.

The geography of your island.

The native music of your island and its mythology.

Nature Study—plant life, animal and bird life, sea life.

(The manner in which scripts are written does not matter—Al Films will edit them and put them into shape. A good story with interesting facts is the important thing.) •

Prizes

Pull list of prizes announced in next issue of PIM. They will include lamps, radios, other utility items and special stores orders.

Special prizes for the winning places in the competition will include a 16 mm. copy of the entrant’s completed film. En trants of all other accepted scripts will receive each a minimum prize of £lO.

Closing Date

Wednesday, February 20, 1952, is closing date. All entries must show post-mark no later than this date. Exceptions will be made for Islands without regular com munications. Scrips that are received early and found suitable may receive the minimum prize immediately and be placed in production, prior to the final judging, and without prejudicing their chances of winning the competition.

General

While they are primarily intended for the Australian classroom, the various films arising from the competition will be adapted for theatre use, where possible.

All such films will receive world-wide dis tribution through Australian Instructional Films (now the world’s largest producer distributor of Australian-made educa tionals) .

The accepted scripts will be edited by ALP’S educational panel, and submitted to approved 16 mm. or 35 mm. photographers on the Island concerned, for shooting the initial footage. All shooting will be done on black-white stock; and 35 mm. size is preferred, although good 16 mm. footage will be accepted.

Each script-writer should consider carefully the availability of a good local photographer, and recommend him when submitting a script. Short clippings show ing the photographer’s work should be attached to the entry, as well as full details of the camera equipment he would use. Once a script is accepted, and modified, AIF will contact the photo grapher concerning payment for shooting.

Colour film will be considered only

where there is a local sponsor who will cover the greater production costs.

AI Films relies on Australian, and to some extent on World classroom distri bution to recover its production costs.

Island scripts, therefore, must be written primarily to serve this market.

Proposals for Travelogue films, aimed at encouraging the flow( of tourists to a particular Territory, or educationals designed to teach natives such things as

Ith. hygiene, neighbourliness, agri ture (with sound tracks in their own guage if necessary), will be welcomed; the basic production costs for these es of films, although not expensive, st be guaranteed by a sponsor, such a leading industry, community group, Government Department. World dis lution for these will be free, he adjudicators will include represen [ves of AI Film’s educational panel, a rspaper representative, and a represen ive of Pacific Islands Administration, sir decisions will be final. 11 copyright and ownership of accepted ipts and completed films will be vested Australian Instructional Films, to use they deem fit. The entrant’s name I be acknowledged on film’s credit he equivalent of £1 Australian must orapany each entry. All correspondence 1 be by airmail