From: Tony Williams

English

SIUC

 The thoughts on this subject presented so far by Don, Tim Garrand, and Gene

Stavis (especially the last) are very much to the point. Of course, in an

ideal world, film (especially 35mm) would represent perfection itself for

the classroom. But this is not an ideal world and higher education is under

economic attack, particularly in this era of downsizing, with administrators

eagerly searching for reasons to eliminate "expensive" courses. Film rentals

are high and the system is not as good as it once was for reasons already

stated.

 Hence the main argument is economic, something the more privileged members

of that SCS Committee failed to realize. In many ways, most of them are

"spoiled" in terms of resources and following their arguments to the logical

conclusions would mean a return to the bad old days of film courses only

being available to the privileged few in prestigious locations.

  16mm rental is now seriously declining. In addition to the opportunities,

presented by laserdisc, many films are now only available on video. Think of

TNT's restored version of the 1932 DR. Jekyll and Mr Hyde as well as the

many examples of national cinema, independent film, and experimental work

only available on video.

   Film may thus eventually become one of a number of ways in which to

view cinema. This is a sign of the times and castigating less fortunate

and less privileged academics as "villains" does not help matters at all.

Hopefully, as technology develops both video and laserdisc formats should

improve. It is better seeing a film on video or laserdisc than not at all -

which is definitely the case in terms of the current richness of Hong Kong

Cinema for those of us not living in large cities.

  The issue is complex and in need of further discussion. But filmis certainly

now going to become one of the many different ways in which to view and

mourning about the "good old days" of rental availability is less helpful

than thinking about the future and how our economically viable means of

cinematic presentation could be improved and developed.

          Tony Williams.

 

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