Unseen Passage: Challenges of Film Industry

The film industry is facing the challenge of the television screen which, because of its ready availability and nearness to entertainment seekers, is becoming very popular, particularly in the West where television programmes are as indispensable to people as newspaper material. Sustained entertainment for multitudes lasting two or three hours is possible only in big cinema halls. Scenic beauty, background effects and colour techniques which have made the products of cinema industry so attractive and delightful may not be reproduced by television programme organisers, and therefore, this important invention in the field of wireless communication, in spite of having become a big rival of the cinema, may not succeed in replacing it.

The motion picture has also stepped into the international sphere as an agent of goodwill and co-operation among nations. Cultural contacts which tend to reduce tension in the world and bring harmony in international relations have been established through the medium of films. The more people understand and appreciate the past history, present aims, customs, habits and beliefs of men and women in foreign lands, the more will they realise that their interests can best be served by establishing friendly relations with them and by removing those irritants which breed distrust, lack of co-operation and the desire to punish those whose views and attitudes are such as they do not like. As cultural agents movies can cement ties of love and brotherhood among nations and teach them to confer on each other the benefits of all the rich and glorious achievements of the present enlightened age. In recent years, artists of the film world have been visiting foreign lands with a view to presenting before audience in those countries the best products of their cultural heritage. Film festivals which many European and Asian countries have been organising from time to time have also proved to be of immense value in reducing social barriers, colour prejudices and other causes of friction between nations.

Q. On the basis of your reading of the passage given above, answer the following questions:

1. The film industry is facing the challenge of:
   1. the theatre
   2. financial crunch
   3. waning people’s interest
   4. the television screen
2. The TV has become popular because of:
   1. its entertaining programmes
   2. its educative value
   3. its ready availability and nearness
   4. its wide appeal
3. Three things which make cinema so attractive are:
   1. scenic beauty, background effects and beautiful faces
   2. scenic beauty, good sets and colour techniques
   3. scenic beauty, gaudy dresses and colourful techniques
   4. scenic beauty, background effects and colour techniques
4. Films have become agents of:
   1. pioneering
   2. providing
   3. confercing
   4. goodwill and cooperation
5. Which of these reduces the tension of the people and bring harmony?
   1. film industry
   2. television programme
   3. beauty of nature
   4. cultural context
6. The artists of the film industry visit foreign lands with the purpose of:
   1. establishing friendly relations with them
   2. presenting best products of their cultural heritage
   3. bringing harmony in international relations
   4. getting better opportunity.
7. Film festivals have proved to be of immense value in reducing social barriers and colour ___________.
8. Irritants only breed mistrust and conflicts among nations. (True/False)

Answers

1. the television screen
2. ready availability and nearness
3. scenic beauty, background effects and colour techniques
4. goodwill and cooperation.
5. cultural context
6. presenting best products of their cultural heritage
7. Prejudices
8. True