Preliminary Study On Trade Union Film Screening Activities In China(1949-1959)

In December 1953,the State Council’s Decision on Establishing a Film Distribution and Projection Network and the Film Industry pointed out,that the development policy of film projection is to focus on industries and mines first.However,the film distribution and projection work of the new Chinese trade union system has been little explored by scholars.This article attempts to present the establishment and development of the film projection system of the new China trade union system,and show the basic situation of the trade union film projection activities in the 1950 s,by combing through relevant documents,historical materials,and archival materials.The film projection business of the new China’s trade union system was taught by the Soviet Union and was an important part of the national film industry.The Soviet Union’s filming activities have a long history,providing a direct reference for the trade union film industry in the People’s Republic of China(RPC).To establish a national film network and expand film projection talents,in 1950,the Ministry of Culture held a "film projection staff training class" in Nanjing,which trained projection staff for various systems including the trade union system.In June 1953,the All-China Federation of Trade Unions(ACFTU)issued the Instructions on Improving the Work of the Trade Union’s Film Education Team to preliminarily rectify the problems existing in the film projection work of the trade union.In December,the State Council formulated and promulgated the Decision on Establishing a Film Projection Network and the Film Industry,the trade union film projection work was more closely integrated into the national film projection network,and the cultural sector strengthened coordination with the trade union system.On November 16,1954,the ACFTU held the First National Trade Union Film Projection Work Conference,and local trade unions began to deal with the lack of planned management of trade union film projections,implemented the charging system,increased projection staff,gradually formalizing and institutionalizing the film projection work of trade unions.In December 1955,the ACFTU held the First Trade Union Film Projection Symposium to examine the rectification of national trade union film projections,exchange work experience,and formulate comprehensive plans.To review the rectification results,the ACFTU held the National Trade Union Film Observation Show and the National Trade Union Film Projection Team Work Achievement Exhibition in Beijing on August 1,1956,to show the development and growth of the national trade union system’s film projection business in the past six years achievements.The grassroots film projection unit is the focus of the development of the film projection business of the trade union system.The projectionist is at the base of the work of the grassroots projection unit,and the training and management of projectionists is an important part of the union’s film projection work.The screening process of grass-roots film screening units follows the cultural system screening team and has developed from the three-person working method to the two-person working method,forming a set of standard operating procedures.In addition to the screening of films,publicity work was also an important part of the entire screening activities.The film screening activities of trade unions during this period achieved certain results in publicizing and educating workers and promoting industrial production.At the same time,there are also some problems and difficulties in the film projection business of the trade union system,especially the sharp contradiction between the trade union system and the projection unit of the cultural system,which harmed the work of both parties.The study found that in the ten years after the founding of the People’s Republic of China,the New China Trade Union’s film screening activities grew out of nothing and gradually developed,with achievements and difficulties coexisting,showing a complex case of film dissemination.The film projection business of the trade union system has effectively strengthened the ideological and political education of the workers,enriched the amateur cultural and artistic life,stimulated the enthusiasm for production,and effectively promoted production.