Screen Test
Encyclopedia
Screen Test was a UK
children's quiz show
about films, broadcast from 18 November 1970 to 20 December 1984 on BBC1. It was first hosted by Michael Rodd
, who was succeeded by Brian Trueman
and Mark Curry
.
s annual break. In 2001, Michael Rodd commented on Channel 4's 100 Greatest Kids' TV shows: "We made five programmes originally in black and white, which were going to go into the summer slot that Blue Peter left when they all went on holiday. Then, we made the next five in colour (BBC2 was then the only colour station available in the UK) — so we knew we'd really arrived then!"
Viewing figures began to fall in the early 1980s, and the BBC decided that the series had run its course. In 1984 Screen Test was dropped.
as one of the rounds.
Aside from the quiz, early in its run, the programme featured pre-filmed items about the film world and later a young film-makers' competition. Viewers were invited to send in films they had made themselves to be judged by anonymous experts. The prize at stake was a selection of camera or projection equipment. This competition was first introduced in the 1973 series. Michael Rodd stated that it was included because "with Screen Test only being shown once a week, and with only four contestants each week, there were thousands of young people who could not possibly ever take part in the programme, so the BBC decided to launch a competition to encourage viewers to take an interest in making their own films." The Oscar-winning Jan Pinkava
was the winner of the 1980 series with his film The Rainbow. Runners up were awarded with a sophisticated looking certificate of merit that would be sent in the mail. One of the young film makers, Will Bilton, reported that, after his 8 mm animated film Gus & Guzzles was broadcast on 4 November 1984 in the final series before Screen Test was cancelled, he received an unexpected cheque of £15. This motivated him to continue with his career in animation.
The programme's military-style introductory theme tune was called "Marching There and Back", composed by Syd Dale
.
features a pair of young film-makers; they attempt to create their own movie after being inspired by the Screen Test competition.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
children's quiz show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
about films, broadcast from 18 November 1970 to 20 December 1984 on BBC1. It was first hosted by Michael Rodd
Michael Rodd
Michael Rodd is a British television presenter and businessman.-Education:Rodd was educated at the independent school Trinity College, Glenalmond near Perth in Scotland, and at Newcastle University.-Life and career:Rodd became a familiar face to millions of television viewers in Britain as a...
, who was succeeded by Brian Trueman
Brian Trueman
Brian Trueman is a British writer and broadcaster known mainly for his work with the animation studio Cosgrove Hall...
and Mark Curry
Mark Curry (television presenter)
Mark Curry is an English television presenter most often in children's programmes.- Early career :He started his television career aged seven appearing on ITV's Junior Showtime and played the producer in the film Bugsy Malone .In 1981, Curry co-hosted the series Get Set For Summer on BBC1 with...
.
Background
When it was launched in 18 November 1970, Screen Test was one of the earliest children's TV quiz shows in the UK; it was originally intended to be transmitted during Blue PeterBlue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
s annual break. In 2001, Michael Rodd commented on Channel 4's 100 Greatest Kids' TV shows: "We made five programmes originally in black and white, which were going to go into the summer slot that Blue Peter left when they all went on holiday. Then, we made the next five in colour (BBC2 was then the only colour station available in the UK) — so we knew we'd really arrived then!"
Viewing figures began to fall in the early 1980s, and the BBC decided that the series had run its course. In 1984 Screen Test was dropped.
Programme content
Contestants aged around 11 were shown a series of film clips, with each one being followed by a series of questions specifically about the content of the clip. Most episodes included a clip from a film made by the Children's Film FoundationChildren's Film Foundation
The Children's Film Foundation was a non-profit-making organisation which made films for children in the United Kingdom, typically running for about 55 minutes. It was founded in 1951. For 30 years it was subsidised by the Eady Levy - a tax on box office receipts, but this was abolished in 1985...
as one of the rounds.
Aside from the quiz, early in its run, the programme featured pre-filmed items about the film world and later a young film-makers' competition. Viewers were invited to send in films they had made themselves to be judged by anonymous experts. The prize at stake was a selection of camera or projection equipment. This competition was first introduced in the 1973 series. Michael Rodd stated that it was included because "with Screen Test only being shown once a week, and with only four contestants each week, there were thousands of young people who could not possibly ever take part in the programme, so the BBC decided to launch a competition to encourage viewers to take an interest in making their own films." The Oscar-winning Jan Pinkava
Jan Pinkava
Dr. Jan Jaroslav Pinkava, Ph.D. is the director and writer of the Pixar Oscar-winning 1997 short film Geri's Game and the originator and co-director of Pixar's Oscar-winning 2007 film Ratatouille....
was the winner of the 1980 series with his film The Rainbow. Runners up were awarded with a sophisticated looking certificate of merit that would be sent in the mail. One of the young film makers, Will Bilton, reported that, after his 8 mm animated film Gus & Guzzles was broadcast on 4 November 1984 in the final series before Screen Test was cancelled, he received an unexpected cheque of £15. This motivated him to continue with his career in animation.
The programme's military-style introductory theme tune was called "Marching There and Back", composed by Syd Dale
Syd Dale
Syd Dale was born in York, England. He was a self taught composer and arranger of funk, easy listening and library music. His music played an important role on TV, radio and advertising media of the 1960s and 1970s. It is still extensively used today.Syd Dale started as an apprentice engineer at...
.
In popular culture
The 2007 film Son of RambowSon of Rambow
Son of Rambow is a 2008 comedy-drama film written and directed by Garth Jennings. The film premiered January 22, 2007 at the Sundance Film Festival. It was later shown at the Newport Beach Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and Glasgow Film...
features a pair of young film-makers; they attempt to create their own movie after being inspired by the Screen Test competition.
Series
| Series | Start date | End date | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 November 1970 | 27 January 1971 | 10 |
| 2 | 22 September 1971 | 24 November 1971 | 10 |
| 3 | 7 April 1972 | 16 June 1972 | 11 |
| 4 | 3 January 1973 | 14 February 1973 | 7 |
| 5 | 25 September 1973 | 1 January 1974 | 12 |
| 6 | 29 May 1974 | 17 July 1974 | 8 |
| 7 | 12 September 1974 | 18 November 1974 | 11 |
| 8 | 7 July 1975 | 1 September 1975 | 9 |
| 9 | 31 December 1975 | 10 March 1976 | 11 |
| 10 | 28 May 1976 | 6 August 1976 | 11 |
| 11 | 30 December 1976 | 10 March 1977 | 11 |
| 12 | 20 May 1977 | 29 July 1977 | 11 |
| 13 | 4 January 1978 | 29 March 1978 | 13 |
| 14 | 7 November 1978 | 23 January 1979 | 11 |
| 15 | 5 April 1979 | 14 June 1979 | 11 |
| 16 | 15 November 1979 | 31 January 1980 | 11 |
| 17 | 7 October 1980 | 16 December 1980 | 11 |
| 18 | 22 September 1981 | 1 December 1981 | 11 |
| 19 | 5 October 1982 | 29 December 1982 | 13 |
| 20 | 5 October 1983 | 21 December 1983 | 12 |
| 21 | 3 October 1984 | 20 December 1984 | 12 |
Specials
| Date | Entitle |
|---|---|
| 24 December 1971 | Christmas Special |
| 23 December 1974 | Christmas Special |
External links
- Screen Test at BFI
- Screen Test at UKgameshows.com