Specialized Film Studios in Mykolaiv Region in the Late 1950s – Early 1990s

Abstract

The paper tells about the history of the creation and development of specialized amateur film studios in Mykolaiv region in the late 1950s – early 1990s, describing their problems and achievements, the essence of creative activity of people, deeply committed to their work – the members of specialized amateur film studios.

The aim of the research is to determine the role of specialized film studios in the city of Mykolaiv and Mykolaiv region in the development of industrial enterprises and the national economy as a whole; the peculiarity of this work is that this problem is being investigated for the first time.

The author points out that in the late 1950s and early 1960s, on the tide of the Thaw, society got the impetus to creativity, which promoted the opening of specialized film studios. Betterment of the specialized film studios activity in Mykolaiv Region took place in the 1970's – during the rapid development of industry in the city and in the country, when there was a need for new approaches to the training of workers and engineers, so the cinema became useful as a means of training of young experts. The author also traces how in the 1980s and early 1990s, in the period of aggravation of socio-political problems in society, the implementation of the goal of studio workers activity in creating a positive image of enterprises and popularizing the achievements of science, production, etc.; the author outlines the ways of improving the professionalism of studios.

While doing the preparatory work the author processed a large number of archival documents, films created by members of industrial film studios, interviewed the workers of specialized film studios, processed some documents from individual private archives, analyzed historical essays, and materials from periodicals.

The author uncovers the significant contribution of members of specialized amateur film studios in Mykolaiv Region to the organization of training of workers and engineers for industry, popularization of best production practices and achievements of scientific and technological progress; proves that films created by the specialized film studios of Mykolaiv city enlarged the fund of feature and educational films and were in demand in various branches of the national economy.