A History of Paint | Shell Historical Film Archive

Paint has responded to a changing world since its earliest beginnings and now plays a crucial role in protection as well as decoration. This documentary uses archive footage to illustrate the evolution of paint's fabrication and usage from the stone age to modern day.
For more information about Shell’s Historic Film Archive please contact: [e-mail]
#Shell #ShellFilmUnit #HistoricFilmArchive #Documentary #History #Paint #Colour #Color #Art
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Shell’s surprising and captivating Historic Film Archive dates from 1934 and covers a rich mix of topics from technology, science and engineering to craftsmanship, motorsport and travelogue.
The Shell Film Unit, responsible for the content, was a highly celebrated part of Britain’s Documentary Movement. Key figures from that movement were involved, including: Jack Beddington, Edgar Anstey, Arthur Elton, John Grierson, Kay Mander, Stuart Legg and Douglas Gordon.
Its films were wide reaching, often screened in cinemas and through the non-theatric film distribution circuit, which brought film to educational establishments and organisations across the UK. While many films covered technological themes related to Shell’s activities, others were entirely unrelated and served purely to educate the general public.
As Shell innovated in technologies that would provide oil and gas products for the world, the Shell Film Unit also innovated in the technological advancement of film, incorporating graphics and different forms of animation as early as the 1930s.
During WW2 the Shell Film Unit was co-opted into war effort, making films for the Ministry of Information’s film division. Its prowess in technological documentary suited the MoI’s need for technical training films.
While the name and the medium has changed many times over the years, the documentary tradition lives on at Shell. Its contemporary film team is part of Shell’s multi-disciplinary in-house agency, Creative Solutions. It continues making award-winning factual content that informs and educates the public, now usually released on social media platforms.

[@shell]

If you enjoyed this video, please check out the full 'Shell Film Unit - Historic Archive' playlist, where you'll find lots more gems!
ua-cam.com/play/PLEPIVJVCFQH2hoYONdHiQlVrvYQ-k4Xay.html

[@sayhisnamewhickerfjb]

I have always been amazed, and impressed, that 30,000 years ago somebody took the time to paint in caves etc. I always assumed they spent 24/7 hunting, preparing the meat, eating and sleeping. Short life spans and just constantly trying to stay alive but yet found time to paint. Thank goodness they did though!

[@SailingCartagena]

Such a well produced, informative and creative film. One area missed was the chemically produced colour dye revolution of the 19th century, in particular the discovery of purple dye and the effect upon society.

[@artyzinn7725]

these are magnificiently produced, directed and filmed, I was expecting some propangandoc level film common in USA industry films, but they are quite factual and at most, sutble, look like the makers eventually did or the style copied, by the early docs of the BBC, such as Kenneth Clarks Civilization .. subscribed!

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

Please. A bigger profile picture on your UA-cam channel and others places too. It is too small your logo. It is very nice.

[@mitchelldakelman7006]

The 16mm print I have is the American version, narrated by Joe Julian. A very creative film.

[@michellecalling]

What year is this film?

[@DanTheGran69]

1967 if the thumbnail is correct.

[@michaelstarr4837]

Am I correct in thinking that this film was used as a test film before BBC 2 started up properly. I seem to remember watching it as a child in the late 1960's. It was regularly screened during the day with other films.

[@falaise6077]

Yes it was, I remember many of them. Crown of Glass, on this channel, was one. My favourite was the one about the chap who restored an old car and stole a flash guy's girlfriend

[@michaelstarr4837]

Thank you for letting me know. I can also remember a film about a day at a garage. I think it was situated in a hot country somewhere ??

[@lathejack]

@@michaelstarr4837 "Giuseppina" is the Esso film about a day at a garage, it was filmed in Italy in 1959, although it looks more like the late 1960's.
These short Esso colour films were known as Trade Test Colour Films, and were made in the early period of colour TV to aid setting them up, like the old Test Card.
They were repeated many times up to the early 1970's. Others Esso made were The Home Made Car, Prospect For Plastics and How The Motor Car Engine Works, plus many more.
If you type Trade Test Colour Films into UA-cam they will all come up.

[@lathejack]

" Giuseppina" is the film about a day at a small garage, it was filmed in Italy. It was made in 1959, although it looks a bit more like the late 1960's to me.
These short colour films by Shell were known as Trade Test Colour Films, they were produced in the early period of colour TV to aid setting them up, just like the old colour Test Card.
They were repeated many times up to the early 1970's.
Other She'll films include The Home Made Car, How The Motorcar Engine Works, Prospect For Plastics and Evoluon plus many others.
If you type Trade Test Colour Films into UA-cam they will all come up.