Basic Computer Terms (1976)

Director	Sheldon Renan
Producer	Pyramid Films; executive producer, David Adams.
Contributors
Length	16 min
B&W/Color	color
UO Library Catalog description:	Introduces the world of computers, using comedy to lead the audience through the process, its basic terms and working parts.
Call #	FILM Mb224
Genre	instructional
Rare	no
Online	no
Copyright status	public domain
Physical condition	good
Oregon-related	no

Notes:

“Sure,’ said Jane. ‘Here’s one of the most common input devices: the card reader.'” Mix of animation and live-action; the film is exactly what you’d expect (the key to explaining computers to dubious businesspeople is a no-nonsense pretty lady, some jokes about “bugs,” reassurance that the computer “does exactly what you tell it to,” and a narrator with a broad New York accent). Apparently it worked. Some great shots of banks of LEDs, massive cake-shaped discs, etc. Renan produced I Am Joe’s Eye and other 70s and 80s educational and industrial films. He has been everywhere and done everything related to film archiving, film history and media branding, provided all the Sheldon Renans 1941-  (none of whom I can directly link to this film) I’m finding online are the same guy. If so, he has had a remarkable career of which Basic Computer Terms is hardly representative.