Screen Test
Contents |
Host
Michael Rodd (1969-78)
Brian Trueman (1979-83)
Mark Curry (1984)
Broadcast
BBC, 1969-84
Synopsis
An observation-based quiz for schoolchildren. In early series, four kids (usually two boys and two girls, and nearly always in school uniform) would watch a film-clip, then the presenter would ask each of them in turn a question about the visual or verbal content. If they answered incorrectly, one of their opponents could buzz in for a bonus point. This would continue for several rounds, then the final round was on the buzzer, with points being lost for incorrect answers. The winners would come back in semi-finals, with a chance to get into the grand final. The overall prize was, in some series at least, a video camera.
In the final series, hosted by Mark Curry, the set changed from desks to open chairs for both host and contestants, and there were now two teams of three contestants, competing on behalf of their home county. Only the four highest-scoring teams made it through to the semi-finals, and the overall winners went on to play a team from 'Grange Hill'.
There was also a 'Young Film-Makers' competition for viewers. The prize for that was a trophy.
Key moments
Trueman would sometimes visit the homes of the finallists for Film-maker of the Year. No doubt to check up that they weren't sending in a clip of Wallace and Gromit, or something.
The huge white flippy-flappy scoreboards under the desks, shot in Krypton Factor-style side-on perspective.
Trivia
1980 winner of Young Filmmaker of the Year, Jan Pinkava, went on to win an Oscar for an animated short in 1997.
Theme music
Marching There and Back by Syd Dale
