The Moving Picture World (July 1907)

298 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD. The Moving Pictore Exhibitor s f and prairies. In the small yard of the factory on the Association. day of the visit was drooping a dreary, fagged, old, President Nicola Seraphine \ white horse > a P8 rooted near a P ile # lumber, and, Treasurer Herbert Miles within the studio of the factory were two white doves Secretary Chester Martin perched on the rim of a painted canvas boat. All these General Counsel Florence J. Sullivan were properties used in recent moving pictures. Office: 229 Broadway, New York. **"■ the ^^ "f *? ■gg £ ** ™™? P ictu « •Phone: 5058 Cortland. man ' ** J**™ h ^ * \Tw K * "^ , ¥ *r man smiled from a shelf. He had been mercilessly be- The moving picture men of Omaha, Neb., have caught headed because headless bod was needed in a ict the merger habit. Last week the men controlling some ^ . ,. , ■£.„. . , ... of these shows in the East got together and formed an Swords, policemen s bilhes, wine glasses, military caps, alliance for mutual protection and improvement, accord- yards and yards of blue chambray which had been used ing to their announcements. They say they will try to to represent waves, an improvised hour glass and a variety do away with the so-called immoral pictures and use only of heterogeneous articles that had been utilized from time clean and straightforward views. They will also resist .. . . . -.-lJa k*. _ ■'.« different official efforts to cancel their licenses without to * ime in va ™ us P» ctures were scattered **?**« «*»: just cause. If they can improve some of the moving and m the studio adjoining two men were busily flapping pictures they will not have organized in vain. paint brushes, making ready the exterior of a log cabin ■ to be used in some pictures the following day. How the Cinematographer WorKs. The moving picture story or play is made much after ■ - the fashion of any other story or play. Plots are some- Conthmed from page 231. times original, old and new stories from books or news- A ride on the Brighton Beach train brings one to a papers are often taken, but always the play is written out place as full of mystery and interest as the workshop of in detail for the benefit of the actors, and it is rehearsed a magician, says the Brooklyn Eagle. The moving pic- before it is presented to the camera, which is an audience ture man was at home when the visitor called the other so critical that every part must be just right to suit it day, very busy in his workshop, and inclined to frown Frequently dialogue is introduced into these picture plays, and look annoyed at an interruption, but he soon resigned so that the actors may understand just what gestures to himself with a show of grace to the inevitable and re- make use of and to get the right spirit. For the moving vealed some of the secrets of the pictures that keep us pictures regular actors are engaged and usually first- thrilled and wondering when we have a dash of them at class actors, because they must understand how to ex- the close of a vaudeville program. There were some press an emotion of. a happening perfectly with gestures things that the moving picture man would not reveal, and action. The actor must understand the trick thor- but merely skimmed over with wise nods of the head oughly, however, or he is no good for this purpose. The and vague hints, because he believes too great a knowl- actor who is too reposeful on the stage, and expresses his edge might rob the spectators of some of its keenness. meaning and feeling merely by the tones of his voice or The moving picture man combines within himself the in subtle movements, is utterly worthless for the moving gift of actor, stage director, playwright and property picture. Sometimes the actor who has risen no higher man and exercises the manifold duties of the combined than to scrub parts or the chorus can be made good use office in the making of moving pictures. He was on the of for the moving picture because of his great proneness stage for years and understands all the tricks- of the to gesture and motion. trade; having had a varied experience that is invaluable The actors have to rehearse under the eye of the di- to him in turning out picture comedies and tragedies rector and must understand their parts well before the to flash nightly before audiences. He has in the course camera is setr to work. They must crowd quick, fast of his career been billed in almost every kind of a play, action into a short space of time, so that every click of from Shakespeare to Bowery melodrama, and as the range the crank will count for something.., of picture plays he has to turn out is broad, every past While the moving picture play has the disadvantage experienc is an ally in his present work. He not only of lacking conversation, it has the advantage over the has to act in the plays for the camera to snap, but he must real play of being able to crowd a great many pictured direct and drill other actors, dash off a play if one be events into a small space of time. For instance, in 3 needed, collect the right properties and choose the out- play where, for lack of time, many happenings have to door settings where outdoor settings are needed. , be described only in conversation, the camera can picture In the moving picture factory is as varied a collection these events and make them more real. A well-known of costumes and properties and scenery as a big theatrical play that was worked over for a moving picture and in company carries, and scene painters are constantly at its new form is called "Retribution." It shows actually work making new canvasses for the picture dramas. The in pictures a murder and how it was planned, where 00 scrubby woods about the factory have to serve -many the stage that event, the consequences of which'form the purposes, from deep forest scenes, to Western gorges basis of the play, is merely referred to in the first act as