Hands of Hollywood (1929)

Sets The columns of massive and ornate sets are not made of marble or of heavy lumber. They are merely hollow frome work covered with beaver board. All kinds of heavy scroll work and carving are made from this material which, though easy to handle, has just enough body to keep its shape. Large, ornamental hinges for high gates or doors are cut from beaver board by the carpenters and tacked on for photographic effect, while the ordinary practical hinges are hidden from view. If the story calls for statues, certain kinds of pillars, etc., the orders for these are given to the superintendent of the staff shop, where they are modeled in plaster of Paris or clay. When the specifications for a brick or stone fireplace are marked "PRACTICAL," this means that a real fire is to be lighted. The bricklayers and plasters must build such fireplaces with real brick or cement and allow for the correct drafts and escapes. If a kitchen or bathroom set is marked "PRACTICAL," the plumbers get the necessary requisitions for sinks, bathtubs, etc., and they connect up the plumbing for these just as though they were doing the same kind of work for a real house. However, in those beautiful sunken bath sets of gorgeous veined marble, though the faucets are connected properly, the marble is nothing more than painted beaver board. Qualifications and Salaries The Stage Manager is in charge of all the stages in the studio. He designates the particular stage and the amount of space allowed for the building of sets for each picture. He also decides on what day sets already used are to be torn down and removed from the stages. He has a group of men working for him who do all the wrecking of sets. These men are called "grips." The qualifications are: A knowledge of blue prints, because from these he must estimate the amount of stage space necessary for each set; a general knowledge of photography, because he must allot the floor space for each set in such a way that the cameramen work [4»]