Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Apr-Sep 1918)

: | THE CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST. ar Page Five \ That Sales-less Salesmen Question By Mark Gokiman, Manager of the Seattle Bee-Hive ' Exchange.: 1 read with a great deal of interest Mr. John W. Semler’s article entitled ‘“*Truth Sells Pietures.’’ It is really surprising that this subject has not come up before, and in my opinion Mr. Scmler should be given a vote of thanks not only by real film salesmen, but by hundreds of other salesmen in other lines of business, who perhaps have or do have an ambition to enter the motion picture industry. A copy of ‘‘Truth Sells Pictures’’ should be mailed to every sales manag: e. in the motion picture business. The article struck me so foreibly that I am really writing from an experience which happened the first time I tried to enter into a business in which I saw a great future. T had been a successful salesman and manager of a large sales promotion company and had to my credit eight years of success in my particular line of business. The disappointments and trouble I met in entering the picture business would have disgusted the averege man, and he would have willingly have turned his endeavors to most any other line of business. Upon entering the office of a manager of the motion picture industry, invariably the first question that will be put to you is ‘‘Have you ever had film experience?’’ and questions along those lines, and naturally a fellow would have to reply in the negative. No matter what suecess you may have acquired in other lines as‘a salesman and what ability you may have seems to be of no consequence. The mere fact that you are not ‘conversant with the film industry seems to preclude the possibility of your ever entering this field and proving a success. The sooner the film industry recognizes the fact that film salesmen can be made if the man has the material in him to work with, just the sooner will we rid ourselves of the ‘‘rolling stone’’ variety. The usual remark nowadays when a salesman enters an office of an exhibitor is, ‘‘ Well, what line of features are you selling this week—what concern are you working with now?’’ ete. Comnion sense would tell you that there is no confidence to be placed in a man who is changing his position every two or three months, yet in the past and even now this seems to be the kind of a man the film people want. [ ask in all sincerity, where is there another industry that changes salesmen as often as the film business? What fhis business needs is more sincerity. Film corporations need to get the material in a man, work with it, bring it out, train him to know his own goods: Keep the motto, ‘‘Know Your Own Goods’’ before him constantly. Train him to do business in such a way that’you will feel reasonably sure that your salesman can always go back over his territory and secure future bookings. ; If the men at the head of these organizations would let a little new blood in and absorb some of the ideas of / y Google energetic bright young men they would prove more beneficial than sticking and adhering to the old worn. routine. Never send a salesman away that has ambitions without hearing what he has tu say and his general idea of things. The fellow may have some wonderful ideas that you probably would have thought about had you not been so absorbed in other lines of work: yet this fellow’s ideas may make you money, don’t think him a fool because he has an idea—find out what it is and act on it if it will prove to your advantage to do so.—From Motion Picture News. Experience Counts The Made-Over-Night Star Has About Vanished By Claire DuBrey. The time of the made-over-night star has about vanished and the day of the artist with real ability has arrived. As a matter of fact, very few of the young people who have been forced on the public for their good looks and beauty alone have survived long. Look down the list of real stars and the truth of this is apparent. Mary Pickford, Blanche Sweet and the Gish girls worked hard with the biograph before they were really recognized; Earl Williams, Jack Kerrigan, Charles Ray, Harold Lockwood, Mary Miles Minter, Louise Glaum, Ethel Clayton and numerous others all work| ed themselves up to stardom, and most of these preceded their sereen careers by speaking stage experience. Some with true genius have burst suddenly on the public, as evidence Fairbanks and Chaplin, but they served their apprenticeship on the boards ‘before essaying pictures. Against these there is a long list of young people that manufacturing companies have tried to advertise and boost into popular favor, at one time with some success, but nearly every one of them has suffered eclipse. With growing discernment on the part of the movie fans, the demand for better stories and capable characterizations and acting came and now each company has its casting director and the supporting artists are chosen with great care. In the earlier days it was possible for an actor, by skilful make-up, to take from two to four parts in every picture, but the public has become critical and appropriate characters and types are now selected. ‘ One has to possess acting ability to obtain parts these days and it is be coming harder than ever to ‘‘ break into the game.’’ Good supporting actors and actresses draw down bigger salaries than of yore, while the boys and girls who were employed for their looks alone have had to seek other occupations, a process of elimination has been going on which has been for the betterment of pictures, and many a mediocre story has been made interesting by reason of good direction and fine acting. Yesterday was yesterday, morrow is opportunity. but to NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY Sheriff Seizes Bunch of Film Quantity of “Birth of Race” Picture Tied up in Chicago Chicago.—A deputy sheriff has seized 32,009 feet of film belonging to ‘‘The Birth of a Race’’ film company, which was stored at the Rothacker Film Company June 21, on an attachment brought py S. A. Kellar, an Alaskan miner, who is said to have invested $8,750 in ‘the stock of the corporation. : “«The Birth of a Race’’ concern has been in the public eye for some time because of complaints of stockholders. It is supposed to be a $1,000,000 production, ‘but while many thousands of dollars have been collected on the stock, the film has not been completed. At the offices of Cory & Co.,, National Life building, notices were be-: ‘ing sent out addressed to stockholders that ‘‘The Birth of a Race’’ would be shown in Chicago in September, about the same time the sheriff was seizing the film. The 32,000 feet of celluloid were placed in a vault at the Rothacker plant and sealed subject to the order of the court. A preliminary motion in the case took place before Judge Cooper on Saturday. . RB. F. Cory, of Giles P. Cory & Co., fiscal agents for ‘‘The Birth. of a Race,’* professed to be surprised when asked about the attachment. Giles P. Cory, who last April pleaded guilty to selling ‘‘Birth’’ stock because of its not being listed under the ‘‘blue sky’’ law and was fined $1,000, is on his farm in Virginia——From Wids Daily. G. A. Margetts is the New President Universal Manager Now Heads Exchangemen’s Association in St. John (Special to The Digest.) St. John, N.B., July 6.—There has been a number of changes in the Exchangemen’s Association here. Mr. G. A. Margetts, branch manager of theUniversal in St. John, has been appointed president, the former president, Mr. H. H. MeArthur, retiring. Mr. R. G. Marsh has been made vice-president in the place of Mr. Margetts. The \secretary, Mr. Romney, retains his same position, and there has been no other changes made. ; ‘ The association, since it has been inaugurated, has accomplished much good for the industry in the Maritimes, and things are running along very smoothly. The association has officers who are working hard to weld the organization into a live and alert body. Exhibitors, are you going to co-operate with The Digest and give the Canadian exhibitor body a real service department in ‘‘Exhibitors’ Film Reports’’? Tell us what you think of your film offerings. | We’ll publish it. Original from