Cinema News and Property Gazette (1913)

Fbbri \kv 5, 1913. Till. CINEMA. 37 Acting in His Own Play. In American Company's production, 'The Starbucks," the writer of this silent dramatised novel enacts tin par) <>i <ine ol the leading characters. This is rather unique lor .111 author to appear in his own silent play, hut he alone ran enthuse the lite in his part as it existed in his own brain. Mr. Opic Read's acting Calls for cx1 eptional praise. Universal Change Their Methods. Since writing the requirements of the Universal Film Manufacturing Co. in last week's issue an important development has taken place. Universal have reorganised their scenario departments, both at their New York and l'acitic Coast < >ffi Instead of these departments being operated under one head they will be conducted undei separate management. They are adding to their present staff of scenario editors and re-write men, and the number of persons that will be occupied in the work of correcting, reading, and editing scripts will total nearly double the number they possess now. A graduated scale of prices will be paid, according to the value of a scenario. Whenever some scripts necessitate a great amount of re-writing and editing work, the figures paid for such will, of course, not be so high as those that require little alteration. All suitable scenarios will be submitted to the directors of the different companies connected with the Universal after passing first approval. Universal ask for scripts from all sources. ANSWERS TO CORRESPOND EXTS. Mr. T. C. Vernon sends a letter, and wishes to know whether any of the conferences at the International Kinematograph Exhibition will touch upon the scenario writing side of film production. In reply to Mr. Vernon it may interest this gentleman and all other photo-play writers to know that I have been in communication with Mr. Ernest Schofield, the organising secretary, on the subject of organising a cornion in connection with The Cinema, for just on three weeks now. Mr. Schofield is in hearty concordance with my suggestion, and as soon as the essential arrangements can be completed you may rest assured that full particulars of the contest will appear in the pages of this journal exclusively. ENGLISH WILD LIFE C1NEMATOGRAPHER. UNIFORMS. Uniforms from 13 each The Best and Cheapest House in the Trade. Send for Finest Coloured List ever yet published. THE UNIFORM CLOTHING & EQUIPMENT COMPANY S, Clerkenwell Green, London, E.C. FEATURE FILMS. The Cheapest House in the Trade. CROSS'S PICTURES, LTD., I & 2, RUPERT COURT, LONDON, W. Phone: 9844 Gerrard Three months ol patient work ivenl to the making oi .1 1 inematograph film ol a fox in its native haunt which a private view was given at the offices ol the Flying A. American Film Company, Limited, in War dour-Streel last week. One sees three wild rabbits playing among bracken; then tin fox appears, sialks them lor a while, and afterwards pounces on his pre\. Mr. Frank New man, who photographed this phase ol English wild life in Hertfordshire, asked how it was (I m< , said : " We built a soil ol hut ot bracken by the fox's (hn, and in order that he should !><■ >i to the whirr of the cinematograph ■ amera a clockwork arrangement which mad* the same noise was fixed there. When all was ready three wild rabbits were released on the spot, and the photographs were taken on the fox's return. Altogether we were three months making the preparations and taking the film." Certainlj it is given t;> tew people to see a fox in its wild state at such (lose quarters. Other films taken by Mr. Newman and published by the American Company include nature studies ol fish, lizards, and newts feeding. BEETLES AS COMEDY ACTORS. It is claimed b) Professor Lozshki, of Moscow, that he has proved that acquired characteristics can be transmitted, at least among certain insects which he has trained and studied for many yens. He bell alter thirty years of patient experimenting with flies, ants, beetles, frogs, and grasshoppers, that he has been able to imbue them with a measure ot underStanding sufficient to enable them to ena< t a comedy lor the cinema film. Such a performance was witn< by a representative at the rooms of the American and Continental Film Company. Under the title ol "The Beeth 's Deception," beetles, dragon-flies, and a daddy-long-legs were the dramatis persona in a long love story. In 1881 the professor began his experiments with beetles, and he has since watched and educated 453 generations of them. He claims thai their intelligence has increased with each succeeding generation, and thus acquired characteristics can be transmitted. Hi experience with ants was les> happy. " I tound them st) obstinate and sell-willed," he says, "the result, doubtless, of their highly developed brain-power, as to be unteachable. " " In some ol the grasshoppers the musical s: nsi developed so much that, on playing a pathetic pi< music, it is easy to see they are deeply affected ! G hoppers are most emotional, for one little fellow was so sensitive that on hearing " Everybody's doing it" he was taken seriously ill and died !