The theatre of science; a volume of progress and achievement in the motion picture industry (1914)

After six months of notable achievement, Ince observed that the different factions in the film world were fighting among themselves. As he himself put it, "when thieves fall out, honest men come into their own." Both sides wanted the man who had shown a remarkable genius as a director. That Ince also was not lacking in business acumen is best indicated by the arrangements he entered into during the aforesaid warfare. Instead of a salary, Ince was given a 50 per cent, interest in the company, and was elected Vice-President and General Manager. Now he has under his direction close to 400 persons. The company controls 20,000 acres of land leased for motion-picture purposes, and he now directs his operations from the filmtown known as Inceville-by-the-Sea, in Santa Monica Canyon, California. Here is turned out every week 10,000 feet of finished product. The pay roll is $15,000 a week. They have their ov/n electric light plant, private telephone system, raise their own cattle and have a fine truck garden— an industrial village, in fact. Ince has started to make the big features he has been dreaming about for a long time and has incorporated a company in which his own name alone is featured. Thus we have, as far as it has developed, the career of a man who began directing photoplays at a weekly salary of $60. Mr. Ince reluctantly admits that his annual income is now close to $100,000. I quote him here verbatim: "I am afraid, Mr. Grau, you will think this is rather inflated. Perhaps you had better not publish the figures. I tried to answer your question truthfully. "I think my rapid rise should provide incentive for others. There will always be great opportunities for