Hands of Hollywood (1929)

Hands of Hollywood $50.00 per scene. (If they are famous prizefighters they receive sums commensurate with their fame.) Duelists, usually fencing masters, sometimes act in pictures, but as a general rule they are hired to train and direct the actors in dueling scenes. They receive from $15.00 to $50.00 per day. Many kinds of animals, fowl, snakes, etc., are used in pictures. Trained animals, especially horses and dogs, earn large salaries for their owners or trainers. Universal Studio maintains its own zoo, barnyards and stables, but most studios rent their animals by the day or week. The owners receive from $10.00 per day to $1000.00 per week for the services of their pets. CASTING Every studio has a casting department. Through this department the casting director and his assistant hire the cast for every picture. The Casting Director keeps on file several photographs of every actor and actress and all data concerning them, such as age, nationality, height, weight, complexion, color of eyes and hair, type of figure, quality of voice recording, and accomplishments such as ability to ride, dance, sing, play various musical instruments, fence, swim, perform athletic stunts, etc. He also keeps photographs and records of animals, birds, etc. Before casting a picture, the casting director reads the script of the story. He studies the requirements of the various roles and then decides upon several possible players for each role. He interviews these players, makes salary arrangements, and sometimes signs con' tracts. Contracts are of two kinds: long term and individual picture contracts. The choice of players for very important roles usually is made by the director, supervisor or producer. The casting director, in such cases, merely arranges the details of employment. The qualifications are : knowledge of the talents of all actors and actresses; ability to learn at a moment's notice what players are avail' able; knowledge of the players' salaries and of their past records as [78]