Hollywood Filmograph (Jan-Jul 1930)

mamsm" 10 March 15, 1930 Ben Hirschfield Gives Us 'Agent's Ten Commandments' Bert Glennon Signed By Columbia For Long Term Tells Most Constructive Ideas Gained by Years of Experience EDITOR'S NOTE— With the producers figuring on giving the agents franchises to operate and the agents not feeling so satisfied with what the future would hold in store for them, did this happen. We ran into Ben Hirchfield, who seems neutral in the present situation, and we herewith print his version for what it is worth to both producer and agent. A CREED FOR AGENTS CONFIDENCE IS THE BASIS OF ALL BUSINESS The position of the personal representative in the motion picture industry should be based upon confidence, both with the people he represents and the producer, it being admitted that correct personal representation can prove of great benefit to both parties. Arbitration, equalization, adjustments, accommodations, availability, promptness, decorum, performances, references, tests, contracts, costuming, general information, starting date, billing arrangement, correct publicity, and other things fall into the jurisdiction of the personal representative, who should act as a cool, responsible, logical, middleman. The motion picture industry belongs to the category of arts, and where there is art, there is always temperament. Therefore, the correct attitude on the part of a representative should be as soothing as oil to the gears. After a representative has conducted his business over a period of years, and established a reputation for fairness in his transactions, a respect of studio organization, and a responsibility and sincerity of duty in his work, there can never be a question of a doubt as to the value of his capacity. I would say 'that for the personal representative, the following would be a good creed or ten commandments: 1. That I will regard the courtesy bestowed upon me by the producer as sacred and do everything in my power to justify his confidence and reward him with an honest service. ^SISING OFFgL liaty&GtstinrHiotos Copies of your favorite pose on post cards. Approved by Casting Directors and Fans. Hcomtniad & Efficient I 'Mail us your photoMW and^.Mof \19°CQD.^48 Hour Service. also 15 8X10 PROF. COPIES IS 4 EACH. 100 8X10 PROF. COPIES 12/EACH. Plus ISt for Negitive-Dep. of Ms with order. ISOLHWDOD Publicity BUREAU 1134 W. PICO ST. LOS ANCELES CALIF. WE.I687 2. That I will aid and not injure the existence and future of any artist that places himself under my management. 3. That I will transact my business in the studio as quickly and quietly as possible and accept as my property only such remarks as are directly addressed to me, never eavesdropping or "tuning in." 4. That my business and the business of my players is nobody else's business, -and that I will treat it as such. 5. That the casting director and other department heads of a studio have a duty to fulfill, and are there to function, and that until such a time as they have proven that they refuse to offer the same intelligent and correct attention as I, I shall deal with them in the manner that their office demands, and that the studio intends. 6. That I will be available during all business hours to both parties, and after business hours just as available through my residence. 7. That I will speak no ill of anyone, being particularly careful not to misinform anyone regarding the character, availability, or salary of any player outside of my own jurisdiction, and that if I can say no good, I will forever hold my peace. 8. That it will be my creed to radiate optimism and to, in every way possible, stop idle gossip 'detrimental to the industry of which I am a part, and bend every effort that the outside world may feel that motion pictures and those associated in their making, are decent and honorable human beings. 9. That I will encourage in my attitude and in my conversation, a respect for organization, a pride of citizenship, and honor the country through whose policies and benefits this industry is enabled to exist. 10. That I will be loyal yet courageous; honest and businesslike; prompt and willing; helpful in my suggestions; sincere in my appointments. I believe that if a representative sincerely has this doctrine in his heart, he need fear no jurisdiction and that he is necessarily a benefit. This is not a creed that can be adopted and carried out by an unintelligent or insincere person, and if you are big enough to live up to this standard, then you are big enough to be responsible for your actions. i 1 i OPENS SOON George Olsen is soon to open the Plantation Cafe in Culver City, where he will be located with his boys as well as be in complete charge of the amusement emporium. AGENTS MUST BEHAVE OR GET OUT OF BUSINESS (Continued from Page l) chisel a job away from another man and the methods that they used can readily be read between the lines of the following insert of a copy of the telegram: TELEGRAM Los Angeles, Calif. With reference to our conversation Saturday please ask Douglas Fairbanks about , who claims to have been Fairbanks' fencing master. Fairbanks will tell you was his chauffeur. To uphold your fine standard of technical perfection in the , you should have fencing master, who was associated with Barrymore in whose publicity we have been doing, like , is a member of our association and is authentic. Signed: Every legitimate agent and personal representative in Hollywood has come through 100 per cent in favor of Hollywood Filmograph's fight to clean out the grafters and unlicensed men in their chosen calling. There isn't a single day passes that we haven't received either a personal call or a pat on the back while wc walk the studio lots, for the protection wre are demanding for both actors and agents inside of the film industry. Every actor that we have sent to Fred W. Beetson and the Producers Association who had a legitimate complaint against petty and otherwise unfair methods of the different agencies and associations now operating, has received immediate attention, and action; and the present committee that is in session is not leaving a single stone unturned to find the guilty parties so that they can be dealt with accordingly. Complaints have been filed with the Labor Bureau and Prosecuting Attorney's office of irregularies in the agency and personal representative business, and it is just a matter of time when the fight of Hollywood Filmograph will once more put out of business the eas3'-money brigade, just as we did when we started and won our fight against fake movie schools which forced out of Hollywood the worst kind of a "Come On" that was ever concocted. They did everything to fleece the innocent people of this community who wanted to break into pictures. This time it is the seasoned actors and actresses, along with the writers, directors and song writers, who have come out here from the East, those who have been here being wise to the clan and have fallen for them only in a small way. Producers View His First Week's Work; Decide on Contract When Bert Glennon finished his contract with RKO he joined the free-lance field of directors. The first company to engage Director Glennon was Columbia Pictures and they assigned him to the George Sidney -Charlie Murray feature 'Around the Corner" and the manner in which Bert handled his first week's work on the picture, caused Harry Cohn head of that organization out here to sign the director to a long-term contract. According to the new agreement. Bert Glennon is to make eight pictures for the company. This will, according to the time that they are spending on their products at the present time, keep him going for some time, as Columbia Pictures Corporation have been making a better grade of pictures, and spending more money on their products than any time during their producing career. i i i SOME CAST Alfred E. Green, according to Darryl Zanuck, associate executive of Warner Brothers' studio, has a very fine cast for "Sweet Kitty Bellairs." Some of the latest additions to the cast are Tom Ricketts, Flora Finch, Christiane Yves, Tina Marshall, Albert Hart and George Northover. The principals are Perry Askam, Walter Pidgeon, Claudia Dell and June Collyer. ■f i i STARTED AS A SONG WRITER; NOW WRITES FUNNIES FOR "VITA" Herman Ruby came out to the West Coast three months ago as a song writer, with a rep on Broadway. Hollywood accepted him fine and dandy, so did Warner Brothers, who employed him. But Herman had a better idea in back of his head. He made up his mind that writing songs was a good enough racket, but to be able to write humorous stories for the screen was still better. Hence he asked for permission to shift his activities to the Vitaphone shorts, and, according to all records, he has twelve fun-films to his credit, and last Monday another short, "Cry Baby," starring Bobby Vernon, with Del Lord directing, got under way. Of course all this wouldn't have been possible had it not been that Bryan Foy, in charge of that department, saw the very same angle and future for his former song writer colleague, for Bryan himself used to write songs that proved real hits, too.