Modern photoplay writing, its craftsmanship; a manual demonstrating the structural and dramatic principles of the new art as paracticed by the modern photoplaywright (1922)

8 Modern Photoplay Writing — Its Craftsmanship principles will shorten the way to success. While no one manual can present the subject in its entirety, he has endeavored to give the aspirant all that seems demanded in the practice of his art. The author has often wondered why no chairs of photoplay writing have been permanently established in the dramatic departments of our leading universities; why at least a few of the greater ones — Harvard, Columbia, Chicago — have not recognized the obligation. Certainly the art has come to a pass where the consideration of educational facilities for our young men and women of ability — even genius — can no longer be ignored. Much promising material would in no other way be discovered than by the encourage- ment of our educational institutions. It has been the aim of the author to adapt this book to college use by a graded series of exercises, beginning with analysis and proceeding to creative writing. These have been only in part based on the synopses and continuity printed in the book. Judicious substitution may be employed in the subject-matter of these exercises without impair- ing their effectiveness. This book is frankly intended for the intelligent aspirant with latent ability. The psychological tests of Chapter 1 are intended to reveal to the incompetents the extent of their inability, or, at least, to raise a serious doubt of their capacity to succeed. They are aimed to prevent, if possible, wasted time and effort in an art unpromising to those who want for dramatic talent. Effort has been made to acknowledge the sources from which, in a work of this kind, much of the