Moving Picture World (Jun 1919)

1794 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD June 21, 1919 of Labrador. The customs of the country, industry, and methods of transportation are shown in the picture. Atlanta's Prison Has Moving Picture Classes RAPF ANSWERS AUTHOR'S CONTENTIONS Says if Writers Study Film Needs, They Run no Risks of Having Works Mutilated by Producers THE state prison at Atlanta, Ga., has been conducting for the benefit of its inmates educational moving picture classes. Its final session occurred on May 23, when a fine program of moving pictures was given, including the Outing-Chester African hunt pictures, "Teddy Birds," "Ballahooing on the Anarika," "A Waswanipae Week End," "Rail Birds" and "A Jungle Joy Ride." An article on the subject which appeared in the June 1 issue of "Good Words," the prison newspaper, states "As an example of what can be done in the way of educational work with moving pictures, our Friday evening classes have given a wonderful example. No more desirable mental stimulus could be possible; and not a man who has attended the classes is without a more comprehensive idea of the world, its people, habits, dress and physical characteristics, than could have been obtained by many years' study of books. "It is notable that the demand upon the library, by men who have attended the classes, has been unusually heavy, for books of travel and history covering the countries shown in the pictures." Washington City Store Uses Film to Instruct Salesmen THE motion picture as an education aid in commerce is well recognized by one of the department stores in Washington, D. C. Lansburgh & Brother, one of the city's leading concerns, has for some time used motion picture films as part of its welfare work among the employes, and pictures showing the manufacture of various commodities have been exhibited, accompanied by descriptive talks by representatives of the manufacturers. It was recently brought to the attention of the firm that the employes' club room in the store was violating the District regulations regarding the exhibition of motion pictures by failing to have proper emergency exits. To instal the exits and meet with other regulations entailed the expenditure of considerable money, but so important are the motion pictures considered by the company that work on the necessary alterations was immediately started. Films an Aid to Education. Films are considered by the firm to be one of the country's foremost means of education. "We wish to show our people, from time to time, pictures of how all the different kinds of merchandise are made from raw materials to finished product," declared the head of the welfare department in speaking of the alterations. "The more salespeople know the better able they will be to serve intelligently and interestingly. All of us could get more satisfaction and more pleasure from our daily tasks if we knew more about them. And in these days of unlimited books and magazines and courses of all kinds, there is little excuse for our not knowing a great deal about the thing we depend upon for our weekly or monthly salary." HARRY RAPF, general manager of the Selznick studio, takes issue with certain authors who recently made scathing remarks on the silent drama in general and producers in particular. These authors said that film producers cannot expect the support of big authors when their works are hacked beyond recognition in their adaptation to the screen, and that the authors cannot be expected to write original scripts for the screen until they are paid in accordance with the time and effort they put into the scenario. "Nearly every piece of fiction written has to be considerably altered when adapted to the screen," says Mr. Rapf, "for the simple reason that it is fiction, and not real. Authors who write fiction are able by their clever style, working, and pen personality to cover up glaring inconsistencies and disguise illogical situations. When a story is presented in film form, however, it is stripped bare of all unreality and every situation must be logical and lifelike or else it will not be accepted by the picturegoing public. Situations, Not Words, Wanted. "The trouble with most novels and fiction is that they consist mostly of words, clever dialogue, description, etc. What we want for the screen are situations, not words. When the big authors can give us these they will find that their stories are not being 'hacked to pieces.' Evidence of this is in the fact that when an expert continuity writer creates a story, it reaches the screen in practically its original form. "Some novels that take up over 300 pages of reading matter have not enough real story matter and situation to make a two-reel film. Yet although I eila Burton Weil's short story, 'The Naked Truth,' from which the Eugene O'Brien production 'The Perfect Lover' is being made, consumed only a little over half a dozen pages as it was originally published, it is so rich in real human situations, dramatic moments, so full of story matter and plot, that it simply crams a five-reel picture to the brim with action and suspense, and that is what we want above all — action. Novels Bought for Single Idea. "Many novels are bought simply because they contain one idea that is considered of unusual value for a screen production and not because the entire plot of the story is of any importance. In these cases the story is naturally altered somewhat to meet screen requirements. "When authors say that producers will not pay them in accordance with the value of time and effort they put on an original scenario, I disagree with them," says Mr. Rapf. "I know that there is no limit to the amount that Myron Selznick will pay for a good scenario, and I believe that the same holds true with many other big producers. Facts show that the producers have been paying way up into the thousands to get the proper material. Authors Should Study Photoplays. "The trouble with the contrary authors is that they will not give the time to study photoplay construction and the demands of the producers. When they do write an original story for the screen it is not a photoplay, but mere fiction m scenario form. There is all the diference in the world between the two. Fiction in scenario form is no good to him producers because it has not enough real substance to make a five-reel photoplay. "Just as soon as the big authors send us in stories that are written according to photoplay demands and not in typical fiction style, they will find that motion picture producers will pay them as generously as anyone else, and perhaps more so," concluded Mr. Rapf. A Star in Her Own Right. One of the delightful debutantes seen in Outing-Chester's "Piking After Pizarro." General Electric Company Acquires Cooper Hewitt The General Electric Company, by the acquisition of all the common stock of the Cooper Hewitt Electric Company, has secured control of the latter. The Cooper Hewitt Electric Company, for the past sixteen years, has built up. an extensive business in industrial and photographic lighting. The company will be operated under the regulation and management of the General Electric Company, and W. A. D. Evans, who has been connected with the Cooper Hewitt Electric Company since its inception, will be in actual charge of the company as president and treasurer. H. R. Birge will be vice president; C. P. Hamilton, assistant treasurer; and E. E. Davies, secretary and auditor. The present policy of the company in its field of industrial and photographic lighting will be continued. Increased facilities will shortly be provided to take care of the increasing business.