Motion Picture Classic (Jan-Dec 1916)

CLASSIC A Novel “Dont Shoot” Motion Picture Flag By ALBERT MARPLE The cloudy weather that was experienced in Southern California during the past winter brought out at least one novel idea, that being in the “Dont Shoot” flag seen in the accompanying illustration. More cloudy and really unsatisfactory weather was experienced in Southern California this winter than ever before. Time and time again the immense forces of the various picture companies were compelled to stand practically idle. In connection with most of the companies electric studios have been provided, and on bad days these electric studios were used. Then, even, not more than half of any of the companies were able to work. Very often picture-taking was attempted, but, almost as often, the resulting pictures proved to be unsatisfactory for distribution. It was for the purpose of regulating outdoor picture-taking under unfavorable lighting conditions that this flag was created. It is located at Universal City, and is near the office of the head photographer of that city. Whenever the light was not good enough for picture-taking, Lee Bartholomew, the city’s head photographer, would run up the “Dont Shoot” flag. The pole was of such a height that the flag could be seen from any point in the city. When the light became satisfactory, the flag was lowered. All the camera men had to do was to keep their eyes on the flag. (Seventy-three) This Canoe Brings a Summer Full of Fun If you want to know what pleasure canoeing is— get an “Old Town.” $30 up will buy an “Old ~ n Canoe” and you can’t beat it at any price. It’s safe, gracetul and easy to paddle ; wor/t or absorb water. 4000 “Old Town Canoes” ready. Easy to buy from dealer or factory. Send for catalog of canoe views and facts. OLD TOWN CANOE CO., 1573 Main Street. Old Town, Maine, U. S. A. '®ld olbivn Ca/wei CAN YOU WRITE PLAYS THAT SELL? The Photoplay Clearing House Acts as Advisor, Friend and Agent in Setting You on the Right Road to Successful Scenario Writing Established for nearly three years, with a record of hundreds of sales, over 15,000 manuscripts reviewed, criticized and placed upon the market, the Photoplay Clearing House has become the one authoritative and reliable agent for the handling of authors’ product in the Moving Picture industry. We have received over 5,000 testimonial letters; we are under the supervision of the Motion Picture Magazine ; our business is in intimate personal touch with all of the leading photoplay manufacturers, and our staff of editors, who personally pass upon all material, consists of the following well-known photoplaywrights: Edwin M. La Roche, Henry Albert Phillips, L. Case Russell, William Lord Wright, Courtney Ryley Cooper, Dorothy Donnell, T. H. Chesnut, Gladys Hall and others. In order to qualify for our reading staff of editors, it is necessary that an editor be a successful scenario writer, a fair and able critic, and a good judge of market conditions and values. The Photoplay Clearing House was established to aid and counsel authors and to sell their wares. We believe we have given more definite help to the discouraged, have furnished more practical criticism, and have sold more photoplays at a higher price than all other similar institutions combined. We tell you: How to Go About It, Where to Market Your Product, How to Revise and Cure Its Weak Points, The Kind of Photoplays Wanted, and a hundred other derails of making and selling a finished scenario. Market conditions are changing almost daily, and it is a difficult matter for the free-lance writer to keep constantly in touch with the current demands of the studios. Every day we receive by phone, letter or telegram some communication from at least one studio (mostly several) asking us for some particular type of story, advising us of a change in policy or notifying us of some condition important in the marketing of photoplays. The fee we exact is nominal in consideration of the service rendered, and in most cases we expend more in postage in sending scripts out than we receive from the author. We can safely state that we have been the stepping-stone into the studio for a great number of writers who otherwise would never have sold their product. We want to impress upon you these two things: we cannot guarantee a sale, because if we did it would be base misrepresentation on our part. We work with, and for, the author. The other thing is, that out of approximately 10,000 clients about 2 per cent, have been dissatisfied with our service, but the other 98 per cent, are staunch supporters of this organization. If we pleased everybody we would be too good for this earth. THE FOLLOWING LETTERS ARE PICKED AT RANDOM FROM A FILE OF OVER 5,000: Photoplay Clearing House: Dear Sirs — We enclose check for $35.00 in full payment for your Moving Picture scenario entitled “The Half Eagles.” Kindly have two persons witness your signature after executing the enclosed assignment and return it to us promptly in the enclosed addressed and stamped envelope. Yours very truly, BIOGRAPH COMPANY. Photoplay Clearing House: Gentlemen — Please have the author of “The Opening of the Door” sign the enclosed release slip and return same to us, if our offer of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) is satisfactory to him. Very truly yours, J. E. BRADY, Mgr. Manuscript Dept. Per A. G. Photoplay Clearing House: . Gentlemen — Enclosed please find check for $-o.00 for scenario. “The Psychic Law.” Kindly have the enclosed assignment properly signed and return to us at once. Yours very truly, GAUMONT COMPANY, By M. L. A., Scenario Dept. Photoplay Clearing House: Dear Sirs — Your appreciated letter of the 3d inst. has arrived, together with the waivers of my photoplay, “When It Strikes Home.” which you have sold. I am herewith enclosing the waivers signed and properly witnessed. In regard to your end of the arrangement, I wish to say that you have made no promises that you have not lived up to. In view of this I take great pleasure in offering you wy sincere thanks. With best wishes for your concern, I remain, Very truly yours, ROBERT CARL SCHIMMEL. 60 Thayer Hall, Harvard, Cambridge, Mass. And so on thru a long list of pleased patrons and studios, which we will announce as space permits. THE PLAN OF THE PHOTOPLAY CLEARING HOUSE. We are intimately connected with the Motion Picture business and in close touch with the manufacturers. We are advised of all their advance releases, their requirements and the kind of scripts they want. As suitable ones come to us, in salable shape, they are immediately sent to the proper studio. No stale, imperfect or copied plots are submitted. All photoplaywrights are invited to send their Plays to this company, advising as to what manufacturers they have been previously submitted, if any. Every Play will be treated thus: It will be read by competent readers, numbered, classified and filed. If it is. in our opinion, in perfect condition, we shall at once proceed to market it, and, when we are paid for it, we will pay the writer 90% of the amount we receive, less postage expended. If the Scenario is not in marketable shape, we will so advise the author, stating our objections, offering to re^rn it at once for his correction, or to revise, typewrite and try to market it. IF THE MANUSCRIPT IS HOPELESS, WE SHALL SO STATE, and in some cases advise a course of instruction, naming various books, experts and reliable teachers to select from. Fee for reading, criticism and filing, $1.00 (multiple reels, $1.00 per / reel), but to readers of the MOTION PICTURE CLASSIC It / mi • pnllnnn will be only 50c., provided the annexed Coupon accompanies each script; S coupon is for multiple reels, 50c. per reel. For typewriting, a charge of $1.00 for / good for 50 cents, each Play will be made provided it does not run over 10 pages. 10c. / When accomnanied a page for extra pages. The fee for revising will vary according / yvnen dcoompciniea to work required, and will be arranged in advance. No Scenarios / witn 50 cents more it wilt be placed by us unless they are Pr°Perly typewritten. Pay / will entitle holder to list ment in advance is expected in all cases. RETURN POST / . . . . AGE SHOULD BE INCLUDED, and foreign contributors / 1 Single-reel scenario With should allow for U.S. exchange. Enclose P.O. order, stamps, / the Photoplay ClearingHouse. checks, or money with manuscripts. 1c. stamps accepted. S / PHOTOPLAY CLEARING HOUSE / 17S DUFFIELD STREET, BROOKLYN, N. V.