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39
Pictures were the least costly. Their individual budgets were based on a statistical knowledge of the starring artist's value as a box office attraction. Where more than one Personality production was assigned to a star, a total budget was computed from the individual picture estimates. In such cases, the control department was interested only in the total amount, and as a result some pictures profited at the expense of others. There was a wide range in star salaries ; it was estimated in 1929 that the average star received $2,500 a week while working.5 Three or possibly four Personality Pictures represented the maximum number assigned to any one star. Stories for these pictures were selected currently, and in many cases were written by the scenario department especially for the assigned artist. Personality Pictures were scheduled as illustrated by Exhibit 10.
Exhibit 10
Schedule of Personality Pictures Kept by Paramount Publix Corporation
Personality Pictures
Number of Pictures
Units
Starting Date
Budget
Total
3 2
Gary Cooper
1
2
3
Richard Arlen
etc.
Commander Specials ranked third in quality and cost of production. As a rule the stories for these pictures were secured before the beginning of the production season. The casts of Commander Specials did not contain high-salaried stars; generally they were made up of well-known featured players, none of whom was advertised as the particular attraction. The average featured player earned $750 per week while working.6
5 See Motion Picture Almanac, 1929 edition, p. 111. In general, the salaries paid stars are less than they were in 1929; see p. 118.
6 See Motion Picture Almanac, 1929 edition, p. 111.