Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1916)

1222 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 14. No. 8 Corporation, now engaged in producing Robert W. Chambers' novel, " The Common Law " at the Blache Studio, Fort Lee, N. J., has cut a deep notch in the development of motion picture photograph)-. Aside from the immense saving in time — which means an immense saving in expenditure— M. Capellani's use of the twocamera idea is producing screen effects that it is believed will give an entirely new continuitV' to the enactment of the photoplay. Other directors have used two and sometimes a dozen cameras in " shooting " certain special scenes that were impossible to retake, or to obtain shots from different angles, but Capellani is the first director to introduce the duo-camera idea in everjscene. The method of procedure is simple. One camera is stationed at right angles to the other and close enough to the scene to photograph a " close-up." The settings are so built that the action of a scene proceeds without interruption, each camera taking up its work in turn at the director's signal. When the film from both cameras is assembled the effect is startling in its smoothness of action. The characters seem to move about as freely as though on a stage as large as those of regular theatres, now looming up in " close-up " size and then diminishing in stature as they move to some distant part of the setting — and all without a break or flashback or interruption of any kind. The director gave his new system a thorough test in the big nine room setting he had built last week for " The Common Law." After rehearsing his camera men, J. Monteran and Hal Young, and running through the scene between Miss Young and her leading man, Conway Tearle, the director " shot " a scene 300 feet long without a halt, transferring the action to various parts of the huge setting and from camera to camera. When the film was put together the effect was so smooth that M. Capellani decided to keep the two cameras working throughout the entire production. Romeo and Juliet at the Beach A parade of fourteenth century characters takes place on the boardwalk at Brighton Beach daily, since Edward Schultzer, technical director for Metro Pictures Corporation, has rented the bath-houses as dressing rooms for the actors in the screen production of " Romeo and Juliet," starring Francis X. Bushman and Beverl}' Baj-ne. The procession of women in flowing robes and men in doublet and hose begins early in the morning. At once all the bathers on the beach attach themselves to it and follow the crowd to the Brighton Beach race-track, where part of mediaeval Verona, the home of Romeo and Juliet, has been produced. Swimming has been forgotten at Brighton Beach while the pictures of " Romeo and Juliet " have been taken. At the scene of action John W. Noble, general director, mounts a high platform to supervise the 600 person used in the production and direct their action. David Thompson, one of the most popular assistant directors with the Metro forces, has been elected a life member in the Elks' Lodge of New Rochelle, N. Y. At a big meeting held in his honor he was presented with a solid gold card case enclosing his membership engraved upon the case. Mr. Thompson was Grand Exalted Ruler of the New Rochelle lodge and recently represented the local organization at the Baltimore convention. Mr. Thompson is associated with \\'illiam Nigh, who is now directing a five part Metro feature in which he is sharing the stellar honors with Irene Howley. John Powers, who has long been associated with Francis X. Bushman, as valet, and before that was with such noted stage Emmy Wehlen, Metro star, in " The Pretenders," a Rolfe Film stars as Richard ^lansfield, Arnold Daly atid Aubrey Bouccicault, recently became a motion picture actor and has a good role in " Romeo and Juliet," the elaborate ]MetroQuality production of the Shakespeare play. How Tempus Does Fugit! Irene Howley, who is co-starring with William Nigh in a five-part' INIetro produc tion, as yet unnamed, was tendered a uniquebirthday party at a countrj hotel nine miles back of Asbury Park, N. J., where Director Nigh has a company of players at work making exteriors. At the American Hotel, in Farmingdale, eight tables were placed together for the birthday dinner, and in the center was a huge cake with forty-seven candles burning when the guests sat down Miss Howley's eyes popped when she looked at the candles and began to count them. " Sa>-, what is this, a wake or a birthday party? What are you tr>'ing to do, make my birthdaj cake look like Luna Park? " Miss Howley, who is now twenty-six years old, accepted the joke in good part. One sweeping glance around the table and her penetrating eyes fell upon the offender. " Dann\" Sullivan, who is the right hand bower for Director Nigh, was made to admit that he staged the big candle scene. And he was quick to explain that the number represented the guests who are to be present, and had nothing to do with Miss Howley's age. When Miss Howley was called upon to cut the birthday cake she was again startled for the moment to find that it was a cake of cheese. More work on the part of Sullivan, who had the cheese "imported" from the wilds of Staten Island, the summer home of Miss Howie}". However, a real cake was substituted hy Dave Thompson, the assistant director, and all present drank a toast to Miss Howley, congratulating her upon her recent elevation to stardom by Metro. Miss Howley said it was the last birthday she ever intended to have, as she does not want to be more than twenty-six years old. The change in temperature last week came as a godsend to the motion picture companies making their exterior scenes in the suburban districts around New York. In Mola Dana's company, now taking scenes for the new five-act ]^Ietro-Columbia production, " The Light of Happiness," there were five prostrations from the heat in the early part of the week. At Tarrj-town two of the extra people succumbed and at Concord, Staten Island, there were