Motion Picture News (Oct 1913 - Jan 1914)

24 THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS FOR THOSE WHO WORRY O'ER PLOTS AND PLAYS WILLIAM LORD WRIGHT Uvr OU say to read good books in I order to broaden your mind and acquire the art of style and condensation. Kindly advise us what to read?" Several literary workers have written us recently propounding the above question. Read the Bible. Perhaps you do not believe in the Bible? Nevertheless, read it, for the Bible is the Book of Books in more than one respect. Sir Arthur Quiller Couch, in his address on the English Bible at Cambridge, rightly laid stress on the priceless literary value of that authorized version as the greatest book of English prose. You probably have a Bible accessible and a study of its beautiful text will enrich your knowledge as a writer. Its divine simplicity, its pathos, its tenderness, every chapter instinct with beauty, every verse ringing like a sweet-toned bell, there is no other work, text-book or otherwise, that will help the photoplay author along his way more consistently than the Scriptures. Forty-seven men helped translate the Bible, none of them celebrated outside their share in the translation, for any superlative achievement. The Bible cannot be omitted by those wishing a course of study in English literature. The authorized version has had incomparably more influence on English literary style and on our English speech than any other book, or than all other books combined. Taine, a discriminating critic, realized how the style of the Bible has wrought itself into English life and interwoven itself into the very text of English literature. Couch, himself a famous novelist, detects the influence of the Bible in Izaak Walton and Bunyan, in Milton, and Sir Thomas Browne, in Addison and in Gibbon. Taine writes admiringly of Macaulay's Biblical metaphors; Ruskin found in the Bible the basis of his entrancing style ; Thackeray, Stevenson, and old Sir Walter Scott turned to the Bible for inspiration to create and for plot germs. The art of condensation is found in the Bible as nowhere else. Fertility of plot can be discovered in almost every page. Sympathetic imagery and artistic action are all there. The Bible is in everything we see, hear, feel. It crops out in the photoplay title ; in photoplay leaders and, unconsciously ofttimes, in photoplay scenes. For, be it remembered, plots taken from the Scriptures appear almost every day under other guises. In re Acton Davies Acton Davies, dramatic critic of the New York Sun, and recognized authority upon all things theatrical, has been engaged by the Edison Company to review all scenarios before they are turned over to the directors for production. This is another innovation by Horace G. Plimpton, manager of Edison negative production, and it will undoubtedly mark another step forward in the quality of Edison photoplays. Davies declares that the new work has opened his eyes to the amount of art and imagination required in the writing of a photoplay, and that his visits to the Edison studio convinced him that the production of a photoplay requires as much artistry and thought on the director's part as the staging of a three-act play. He believes that successful photoplay authors may in time contribute to the stage itself, so that "in time the moving picture industry, by way of recompense to the regular theatres whose balconies and galleries it has so often left bare and deserted may give to the theatre a brand-new crop of budding and blossoming American dramatists." We might inform Mr. Davies that at least a half dozen successful photoplaywrights have contributed to the stage during the past year. One scribe has sold a two-act libretto and others have contributed high-class vaudeville sketches. More are coming. Foiling the Faker The New York World has instituted a "fakers' bureau." In an attempt to curb the enthusiastic correspondent who steals his "stuff" and dresses it for the market under new garments, the World asks the co-operation of all staff men and special writers in clearing the columns of the newspapers from fakes and steals. One complaint means dismissal and the "black-list," providing investigation proves the complaint well founded. We believe the time is near when scenario editors will take like action. Some Film Stories James Oppenheim has started a serial, "Peg o' the Movies," in the Ladies' World. Oppenheim has written many photoplays. Van Loan has resumed his Western Motion Pictures stories in the Saturday Evening Post. Another "School" in Court Following the raid by Federal officers on "The National Authors' Institute," another "Correspondence school" has been summoned to the United States bar. Hearings have been held before United States Commissioners in an effort to se cure an indictment against a Chicago photoplay school. The Government alleges that the "school" falsely stated that it had influence with the motion picture companies which guaranteed the acceptance of the scripts written by its pupils. The attorneys seek to prove that this alleged statement induced many to part with their money for the course in the belief that they would be certain of that "fifty dollars weekly" after completion. A denial of all charges is made. Decision has been reserved. Uncle Sam has been getting busy recv. tly regarding "photoplay schools," thanks to the crusade that has been waged for two years past. Other prosecutions are expected. Editorial Statements Universal editorial department announces that the company is always ready to purchase acceptable scripts and that within thirty days over $200 worth of "outside" work has been accepted. The Eclair editorial department has received an avalanche of scripts since the Eclair editorial needs were given in this department. No scripts considered except from authors having three or more produced acceptances to their credit ; nothing but typewritten scripts will be read; neither will scripts that do not contain stamps be read; checks will be mailed the very day the signed contract is received from the author. Successful authors might do well to chalk up Eclair for a first reading of any split-reel travesties ; exceptional one-reel comedies, or two or three-reel modern dramas, mostly indoor work requiring no costumes, which Eclair is about to launch. Pertinent Pointers Adaptations from standard literature are rarely desired by script editors. Blache Features, Fort Lee, N. J., is the one exception at present. They will read stirring adaptations from the classics for multiple reels. When you conceive an idea let it "soak" in your brain. Do not rush off to the typewriter and dash off a plot which has not been carefully though out. Let that idea of your* germinate. Leave it alone and revolve its possibilities carefully in your brain. Think it out from all angles before writing your story. New York Motion Picture Corporation is not buying any Civil War dramas at present. Puritan, Irish and straight dramatic stories will be given prompt consideration by Richard V. Spencer, editor. The Keystone Company, a branch concern, uses good good comedy of the rapid-fire variety. Synopsis are also considered. Address Editor Spencer, 1712 Allesandro street, Los Angeles, Cil. "What am I going to do with it?" asked a beginner when he sent for our inspection a beautifully engrossed diploma issued by the "faculty" of a "school." This unfortunate is a "graduate." He will be obliged to forget much before his work will find a market. Burn the diploma and try and keep it secret from script editors that you ever took the "course." Bars are up against "school graduates" in these editorial departments: Selig, Universal, Lubin, Famous Players, Eclair and others.