Motion Picture Story Magazine (Aug 1911-Jan 1912)

Ipqaipie^s" This department is for the answering of questions of general interest only. Involved technical questions will not be answered. Information as to the matrimonial alliances of the players and other purely personal matters will not be answered. Questions concerning the marriages of players xoill be completely ignored. Addresses of companies will not be furnished in this column. A list of all film makers will be supplied on request to all who enclose a stamped and selfaddressed envelope. Give your name and address as evidence of good faith. It will not be used. No questions can be answered relating to the identity of the Biograph playei_. T. M. R., New York. — From $20 to $40 is about the average price of scenarios. More is paid when the story is worth while, but most scripts have to be entirely remade in the studio before the play can be filmed, and the author is paid only for what he furnishes. There are a lot of stories "well worth a hundred dollars," but that is after they have been worked over. E. R., Roslindale. — No matrimonial information is supplied. C. H. T., Cameron. — Write the company direct. R. G., Galion. — Arthur Johnston is not dead. S. A. M., Baltimore. — Address them direct in care of the company. The first issue of The Motion Picture Story Magazine was the February issue of this year. It is out of print. Other back numbers of the publisher. "Lillian N.," Sisterville. — Not working at present. (2) Not that we know of. "Marcella," Muskogee. — Be more definite. State Photoplay and part and we'll try and locate him, but just "a dark complected man" is not identifying. M. S., Wilkinsburg, Pa. — Carlyle Blackwell. The Kalem company's home studio is in. New York. They have several companies in the field in California and Ireland. Urgent. — Write the company. Iwanter Kno, Middletown. — As something easier. We've an idea that a trick picture like "A Trip to the Mo* ' would be a hit right now, but they do not seem to be fashionable. (2) Done a haM dozen times. C. D. Kniffin, Middletown. — The reason why the wheels of moving vehicles appear to move backward while the wagon goes forward is due to the fact that a Motion Picture is interrupted sixteen times each second by the closing of the shutter. The spokes of the wheels may be caught in a position advancing the forward movement or may appear to be going the other way. It all depends how the spokes are placed at the instant the picture is taken. Do you get the idea? Frances J., New York. — Give name of Photoplay, character and manufacturer, in asking information. A part of an illustration is not sufficient. Esther S., New York. — Apply at any studio for information, but it will do little good. Have your newsdealer order a copy of a trade paper for addresses. W. B. B., West Haven. — See answer to another correspondent. The manager of any Photoplay theater can give you this information without delay. Miss L. T., Williamsport. — It was Miss Joyce. She has been with the Kalem company some time. L. D., Indianapolis. — Miss Laura Sawyer has been connected with the stock and road companies of Ada Rehan, Otis Skinner and others. J. S. C, San Francisco. — The Biograph company has no field company on your coast. There are many companies in Los Angeles, but it would hardly pay you to go there. A. M., Cincinnati. — No, in answer to both questions. Puzzled, Brooklyn. — The National Board of Censorship passes only on the morality of the films. It does not assume to criticize historical correctness, etc. (2) "A Case of High Treason" followed the story of "The Under Man" and the speech quoted appears in the story. It was the exclamation of a cad and not a statement of geographical fact. (3) The film was made in Cuba. J. A. H., Brooklyn. — Miss Mary Fuller is still with the Edison company. L. B. S., Brooklyn. — The idea is the main thing. It should be divided into scenes and written in action. S. A. J., Brooklyn. — We do not advise you to waste time in an effort to get into a Photoplay stock company. The field is too crowded. The main requirements are a face that is pretty in front of the camera, intelligence and an ability to act R. N., Jacksonville. — The same person. K. L. P., Elgin. — Los Angeles is the headquarters for the sections of the Photoplay companies making Western Photoplays, but trips are made up and down the Coast, into the mountains, and as far as Yosemite Park, where one section of the Selig company recently made some stunning pictures. The studios for the interiors are located in Los Angeles, and most of the negatives are developed there and shipped East. 139