Motography (Jul-Sep 1916)

542 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XVI, No. 10. motion picture's vital era when the productivity of the screen will be wholly changed. And as this great war will hasten the day of real life films so it will usher in the growth of the animated news film which is now merely of a primitive character. Some may doubt whether the actor is to find an increased vogue on the screen with this new era, but the real screen player will always be a necessity, but we may well believe that even two or three years hence the type of films we see now will wholly disappear — in short this writer believes, as do not a few others, that the productivity of the screen is not only to be revolutionized, but also to be iw-theatricalized. Tricks of the Trade By Will M. Ritchey AT every studio methods of handling the camera differ. Directors, photographic experts and cameramen are constantly studying new ways of artistic "shooting." Some experiments become fixtures. Others are discarded. Of trick photography there are almost as many examples as there are studios. There is in vogue at some studios now a method of filming a large scene without losing detail that may be adopted generally. This consists in mounting the camera and tripod upon a rubberwheeled platform, and moving camera and operator about the scene. Thus, first a corner may be photographed; then the camera moves and more of the scene enters the field of vision. Finally, the lens may point only to the chief character in the scene. In this there is the advantage of holding the connection between the different parts of the scene without interruption. At present, however, there is a sense of mechanics which to some may destroy the illusion of the picture. There is but one way in which the writer may become familiar with the possibilities of the camera — and this is by constant study of the newest pictures — features especially — exhibited. Having seen something done, he may write a similar action in his script. He need not know exactly how it is done, so long as he has learned when the method is possible and appropriate. The "cut and flash" method of showing simultaneous action in two or more different localities is widely used — even to excess. In a magazine story or novel one chapter may tell the actions of the hero. The next chapter may reveal how his enemies are plotting against him. The third may swing back to the hero's adventures leading up to his encounter with the villain. So it is in the pictures, except that here the scenes are much shorter and the audience is not allowed to forget what one character is doing while following another. The "cut and flash" is illustrated best by the "chase" scene. One person is seen hurrying along a street. The scene changes to another part of the street, with the same person running past. That is "cut" and his pursuer is shown passing through the first part of the street shown. Another "cut" and the pursued passes through a third street. This in turn is "cut" to the pursuer again, but now he is on the scene which shows the second part of the street. Continued thus for several scenes, the audience gets the impression of the one closely followed by the other through several streets. Variations of this method are almost infinite, but it may safely be used by any writer to show what two or more persons arc doing at the same time in different places. Where to Reach the Film Companies With five letters on my desk which have been received this last week asking the addresses of film companies— some desiring one or two and some asking for all the companies — it appears to be an opportune time to give a complete list of these addresses which can be saved for future reference. As the desire for this information in most cases is to submit scenarios to the companies I am marking with a star the companies which are not buying anything from outside writers, so that you need not waste your time submitting to them. American Film Manufacturing Company, West Mission St., Santa Barbara, Calif. Arrow Film Corporation, New York, N. Y. Atlas Motion Picture Company, Detroit, Mich. *Balboa Company, Long Beach, Calif. *Biograph Company, Gerard and Georgia Sts., Los Angeles, Calif. Blache Studios, Fort Lee, N. J. California Motion Picture Company, San Rafael, Calif. Centaur Film Company, 1919 So. Main St., Los Angeles, Calif. Chicago Film Company, 1128 Otis Bldg., Chicago, 111. Eastern Film Corporation, 1100 Elmwood Ave., Providence, R. I. *Thomas A. Edison, Inc., 2826 Decatur Ave., Bedford Park, N. Y. Emerald Film Company, 166 W. Washington St., Chicago, 111. *Essanay Film Manufacturing Company, 133 Argyle St., Chicago, 111. E. & R. Jungle Film Company, 1720 North Soto St., Los Angeles, Calif. Famous Players Film Company, 124 W. 56th St., New York, N. Y. Fine Arts Film Company, 4500 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, Calif. Fox Film Company, 130 W. 46th St., New York, N. Y. Gaumont Company, 110 W. 40th St., New York, N. Y. David Horsley Studios, 2009 South Main St., Los Angeles, Calif. Juvenile Film Corporation, World's Tower Bldg., 110 W. 40th St., New York, N. Y. Kalem Company, 235 W. 23rd St., New York, N. Y. ♦Keystone Film Company, 1712 Allessandro St., Los Angeles, Calif. George Kleine, 805 E. 175th St., New York, N. Y. Komic Company, 71 W. 2.3rd bt., JNew Y.ork, N. Y. Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company, 485 Fifth Ave., New York, N. Y. *Lubin Company, 20th St. and Indiana Ave., Phila., Pa. Majestic Motion Picture Company, 71 W. 23rd St., New York, N. Y. Melies Manufacturing Company, 326 Lexington Ave., New York, N. Y. Metro Pictures Corporation, 1476 Broadway, New York, N. Y. Oliver Morosco Photoplay Company, 220 W. 62nd St., New York, N. Y. Mutual Film Corporation, 71 W. 23rd St., New York, N. Y. National Film Corporation, corner Gower and Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. New York Motion Picture Corporation, Culver City, Calif. Mabel Normand Feature Film Company, Hollywood, Calif. Paramount Pictures Corporation, 485 Fifth Ave., New York, N. Y. Pathe Exchange, Inc., 25 W. 45th St., New York, N. Y. Mary Pickford Film Corporation, 729 Seventh Ave., New York, N. Y. Planet Film Company, World's Tower Bldg., New York, N. Y. Reliance Motion Picture Company, 71 W. 23rd St., New York, N. Y. Rialto Film Company, 220 W. 42nd St., New York, N. Y. Royal Film Company, 71 W. 23rd St., New York, N. Y. *Selig Polyscope Company, Los Angeles, Calif. Solax Company, Lemoine Ave., Fort Lee, N. J. Thanhouser Film Corporation, New Rochelle, N. Y. Triangle Film Corporation, 1847 Broadway, New York, N. Y. Universal Film Company, Universal City, Calif. ♦Vitagraph Company of America, E. 15th St. and Chestnut Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. World Film Corporation, 130 W. 46th St., New York, N. Y. Ziegfield Photoplays Company, 4137 Cottage Grove Ave., Chicago, 111. The "sport of kings," with all its attendant excitement, is thrillingly portrayed in a number of scenes in "The Thoroughbred," the Triangle play by C. Gardner Sullivan, in which Thomas H. Ince presents Frank Keenan as star.