Motography (Oct-Dec 1916)

1130 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XVI, No. 21. big things in the motion picture industry — items like Charles Chaplin's $670,000 contract and the million dollar photonovel "The Diamond from the Sky," with its $10,000 prize scenario sequel. "This is not," warns Mr. Freuler, "an invitation to everybody who merely thinks he can write to dash off a script and mail it to me. "I am not interested in any ordinary scenario. It has got to be a drama so big I am forced to buy it and translate it to the public in film form. "The photoplay art is now eld enough to begin to produce the craftsmanship of the master hand. There are millions of poor scenarios, thousands of fair ones, a few hundred good ones, just a few excellent ones. In those I am not particularly concerned. "Where is the big, masterful writer of a wonderscript ? "The art that has produced a Charles Chaplin, David Wark Griffith and a Thomas H. Ince has failed, so far as I have been able to discover, any personality relatively so dominantly capable in the field of motion picture writing. "Are we to be forced to admit that the greatest work in this literature of the picture will have to come from those who think only in terms of the camera? I do not think so. "The vast production of pictures has given us a great enough field of picture writing experience to let us hope for the coming of a new mastery of the photowriters' art. "I do not want to be misunderstood. I do not want to be believed in the position of decrying present attainments. There have been produced a number of photodramas which are entitled to a place in enduring history. I hope as modestly as may be that perhaps a few of those in which I have been interested can live, to prove a share in this enduring value. "But I hope even more that I shall have the opportunity to put motive power behind a bigger idea than any that has seen the light of the studio yet. "Somewhere that big picture idea is to be conceived. I Avant it. "The question may arise, 'What will this great scenario Mr. Freuler is asking for be worth? What remuneration can the author expect?' "The answer is that when I wanted the world's greatest motion picture comedian I paid him his price of $670,000 a year." Famous Players Chooses 100 Scripts 'THE $100,000 offer for 100 suitable scripts, at 1 the rate of $1,000 for thousand-word synopsis, made by the Famous Players Film Company last July. was terminated by the acceptance of the hundredth script last Monday. The management of the company expressed itself as very gratified with the results of the record offer. having expected to obtain the hundred scripts desired in not less than a year from the time the offer was made. Within exactly three months, however, so great was the response from the authors, dramatists and scenario writers the full number of winning scripts have been procured. In commenting upon the success of the offer, Adolph Zukor, under whose personal auspices this unusual attempt was made to induce the most important writers of the country to devote their ideas to the screen, said : "The cries of a dearth of screen material, which have arisen from various photoplay producers for the past two years, are now entirely hushed by the amazing response to the Famous Players' $1,000 offer, and the pessimistic belief that screen plots had been utterly exhausted is exploded by the interesting novel and well constructed themes which have been received. "We are justified in believing, from the thousands of scripts submitted and the prominent authors who have manifested an interest in the offer, that the foremost authors of the day are now giving serious thought to the screen, and that this new form of dramatic expression is considered by them to be a sufficiently important medium of communication with the public to receive their first and best efforts." This statement was accompanied by one from Jesse L. Lasky, who, since the formation of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, has had direct supervision of the producing departments of both companies. Mr. Lasky explains that, while the hundred scripts will furnish a plentitude and variety of material for some time to come, the companies are anxious to receive more photoplays which reach the standard of their output. The statement follow : "Due to the recent combination ui the Oliver Morosco Photoplay Company and Pallas Pictures with the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, we now require more screen material than ever to fill the | ducing requirements of these four concerns. "While we do not feel obligated to pay $1,000 for all stories accepted in the future under the FanPlayers' offer, or $1,500, which is the maximum amount in the Oliver Morosco offer for scenarios, we will in every case remunerate the author in a degree entirely commensurate with the value of his work, and if unusual or extraordinary plot< are submitted, will pay more than the above mentioned sums as cheerfully as did the Famous Players for the hundred $1,000 scripts sought through its offer. "Hector Turnbull. the head oi the scenario department of these companies, is sincere in his desire to cooperate with novelists, short-story writers or dramatic authors who have not yet become associated with the motion picture, and will be glad to indicate to them the artistic and financial opportunities for creative work on the screen." New International Manager The International announces the appointment oi Dan Morgan as manager oi its branch office in Bos1 to succeed F. H. Vine. Mr. Morgan, an experienced theatrical man. has been with the International, as a salesman in the New England territory, ever -ince the International was organized. Just prior to that time he was connected with Pathe. Enid Bennett, the young star whom Thomas H. Ence persuaded to forsake the legitimatt si For motion pictures, has commenced work before the camera at Culver City. Production of the vehicle in which she will make her bow from the screen on the Tria: program has been begun. The play in which sin appearing is an unusual drama by Lanier Bartlett. and Miss Bennett is playing the role of a blind girl. Her supporting cast consists of Tack Gilbert. Charles K. French. Fanny Midgley, Wi'll H. Bray. Walt Whitman, 1. Frank Rurke and Georu oil.