Moving Picture World (Aug 1920)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 867 August 14, 1920 Watchword of Guy Empey Productions Is Quality ; Not Quantity-uOiE Completed TO all appearances it would seem that Guy Empey, who stepped from newspaper ranks to the trenches, and from the battlefield to the motion picture studio in the dual capacity of author-producer, is destined to be one of the most successful of men in the industry. With a keen perception of what the public really wants, he has attacked the situation in vigorous style. Knows Public’s Wants. He knows that everybody who goes to moving picture theatres wants to see pictures with plenty of pep in their makeup; and he knows also that the mothers and fathers of millions of children, who hope to have life visualized for them in the moving picture theatre, want moral cleanliness and high ideals to have a large part in the pictures which they see. Having had an opportunity to study the youth of our country, both at home and on the battlefield of France, he has discovered that the inspiration to honest employment is one of the biggest factors in the making of a stabilized citizenship. And so Mr. Empey, grasping the most effective means of reaching the people with entertainment of an inspiring nature, of a kind that will move men to action, has become a moving picture producer, and we say, luck go with him! Quality Not Quantity Is Object. The following announcement of plans of the Guy Empey Productions will give a definite idea of what he means to do: “Quality, not quantity, will be the object of Guy Empey Productions for the ensuing twelve-month. Five comedy dramas of feature length, twenty-four two-reel subjects and a novel, but logical development in film production, represent the planned production activities of the organization. “For the production of these subjects the organization will purchase a studio in the vicinity of New York City, an option having been obtained on one fully equipped plant, and verbal agreement made for the holding of another. Other studios now on the market are under investigation and plans for the erection of a new plant are drawn in the event none of these being considered is found suitable. Studio in New York City. “Of the five comedy dramas planned by Mr. Empey, one, ‘Oil,’ has been completed and will be released through one of the national distributing companies early in the fall. “The second of the Empey series, ‘A Long Distance Hero,’ is now being cast and work of actual production will begin September 1, and Miss Florence Martin will have the feminine lead. This story comes from the pen of Templar Saxe and will be filmed under the direction of Mr. Empey, who will also star in it, appearing in the role of a brash, flighty youth, a part that will give ample opportunity for display of his ability as a light comedian — an ability which became apparent in ‘Oil.’ The third of the series will be the filmization of Mr. Empey’s most recent novel, ‘The Madona of the Hills,’ which will be published by Harper & Brothers as one of their important works =.'imfiiiiiiiMiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiimiii;iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiimitiiiiiiiit!£ | Censorship Bill in Georgia Will Probably Fail to Pass l IT is the general opinion of film | men of Atlanta that the state cen I sorship bill that has loomed up | 1 ominously has been squelched for | | this session of the legislature at | 1 least. Due to the effective work of Arthur | | Lucas, prominent local exchangeman, | | and co-operating interests, it appears | | likely that the proposed legislation | | will hardly leave the rules committee I | of the state assembly, where it is now | 1 languishing. The rules committee appears to be § 1 snowed under with work concerning | | state’s finances and highway building, 1 | which are the subjects of heated de 1 | bates in the legislature, and it is § | highly probable that the censorship § | bill may never reach the floor of § 1 either house or the senate. The three Atlanta papers, the Jour | | nal, the Constitution and the Geor | | gian, all published strong editorials | | opposing censorship shortly after the 1 | bill was recommended by house and 1 | senate committees, and this index of 1 | popular opinion, along with the in | | fluences brought to bear by the pic § | ture interests, are thought to have § 1 proven decidedly effective. | riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimtiiinimiiiiiiiiiii,7 of the coming season. Several plays are under discussion for the fourth and fifth of the series. Two Companies to Be Kept Busy. “The two-reel subjects will represent the work of two companies. One company will make comedies that will be a departure in idea and production. Director and principal characters have been selected for these comedies and eight stories have been accepted for use by them. The stories are all from the writings of one man, well known as an author of short fiction and as a figure of importance in the motion picture field. No Slapstick in Comedy. They will take the principal characters through a series of misfortunes, without resort to the slap-stick, and while each of the pictures will be complete in itself, there will be a thread of connection between all of them, calculated to maintain interest throughout the series. The same principal characters will appear in each of the pictures. “The other two-reelers are in reality tabloid comedy dramas. They will have a wide range of subject, and there will be no attempt at connection between one story and another, except in the maintenance of a high standard of story value, excellence of production, and cleanliness of plot and situation. For these subjects, too, a director has been engaged, and the services of a woman star obtained. Empey Will Supervise. “All of these activities will have the personal supervision of Mr. Empey, who will, as well, continue his writing. At present he is completing the novelization of ‘Oil,’ its publication having been contracted for in advance of its completion on the strength of a view of the story in its picture form. The publication of the novel has been so timed that it will be possible to use it as an exploitation aid for the picture. Must Be Clean and Peppey. “‘Pep’ and cleanliness will be the watchword of Mr. Empey and his staff in the production of all subjects to be issued under his name. It will be his effort to so produce that the advertisement of a Guy Empey Productions picture will be sufficient guarantee of entertainment value and freedom from suggestiveness to attract all ages and all classes.” “‘Oil’ Right, ‘Oil’ Right, I’m Given Ya the Ice Watah Now” Says Arthur Guy Empey. Three scenes of a varied nature from his latest production called “Oil” and being released by the Guy Empey Pictures Corporation.