Moving Picture World (Apr 1916)

April 22, 1916 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 629 San Francisco, Picture Center ? Los Angeles Producers May Be Tempted to Seek New Locations — Frank Woods Explains Situation. FOR several months talk has been rife that producers now located in the southern part of the state were considering the advisability of removing to other locations, with San Francisco mentioned most prominently. Recently four members of the industry from Los Angeles were visitors here to appear before the police committee of the Board of Supervisors in opposition to the proposed censorship ordinance, and also to investigate conditions for producing pictures. The party was composed of Frank E. Woods, manager of the Fine Arts Studio of the Triangle Film Corporation, J. Barney Sherry, personal representative of Thomas Ince; Harry Kerr, representing the Keystone interests, and Neil McCarthy, attorney for the Paramount and Lasky companies. While before the police committee Mr. Woods was asked many questions regarding the scope of the industry at Los Angeles and whether or not he was here seeking a site for a studio. In reply he said that this was not the reason for his visit and he did not wish this impression to be conveyed as it might seem that an effort was being made to influence the committee on the censorship matter. In referring to studio locations he said: "Just why Los Angeles was selected as a producing center in the first place is not apparent, unless it is that it was widely advertised as the home of sunshine. Producers have found that this is not exactly the case and there are many places near San Francisco where there are more sunny days in the year than at Los Angeles, according to Government and private records. The supposed sunshine alleged to exist in Southern California is not entirely the kind needed for the production of pictures." Leaving the police committee he took more time to explain his views on this question and said: "San Francisco has around it any number of locations that offer better climatic conditions than can be found in the south, and as far as picturesqueness goes, the vicinity of this city offers a wealth of varieties of scenic backgrounds that cannot be approached in the south. One of the largest items of expense that figure on the books of a producing concern is transportation. Operating near San Francisco the cost of moving our performers to the suitable scenic environment would be materially reduced because mountains, woods, brooks, bay and ocean are practically within a stone's throw. When the studios were first established at Los Angeles it was simply a case of follow the leader. Studios were built and men employed regardless of the fact that there were few inducements from the people of Los Angeles and but few advantages. "The motion picture industry now spends annually in Los Angeles $20,000,000, which sum is double the capitalization of the Los Angeles banks. What we spend stays in Los Angeles. Nevertheless, the people down there commenced to think they owned the picture people and what with censorship and other petty efforts to regulate the business the seed of discontent was planted." The party was shown some of the beauty spots of Marin, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties by Guy Wayman, of San Francisco, who has devoted considerable of his time during the past few months to interesting moving picture producers in this city as a center for their operations. Other producers are coming shortly on tours of inspection and it is considered likely that within a comparatively short time the local moving picture colony will be greatly augmented. New American Serial It Is Entitled "The Secret of the Submarine," and Will Be Done in Fifteen Chapters of Two Reels Each. ff/~rAlIE SECRET OF THE SUBMARINE," a chap JOE BRANDT PUTS IN CLAIM. The Nation Board of Censorship has decided to change its name. It now wishes to be known as "The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures." Three years ago when the board of review met to decide upon a name in the Cafe Lafayette, Joe Brandt, now general manager of the Universal Film Mfg. Co., pointed out to W. D. McGuire, Executive Secretary of the Board, that the title "National Board of Censorship" was misleading, that it conveyed the impression of greater scope and power of government sanction which the body did not possess. Mr. Brandt was overruled. And now, three years later, Mr. Brandt's original suggestion, that the body of moving picture censors be called "The National Board of Review," has been adopted. Joe is usually three years ahead of the procession anyway. T tered photoplay produced by American Film Co., will be released as a Mutual special feature May 8. The story is woven around the life of a young girl whose father is the inventor of an apparatus enabling sub-sea craft to reach a great depth without peril to the crews. The formula of this invention, sought by foreign governments as well as the American government, permits the direct introduction of the question of national defense in a manner at once logical and thrilling. The fact that the United States is involved in the search for the formula lends a patriotic novelty to the intense drama of the story. The dramatic suspense is well sustained from the beginning, being carried through adventure after adventure, to a big "punch" climax at the close of each chapter. The authors have struck an excellent balance of characterization and the members of the cast have been selected to fit the types as well as for their dramatic ability. Thomas Chatterton, as Lieut. Hope, U. S. N., and Juanita Hansen, as Cleo Burke, modern young Americans, awaken immediate interest as their love affairs lend a real charm to the chain of heart stirring situations. Mr. Chatterton is a fine, upstanding, virile type of hero, and Miss Hansen, the possessor of a captivating winsomeness, just suited .to the role of Cleo. The "heavy" roles have been given into exceptionally capable hands, Lamar Johnstone and Hylda Hollis, both distinguished for their finished acting. William Tedmarsh, whose characterization of Quabba in "The Diamond from the Sky," was considered one of the great screen character roles, essays the part of a Japanese spy. George Clancy as "Hook" Barnacle, an old salt, who has gained his odd sobriquet because of a hook in place of his right hand, is afforded a splendid opportunity for character work, the which he realizes to the fullest extent, as does George Webb, in his role of Mahlin, an international emissary. The smaller roles have all been given into equally capable hands. The manner in which the characters have been defined by the authors is so definite that an unusual amount of strength will be given to the story through this fact alone. Motion picture patrons do not enjoy watching a picture and be made to wonder "who's who" in each chapter. President Samuel S. Hutchinson, of the American Film Co., has precluded any possibility in "The Secret of the Submarine" by his selection of the storied characters and the persons chosen to play them. "The Secret of the Submarine" will be released in fifteen chapters of two reels each. George Sargent is the director in charge of production. Hylda Hollis. BRONSON HOWARD AN ACTOR. For one brief moment George Bronson Howard was an actor last week. The prominent dramatist, who is the author of Kalem's big series, "The Social Pirates," visited the Glendale studios last week while the company was at work on the staging of an elaborate restaurant scene for a coming episode. Since his arrival in California, the author has been a frequent visitor at the studio, lending his aid in the way of suggestions as to details in the productions.