Photoplay (Jan - Jun 1919)

98 Photoplay Magazine — Advertising Section Your movie ideas arc worth b^ money IF If what ? If they arc properly developed ! Your ideas may be "diamonds in the rough" but they won't materialize into a "scenario check" until you know how to put them into proper, acceptable form — until you learn the "knack" of building successful photoplay-plots. And this is exactly what the Advisory Service Bureau of the Palmer Photoplay Institute helps you to do. It is under the personal direction of Frederick Palmer — one of the best-known screen authors in America — the man who in 9 months wrote 52 produced scenarios for "Universal". Mr. Palmer takes your movie ideas just as they are — points out the good features and the weak spots — shows you how to strengthen the plot — how to advance the action of the play. Where else could you get a masterphotoplaywright like Frederick Palmer to take this individual interest in your work — and show you the way to success as a photoplay writer? And, mind you, this is only one of the features you in the Understand— this is NOT a mere book full of clap -trap " hints" on photoplay writing; nor is it a "school" or a tedious correspondence course. It is exactly what it professes to be: a definite, cleancut plan that shows you how to put your movie ideas into actual cashable form. When you consider the alarming shortage of photoplay ideas — when you realize that the public is tiring of worn-out plots — that new ideas must constantly come from somewhere — and that producers are willing to pay anywhere from a $100 to $1000 for good, gripping photoplay plots — you begin to see the tremendous opportunities brought home to you by the Palmer Plan of Photoplay Writing. It is the only institution of its kind to be indorsed by the leading producers, stars, directors and scenario editors in America. More than this -it is the only method of photoplay training that helps youall the toay through — from primary instruction on to Personal Advisory Service and then on to Marketing Service. Get Our FREE Booklet Mail the Coupon NOW The Palmer Plan has so many interesting features that we can't hope to tell you all about them in this limited space. That's why we have a copy of our new illustrated booklet — "The Secret of Successful Photoplay Writing"— waiting for you. Explains the Palmer Plan in detail — tells about our Advisory Service Bureau and our Manuscript Sales Department shows our iron-clad, money-back Guarantee. Contains statements from such people as Cecil de Mille. Wm. S. Hart, Thos. [nee, Douglas Fairbanks, Lois Weber and a score of others. Send for your copy today — it's free ! Leam how to turn your movie ideas into money. Mail the coupon NOW. PALMER PHOTOPLAY CORPORATION 7 IS I. W. Hi'llm.in Bid,... Los AnKolos, Cal. i !• i o ond mo, without obligation, mxa n«w booklet, "Tin' s-n,.t„(w,v.,i»in,.t,,,i„ Writlmr." At-.... Si.,-,-„.l Shi.. plemonl containing autoffrapfaofl tottan from the baaing proam .i.. .tin s. dirootorfl, ota, Numo st and No City State 1 rom the Skin Out ( Continued J be evening gowns, but conservation has director swore (internally) and scenes driven her to bathing suits, of which she dragged unbelievably. That night Mrs. designed three hundred and fifty, all differ Duncan sent for coral batiste and changed ent, in the past year. She makes these on the yoke. But the scenes taken with the the girls themselves, and has turned out as blue yoke photographed exactly the same many as sixteen in an hour on a hurry as those taken in the white. But patterns, call. brocades and embroideries show up beauti The old adage about seeing double which fully. I daresay will soon be as passe as "the There are instances where the whole plot horseless carriage" doesn't apply to the of a story may depend upon costuming. Sennett wardrobe department. They see Xo better example of this could be found triple instead. Every costume manufac than in the DeMille masterpiece ''Old Wives tured is not only duplicated but triplicated. For New." Miss Sylvia Ashton as Sophie, Accidents are too, too frequent and the the old wife, surely proved beyond a rea tragedy of finding that there are seventeen sonable doubt that clothes can expose the scenes yet to do and Adolph is permanently state of a lady's manners and morals. Mrs. minus the seat of his pants must be Hoffman considers this her greatest triumph avoided. and declares that on the exact impression The serial melodrama is rated a dead made upon an audience by Sophie's kimono loss by the costuming department. Leaping rests the convincingness of the whole plot. from freight car to freight car and gentle To compare Miss Ashton in this masterantics of that kind is sure hard on clothes piece of hideousness with her effect later and the scraps left are fit only for the in fashionable attire is to fathom the reacompany goat. son for some husband's absorption in the Financially the situation in comedy is morning paper and their wide awake at unusual. Cheapness in ordinary things is tention at dinner. decidedly recommended, and the costume "What is the hardest picture you've ever allowance is necessarily small, since a pic custumed?" I asked Mrs. Duncan, head of ture must actually be dressed three times. Universale wardrobe department. But things needed are priceless. A hat that "The Little White Savage." she answered, is a laugh by itself will bring more from after a moment's consideration. In that Sennett than Geraldine Farrar pays for story some followers of Sir Walter Raleigh her pearl headdresses. were supposed to be shipwrecked on a The system of having the wardrobe head small island. A hundred years later their okeh all performers before they appear on descendants are still there. Xaturally their the set is becoming more and more prev clothes have all worn out and they are alent. Often the designer goes to the stage forced to make a sort of cloth, woven from and works with the company, straightening seaweed, and to make it into rude garments the girls' gowns, showing them how to by sewing it with thong. Wraps were handle trains, fans and scarfs, suggesting to made from skins and sandals from bark, the star ways of getting an artistic effect, Research showed us that knitting was aland overseeing changes. Competent maids most unknown at this time. Queen Elizaare employed to dress the extra girls and beth herself possessing only one pair of these maids work under the heads of the knitted stockings, which had been presented department. In the same manner, a man to her as a great luxury by the Spanish has charge of extra men, to see that they ambassador. don't get the things on hind side before. "We had to make complete outfits for There is either a hair dressing department this whole village full of people. I used or the wardrobe mistress suggests the best the heaviest, coarsest burlap I could buy style of coiffure and adds the finishing to give the correct impression. Every gartouches if necessary. ment was sewed by hand with coarse yarn Hairdressing always comes under this de thread. The hats, shoes and stockings were partment, and someone in the staff can tell made after the shape and fashion of that you how the female of the species manages period, but of these rough materials. It her locks, be she Zulu, Hindoo or chicken, was a hard job, but it gave a wonderfully Mabel Normand, who has just completed a correct impression of what it was supposed screen version of Sis Hopkins, settled a to be." heated argument with the research and see "And what is the most difficult thing nario departments in this fashion. Some you ever had to get?" said the braids should go down, some said She laughed. "It may seem strange to one should go down and one up. But the you. but present day overseas stuff is very wardrobe head discovered that they both hard to get and tricky in the way of being went up. In the case of pictures taken exactly right. We try never to make a mis from plays, where the costuming is tra take, and there is only one way to be sure ditional, pictures of the originals are usually of that stuff — to get it from people who available. have been there. Cecil deMille, whose pictures are famed "We had a ballroom set up. a thing that for their authenticity antl attention to de cost us a lot of money, and the StorJ tail, has refused to shoot a picture because called for twenty-five American army ofti a girl, sitting at a table with only her cers' uniforms — the present service stuff. "upper half" visible, had on the wrong kind We didn't have any. We couldn't rent any of shoes. She must be as carefully dressed from the coslumers in town. No other in that respect as though she were posing studio had any to lend us. The picture as a shoe model. was to be shot that night and at 3 o'clock In one of her latest vehicles. Dorothy I faced the proposition of spending somePhillips was supplied with an exquisite thing like S5000 for those uniforms, with little frock of coral batiste. When sue donned it and appeared on the set. the hoots and accessories. "Then the director had a brilliant in dircctor and designer agreed that it was spiration. He went down town, visited the slightly too low in front to he in character, popular gathering places, mentioned the and did not convey the impression of girlish name of Mary MacLaren, the star, explained reserve necessary. Mrs. Duncan, the ward our predicament and got twenty-five uni robe mistress, took the gown hastily to the forms— with the officers inside. They workroom, while the company waited, and thought it a great lark and were much bet found that the only piece of material she ter. of course, than any costumed extras had on hand which would do was a shade could have been." of bright blue. The Universal wardrobe, which is valued Dorothy put it on and all but wept. The at £50.000. has probably adorned the shoul Every advertisement In ruoTori.AV MAGAZINE is guaranteed.