Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1916)

Hints for Scenario Writers 299 that is given him, for he realizes its value. Then he applies it to himself. Some of it fits, and this he stores away in his mind. More of it does not exactly apply to him, and this he discards and forgets. He studies the work of other writers to see what is behind their ideas, and what their command of technique is. He may stumble upon something of value to himself. If he does, he uses it in his own individual way ; a way so different, that when it has become part of a finished product it is entirely his own. He would never consider taking the plot of another person's work bodily, for he is trained to look with contempt upon such an act. He forges ahead because he does not try to be carried forward by others. He is an individual, and he stands or falls by his own work. It is, indeed, a wise writer that trains himself from the very beginning to belong to the class of individual thinkers. OUR SCENARIO CONTEST. Arrangements have been completed between the Universal Film Manufacturing Company and this magazine to conduct a scenario contest to be known as "Picture-Play Magazine's Scenario Contest," the detailed announcement of which appears on pages 201 to 204 of this issue. The reward is well worth trying for, for besides the cash prize which is offered — forty dollars per reel and a special prize of fifty dollars, regardless of the length of the script — the Universal Company has agreed to buy all other scenarios submitted which meet its requirements. This may mean the beginning of a valuable connection for many of the writers who compete. The judges will be Joe Brandt, general manager of the Universal Film Manufacturing Company; Miss Mary Fuller, the Universal star, who will be featured in the production made from the winning scenario, and myself. In choosing the best script, the judges will consider the strength of the plot first and will estimate its worth as compared to the number of reels in which it is worked out. Writers may submit anything from one to five reels with an equal chance of taking the prize. This contest should interest every photo-playwright who has followed oui department, as it is a sort of a test of the ability of our readers. It is open to all— even those who have not as yet mastered the technical construction of a scenario — for the chief requirement is a big, new idea and a gripping, novel plot. The strength of a story alone is enough to carry a writer to victory. If those who have become accomplished in writing working scripts desire to place their full scenarios before the eyes of the judges, they will reap the benefits thereof if it proves to be of unusual merit. The contest opens with the appearance of this issue on the news stands, and continues until twelve o'clock, noon, June 17, 1916. This will give every writer ample time to lend his or her best effort to the script which is submitted and will give the writers who do good work rapidly a chance to submit more than one offering. The plays should be written to fit Miss Mary Fuller, the clever Universal star, as the winning script will be picked with the idea in mind of featuring her in it. Her work is too well known to need mention here. She can play almost any character, and is noted for ability to "get over" the most trying scenes. Although she has appeared in comedy, she prefers to work in drama, and script writers should consider this in preparing their work. A part which is typical of the American woman of any of the social classes should be ideally fitted to Miss Fuller. She has appeared on the screen as a girl of the tenements, a business woman, a society