Practical cinematography and its applications (1913)

ATTRACTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES 7 every conceivable form of trickery, and sold his product for £3,000 or $15,000. He also refused an offer of £5,000 ($25,000) for another film of pictures calculated to please children. To sum up, the amateur or independent cine- matographer has a vast field available for the profitable exercise of his skill. Except in regard to the topical work, which is of the -rush-and- hustle order, he must show imagination in his choice of subject and craftsmanship in the execu- tion of his work. He must, that is to say, be trained so far as to be no longer an amateur in the popular meaning of the word. He must learn aptitude in the school of experience. The reward is well worth the trouble. Hitherto the amateur worker has been held back by the great expense of the necessary apparatus. The camera cost £50 ($250), and the developing and printing operations were generally supposed to be too difficult and costly for private under- taking. There was some excuse for these notions. The trade at first followed narrow lines, no welcome being held out to the amateur competitor. But circumstances have been too strong for this trade, as for others, and it burst its bonds in due time. The co-operation of the independent worker became essential as the demands of the market increased. In the production of plays, for instance, England at first led the way. But the American