Screenland (Oct 1924–Apr 1925)

C[Ihe Caswell studio, at 1107 North Branson Ave., Hollywood, is typical of the studios used by fleeting independent producers" who never produce, and also as the "acting academy" of various make-up schools. "O'Conor Productions, Inc." blazoned 011 the fence quiets any" apprehensions on the part of students and investors. Without a cent of capital this young man raised $112,500, engaged a director and technical artist, got a first-class release promised for his unmade picture, travelled across the continent to the studios, was interviewed, photographed and put up at an exclusive club. With a little more shrewdness he might have gone ahead and produced the picture and today be among the best film financiers. But he made a slight error. Here's the story: In an Ohio city there was a youth following his father's footsteps in the building of model bungalows. With some of his money he dabbled in home-talent movies — crude little short-reel stories that, were shown in local houses. The experience aroused his movie ambitions and he went to New York. A friend casually introduced him to a certain director who has been in the game since its early days. "Maybe you can give me a tip," said the dapper youth from Ohio to the director. "I've got a man who wants to put $150,000 into pictures and I'm looking for a good director." The director cleared his throat modestly. "Well, I've directed most of the big stars," he said. "I'm turning down contract offers just now because I want to produce a story of my own." "What kind of a story?" " 'Gilded Profit.' It's a " "Say, that sounds good. Let me look over the script, will you?" The director was delighted. With script in hand the youth called upon the vice-president of a big film company that was releasing some independently made picture. "I've the well-known director. Bob Marker, under con 34 tract and I'm going to make a $150,000 production of this story," he stated confidently. The executive was impressed by the boy's "front," and offered to pay 50 percent of the production cost when the negative was handed to him. The youth persuaded him to make the guarantee 75 percent of the cost, and had the agreement in writing. Then he went to the New York representative of a cinema financing company and got $112,500. The Ohioan then went to California with his director and his script and a press agent. At the studio the young men were received with open arms by the studio manager. The publicity department hailed .the promoter as "The Youngest Film Producer in the World" and scattered interviews and photographs among the newspapers. The "producer" engaged an art director, who insisted on putting up his new boss at the exclusive college club. And he started plans to produce his picture. Where was he going to get his additional $37,500? He didn't know, and he tried not to worry about it. He, might have actually got the picture in production had he not made one mistake. In moving from his hotel to the club he neglected to pay a bill of $150. The hotel recognized a newspaper picture of "The Youngest Film Producer" as its non-paying guest. The manager showed this circular to the art director who had made the producer his guest. Whereupon the art director compared notes with the press agent and Bob Marker, the director. None of them had received any actual money, and there were discrepancies in the young producer's various stories. So they went to the vice-president in charge of produc