Silver Screen (Nov 1938-Apr 1939)

CAN YOU WRITE? To Earn Money Prizes 7 IF YOU can express your thoughts, opinions, heliefs and preferences so that others may read and grasp your viewpoint, then you have the talent for writing. The subject of your essays must be Motion Pictures and, particularly, you are invited to criticize and, by so doing, help the producers improve their product. To make this contest as simple as possible, so that no formalities may prevent a person with a good idea from entering, the prizes will be awarded for the best letters. After all it is what you say that is important and it must be expressed so that your meaning is clear. But embody the whole in a letter to Silver Screen. A PRIZE of .f 50.00 will be awarded for the best letter received before November 1, 1938. A number of letters will be selected and printed on the Letter Contest Page and every one that is printed will be paid for at $5.00 each. WHAT TO WRITE ABOUT The reports from the Box-Offices establish that the public did not like some pictures much and that it did like some others very much indeed. All this the producers know but WHY, WHY, WHY? This contest is to end the wall of silence that surrounds the picture makers of Hollywood. They spend their good money and they secure the best stories they can get. They hire authors and experts to bring a story to the screen and they hire actors and actresses of world wide fame to act in it. And then, perhaps the public does not like the finished picture-and so another wellheralded movie gets a lukewarm box-office reception. It is our belief that the public is fully aware of the reason why the nicture is a flop, but there has been no way in which the fans could tell the producer what was wrong. Here is an opportunity to help the producers make the kind of movie that you want. Silver Screen establishes the first line of communication to Hollywood. All along you have heard FROM the studios in great detail, now you can let the Stars, Directors, Producers, Writers and even the Film Cutters and the Set Builders know what you believe WOULD HAVE IMPROVED the pictures that you did not like. Be Specific. Do not write in that the pictures would improve if the producers made them better. The producers want to know what actuated you to go to one picture and stay away from another, or to like one picture and not like another. We are putting you in touch with Hollywood. Win a prize by telling what you believe would have improved some particular picture. HINTS TO LETTER WRITERS Below are some sample letters written to order, not in competition, showing how the prize letters should be written, as to length, etc. No letter will be returned, so keep a copy. James Stewart tells the world. CONDITIONS IN THE $50. LETTER CONTEST 1. Letters must not be longer than 150 words. 2. No letter will be returned. 3. Contest closes November 1, 1938. 4. In the event of a tie, prizes of equal value will be given to each tying contestant. 5. Address your letter to PRIZE LETTER CONTEST, Silver Screen, 45 W. 45th St., New York, N. Y. .<>< All «a ***** ' v^e ..A rt v Dear Silver Screen: I really believe that the screen to be successful must fulfill its appointed task and teach common everyday philosophy. In "You Can't Take It With You," we see the money chasing capitalist lose the love of his son and we also see the devotion of the family and the neighbors of the genial poor man. It teaches us that happiness is a reward for services rendered to others and that it comes as mysteriously as the return of bread cast upon the waters. The poor do not have to pay back to the givers. They must in turn be kind to those who need their help. I like pictures that make me conscious of the improving world because these betterments are a part of the marching forward of Justice. Perhaps Hollywood hasn't thought about that. Cordially yours, Leonard Howell c>° o^ „ tfu v, Su t Another Letter Contest Next Month for November 1938 51