Technique of the photoplay (1916)

CHAPTER VIII 23 material—your mind is concentrated upon the plot, and the assem- bling of the incident does not in the least interfere with this concen- tration. The subject of note-taking will presently be touched upon, but note-taking should be made subordinate to recollected fact and used more as an inspiration than a working tool. 6. Since nothing can be taken from the mind that has not been put into it, it follows that the more we know the more diversified the in- formation we can use. Suppose that like Mr. Wells we seek to create a monstrosity. We give our imaginary Martian the head of a hare, the beak of an eagle, the body of a snake, the tentacles of the octo- pus, the single eye of the Cyclops and a snaillike form of locomo- tion. These we know, therefore we can use. Did we not know of the snake we could not imagine such a body. We would have imagined something else. It is most important that we should have on hand the largest possible stock of attributes that we may outfit our celes- tial visitor most uniquely. 7. The best sources of information are readin g and o bservation o f daily life, but we can see more of life through books than through our own" limited opportunities for observation, and so reading occupies a higher place. The would-be fiction writer is required to do a certain amount of reading for style. This is not demanded of the photoplay author, who is not required to possess literary style beyond that which will enable him to write with correctness and intelligence. For the* photoplay writer there can be suggested no prescribed books or courses.! The reading must be catholic and all-embracing. Fiction alone will not suffice. There is as much vivid incident in the newspapers as in stories and magazines. To some extent elementary works on t£tli- nical subjects should be read, simple and easily understood books on surgery, on wood and metal w orking , on building and cons tr u^tiQn . on railroading—in fact on any subject you can acquire without undue effort and expense. It will not pay you to purchase a number of tech- nical works, but read them if you get the chance. The en cyclopedia, is excellent, but do not be like the man who could talk^intelligentiy only as far as G. Read through to Z and then read the appendix, if there is one. 8. Anything and everything you can get hold of is material; the c ata - logue of a mail order hous e is as apt to give you a suggestion as is the Bible or the daily paper. The chances that you will obtain an idea from the catalogue are fairly remote and it will not pay to make an effort to acquire one, but if you run across one read it and get an idea of the mail order business. Some day, in a western story, the recollection of the Wind River Bible will be helpful. One comedy that was received with favor was suggested by a bo pk^j instructions to ticket agents on the New York Central^Railroad, and it is probable that there are more suggestions to be found at"tEe same source. You will not find complete plots, but you will find ideas, and these ideas, combined with others, will in turn become plots. 9. You do not have to travel to observe life. If vou are in the con- A