Technique of the photoplay (1916)

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122 SCENES AND SCENE PLOTS for you to write into the script a lawn party as to show two persons talking on the grass plot, but if the story is made as you have it writ- ten, the director must send a car ahead with a tent and rustic benches and a punch bowl and table and food, and then come along later and play the scenes. It may be that he will appreciate the pictorial ef- fect or he may merely object to the extra trouble. It is not possible to lay down any rule for this. Much depends upon the director and more depends upon what you get for the trouble you cause, but a gen- eral rule might be that when you put a company to any special trouble or expense, you must repay them with an adequate return in effect, either dramatic or pictorial or preferably both. 12. From what has been written, it should be plain to the student that he must plan his choice of scenes to give a maximum of effect with a minimum of expense and trouble, but it should ever be remem- bered that economy that is practiced at the expense of the story is wasteful in even greater degree than lavish expenditure without return. 13. The intelligent author will not seek to usurp the functions of the director. He will not attempt to lay out the scenes. He will tell in a general way what it is that he requires, but he will not offer minute details unless these are requested. A few directors will wel- come a detail description of a scene, but most will resent this unasked aid. The novice may write a scene description in full, perhaps: 41. Parlor of John's home. This is a typical country parlor with its horsehair sofa and chairs, a large stove, wax flowers under a glass case on the false mantel, crayon portraits on the wall and a picture of Abraham Lincoln. A centre table on which rests the family Bible and the photograph album, a couple of footstools and an ingrain carpet on the floor. Jim and Jess are discovered, looking over the family album. An experienced writer will credit the director with having sufficient intelligence and artistic instinct to create such a scene from a bare description and will merely write: 41. John's parlor. Typical country stufif. Jim and Jess discovered looking at photograph album. This will suffice unless it is essential to the theme of the story that the portrait of Lincoln be shown. This may not be used until several scenes later, but since this is the first description of the scene, the di- rector will work from this and the need for the picture will be called to his attention now that it may be on the wall in all the scenes and not added when the need for it becomes apparent. It is probable that the picture will be picked up in its proper scene and added to the descrip- tion before the plots go to the studio manager, but it is better to make your demand in the proper place and not trust to luck. The proper way is to write: 41. John's parlor. Typical country stuff. Portrait of Lincoln on wall essential.