The technique of the photoplay ([c1913])

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PRODUCING THE PHOTOPLAY 21 Now the property and scene plots are prepared. Plot is merely another name for list. The property plot is nothing more than a list of all the things needed in your production whether it be a safety pin or a gattling gun. Some properties the studio owns, others are borrowed or rented. The scene plot, is the list of sets needed. Generally diagrams are made of the sets, either in free hand or to scale. In the latter way paper lightly ruled into squares is used. Each of these squares represents a square foot of space. At one point a line is drawn across six of these squares. This is known as the front line and corresponds to the footlights of the dramatic stage. The Editor knows that the lense his cameraman uses will just take in the six foot line if placed twelve and a half feet back of the line. Along the middle line of the six he measures off twelve and a half squares. A line drawn from this point through the sides of the six foot line and beyond will give a triangle that exactly corresponds to the angle of the lense. Anything within these lines is in the picture, anything outside is not. When the picture is to be taken these lines are laid down in some way, either by mentally marking the direction of the line, by nailing down strips of wood or running tape lines. The player who does not keep within these lines is said to fall out of the picture. While the property man is working over the property plot or "prop" list, the stage carpenter is planning the settings with the director, either using regular sets or having new scenes painted. The position of each piece of furniture is determined and a drawing made for each set, buit not for each scene. The players are notified as to the costumes and wigs they will need. Street dress of today must be furnished by the player. The company supplies foreign costumes or the dress of another period. The players may be told something of the play, but some directors do not permit their people to know the plot and it is entirely possible for an actor to take the leading part in a play and not be able to more than vaguely guess at the story. When the first set is put in place and dressed to the satisfaction of the director, the players in the scenes in that set are called. This set may be that used for the first scene or for one in the mid- dle or toward the end. The scenes are not played in regular order but are put on to suit the conditions oi the moment. The last scene may be played first and then scene two, but all the scenes in one set are played before that set is struck and another is set, set being both a verb and a noun. The players are rehearsed in one scene at a time and this may be gone through with once or ten times or a hundred until the