New-York tribune., 1912-02-18

ioi 'HS"' WV NV hHO"lnS lnat ne was
a sChoolboy.
THE trouble with the producers Is that
they require scenarios to call for more
than enough blood, thunder. murder or
veiled innuendo Real heart stories. such
as nine out of ten OF the best audiences
would applaud, the directors are afraid to
put on. They will be forced by public
opinion to do so before long"
TWO RIVAL FACTIONS.
There are two factions in the moving
picture industry I'm this country that have
complete control of the distribution of
photo plays. Unless a man could be certain
OF a financial backing that would equal at
least 100000, there would be no chance for
him TO succeed as an independent pro-
ducer. Even so, 1t would be doubtful If he
could make any headway, because OF the
almost alright system of control that ex-
lists between these two large interests now
operating throughout the United States
One firm, known as the Motion Pictures
Patents Company holds the rights of the
Edison and the Biograph patents. 1t has
issued ten licenses to ten companies 10
produce motion pictures The other firm Is
the Independent Motion Picture Distrib-
uting and Sales Company, composed of
about fifteen members. They are indepen-
dent OF the Edison and the Biograph peo-
pie.
Each OF these companies releases a GER
tain number of films week. The Motion
Picture Company leases for six months
and the sales company sells outright to the
exchanges. You have to take either one or
the other, An exchange cannot use the
Independents pictures and take those Of
the other company.
a man, therefore, starting in the business
of taking his own moving pictures would
be confronted at the outset with the fact
that there existed no market for his prod
uct. He could not sell TO the exhibitor; the
exhibitor would be afraid Of the outcome,
as he would be shut off from receiving the
new weekly releases Of the established
leaders IN the industry.
1t would take about $lO0co0 to get your
stuff ready for the market. You would
have TO get your plant studio. and enough
pictures ahead for, say, four or six weeks.
1t costs a great deal to take moving pict-
ures An expert said a few days ago that
for a free lance artist to attempt to edge
his way into the producing field there would
be required not less than $4,000 for films
before a start could be made Each picture
of 1000 feet would cost about s2O00, and the
beginner would want at least ten pictures
seven Of which might be failures from the
heart gripping point OF view.
NEW TYPE OF NEWSGATHERER.
The moving picture industry has devel-
oped new type OF newsgatherer. manu-
facturer may have a photoplay that takes
only 700 feet and he wants the remaining
800 feet utilized Exhibitors expect to re-
ceiye approximately 1909 feet OF picture
film The delicate problem Of finding an
attractive series of scenes to make
story only 600 feet long IS therefore 10 be
solved.
The firm Of Lubin & Co, in Philadelphia
have a very handy man. His name is Ar
thur d. Hotaling In a crisis such as this
the direction OF the studio says:
TEL Arthur to go and get 300 feet OF
good. lively stuff.
Arthur doesn't hesitate. One Of the most
popular comedy pictures is called Pardon
Me"' Mr.. Hotaling did not write any
scenario for that play
He was trying to get his camera in d
favorable position TO catch a certain story
Numerous obstacles presented themselves.
He found himself continually turning
around TO apologize TO some one or other.
Apparently he was in everybody's way
That gave him the idea. He had the cam
eva turned on himself, and with several
artificial Instructions that he managed to
work into the story he evolved lOOO-foot
laupbraker that hundreds Of thousands
have enjoyed.
when Arthur has TO use up 300 feet Of
6ln, he accepts the assignment In the same
spirit as that in which a reporter WoaId
leave the city editor when instructed TO
take walk on Broadway and get
story"
The manufacturers say they receive an
average Of four hundred manuscripts
week Sometimes a week goes by without
one Of these offerings being found avail
able" Multiply this number by the twenty
Eve manufacturers, and you Will see that
tbare are about ten thousand scenarios
week that help the receipts OF the Postal
Department.
An ex-convict I'm Tennessee wrote the
story Of his life on fifty pages, and sent II
ast week to a producer in this city. ne
man told in detail how he had been III
nrison seven times for various crimes ana
had been hunted by the mounted police out
Of several mountain counties Of his native
state. lie offered to tell his past life tor
q small sum for use on the screen lie saia
he had reformed and wanted, by the aid OF
nictures. to warn young men from falling
into his mistakes.
MANY ministers offer scenarios. Aerhaps
.ho highest price ever paid for scenario
,,ss for "The Life of Moses as arranged
,,,, .,,o pev. Dr. Madison G. Peters for the
,-i,aoranb Company OF America. The story
roc,,ires 900 feet Of film and cost the COM
,a-,,, over $1,000 to produce it, in addition
20 90 zoo which the Rev. DR.. Peters is said
TO have received.