El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-05-10
POINTS ON WRITING
PICTURE PLAYS.
Why 50 Few Of the Scenarios OF I'M
trained Authors Win
Arpemfmnee.

Why 50 Few Of the Scenarios OF I'M
trained Authors Win
Acceptance.
AS not over one per cent Of the
scenarios contributed BY unframed
writers are purchased by the rim
companies. Il is not a profitable Ilelo
for the aspirants for hOnOrs as photo
play authors The emOluments are
equally disappointing, S25 being the
average price paid, although oeca-
sionauy a script brings $50 or SO
Despite these facts there is a wide
spread interest on the part or LnS
public regarding the way to prepare
the MS so as to increase the POSSE
b.lity of its being the hundredCn
one. and therefore a few facts may
not be amiss- In the first place, the
WOuld-be author should 90 MS Ut
most to evolve a strong, original idea
on which to base his play The one
remaining alternative IS TO treat IN
wholly new and striking manner an
idea that may be somewhat lacking
in originality The great mass OF
plays pouring in on scenario editors
are wholly without originality. either
of basic idea or Of treatment
Technique is important. but not 50
important as the idea Technique
viii enable you to turn good idea
into a good play NO Iecnnlqqe can
make a play good If il rs based on a
trite, common place plot.
Action, Always Action
The one thing that is Of vital I'm
portance to the aspirant for honors-
and Wealth-as a scenario writer is
that ne. OF she, should ever keep N
mind that the play must appeal %
told usually. 1t must be told by ac-
ton. action, always action. and mat
action must explain itself. TO be sure,
there are the leaders or suD-llliess 1uL
the fewer OF those. the less the play
depends on them the better
There must be no dialogue Action
must take the place OF talk
The best school. IL might De sara
the only school, for the moving pic
ture play-Writer is the moving puc-
ture theater itself. But one might
spend all ones days, and nights TOO,
in looking at moving picture plays
without gaining any notion as TO now
to write one. unless those plays are
carefully studied. aualyzed- dlssected
unless the student sets himself the
task OF learning the why ana Wnere
fore of every movement taking piac
before his eyes. -,
And having done all this, there
but one more step to take In learn
ing TO write a photOplay, and tnaL
to write it-nOt one only, but a Dozen
S So the " Young Of 2 playwright proceeds
in nractjce his eyes viii gradually
omen to the defects Of his earlier et-
forts. and If he is really H9Sl1 Il
submItfinr the Scenario
When the tyro has unally pEo-
duced a play he thinks might prove
acceptable his next step IS 10 senq PC
to film company IT ne -
studied wisely in his moving picture
theater school he viii have noted tnar
each producing company has its own
special vogue and he wiz send II 70
one with which his play is most n &C
cord. If he has not. the address OF tne
film company he has selected ne
should send ii to New 1ork' WLsI5
most of the companies are located
and where all the others have olIlces-
1t should be clearly, cleanly type
T-rfrten and should be either folded
once OF laid 1at-never roLeQ-anQ
sent 70 the film company with Iu1l
postage prepaid and a stamped, selI-
Addressed. return envelope enclosed IL
81 not necessary TO write letter
Then wait patiently for a couple OF
months for q check or returned
manuscript If the editor 1avors YOU
with a few words as to the cause OF
its rejection profit by them IN pre-
pairing your next venture
Most of the companies viii senC on
,eC1es+ a circular or pamphlet giving
Instructions as 10 how scenarios
should be prepared for them
II your first effort is re1ecteo,-aS
the chances are it will be-Wny, you
must take refuge IN the Try again
code Of philosophy
Address all manuscripts directly 70
manuscript department
Each manuscript submitted must De
accompanied by synopsis OF the plot
on the first page
The name and address or the auLnor
must also appear on the man ipL-
To insure the return Of manuscripts
enclose stamped. self-addressed en-
velope. Do not enclose loose stamps.