The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-06-06
HOW "1O1 BISON"
FILMS ARE MADE
interesting Description of Making
of Popular Pictures


There Is so much interest shown in
tb, l0l BISON pictures that it will in
irrrst the general public To learn more
about their production, the manner
IA which the pictures are made, some
ming regarding their directors, some
particulars of the actors and the. act
fesscs who appear in them and some
salient reasons why they are SO won
dafully popular.
We viii tirst follow the methods
used to make one of these biz pro-
auctions. In the first place there is
The story. There are those who think
mat the management just sits down
and talks over what they will do and
Jhrn do it. work in IA few fights, aud
50 forth. Now, this question Of a
story is vital one aud is one uf the
Greatest difficulties which faces the
UNIVERSAL and every other moving
picture concern. The Universal spends
large sums advertising for good fea-
ture stories. There are hundreds com
inc in AZ all times, but there is not
one really good novel scenario which
can be placed aside Tor further con-
sldcIatjon OFT Of 100 or 200 submit
led scripts. Most at the writer's of
western acenarios, and especially of
Indian aud military plays, think that
one or TWO big fights in which the In
Glans are routed and the military vie
torious are the only ingredients re
CURED They can see the exciting
fights as they are, stirring indeed, but
ordinary fights have been done and
Irdone. and the difficulty IS Ia get
some new angle. Then, again, the Idea
Of lights between Indians aud settlers
cor soldiers must have some very good,
original story To hold the interest of
the audience, and original stories are
few and far between. Some of the tales
are written by the Universal STAFF of
scenario writer's and others are re-
written from submitted scripts.
We will consider that we have our
story. The next step is To go over 1t
with the scenario writer and the di-
rector To- DISCUSS the good and bad
points. To make /; natural and to ell
inmate parts which would not appeal
To thu. censor board Then the story IL
gone over again with the manager
and then written out in full. Even
then some new points may be added.
several copies arr. made, one for the
Office. one for the manager and tn"
others for the director to direct from
and To give 10 his PLAYERS To read.
70 haze the scenario written ANA
ready for the director does not mean
that the picture is ready to produce
Iv any means. The cast has To be
selected and the abilities of the vari-
Gus men and women To be considered
one must he eliminated because he
or rhc does not ride well enough for
the part: others for various reasons.
Then comes the question of cos
tunes, which takes considerable time
when correctness of detail is required.
This Is one Of the points about when
tine Universal Is very particular. NJ
times a large number of costumes
have to be made, cntailing a long wait,
Some times the order must be divided
htlNttn ScNcfal cuSlulhtIS ~ 81 ''''''
boo anything like a reasonable Tune
Then, every picture requires some
special scenery painted ana Spt'l''
props made. one will require colo
uial settings. which must he made I"
give the correct effect This is
much bigger task than most people
think. Several scenic artists VIII ne
at work on some special scenery Tor
jhc interior scenes while a large lor''
of carpenters will be kept busy bu'ld-
ing exterior settings, gun caffiat'S'
forts. stockades aud similar things.
During the time that the tnlNersh'
has been ON their big ranch seNeral
stuckades. both OF logs and of adobe
have been built. ana two new ones
are right now in the building. Again
"a careful observer IN any audience
win see that the Universal presents
one long western street after ah"'h'i
nearly always different. There are
men altering and rebuilding western
streets all the time. Whole c"l"h'''
mansions are fashioned. only To "e
used once or twice at most ana tapes
tricl interiors are made al cohSl"''"
hio cost to go into the discard AFTER
one picture.
Then comes the work of the boss ol