Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-12-03
Are You Writing "Movies"7

Are You Writing "Movies"7
Tho other day We overheard a
young man Che was young and opti-
mistic or he would have waited until
the eggs were under the hen before
counting his chickens) boast that he
had an "offer'' from a film company
to write scenario. He confidentially
assured his friend that there is good
money in 1t, too"
So there may be, but not for scat
| tered amateur writers. The scenario
bait is the timely gold brick" Just
now 1t Is being worked to the limit.
| We are sorry TO throw cold water on
| the dreams of many who may be en-
tertaining rosy hopes of fame and for
tune, but duty to our readers compels
| us to make public any information OF
public interest that our facilities fur
nish.
Briefly, we know Of the case of an
ambitious one who assures US that
Ills e4PSlltitNCp iuohtHS dSos Shti5hCc
him the swindlers are not all dead yet.
He answered an alluring advertise
ment and received instructions. Ac-
cording to this outline he presented
an amusing experience of his own.
He expected them to use only the in
cident in their own way-as they
claimed to expect to do, paying him
for the idea. His manuscript was
promptly returned with the polite in
here is the point: A few months lat
er he went to a moving picture show
and saw his own experience shown up
strikingly in his own way-they had
simply STOLEN his idea.
Now appears a vaudeville periodi-
cal with information that is illurni-
mating. Variety has the following:
'.The cops are after the wire tap
pers of the movies. The governments
suit against the Motion Picture Pa
tents Co., now on, is lifting the veil
on hitherto shadowy warrens of the
film game.
Uncle Sam wants the folks who
are using the mails to defraud aspir-
ing scenario writer's to quit or be
.mugged.' The secret service agents
who have run down the evidence OF
violations of the Sherman law
against trusts have run across the
web of snares set for the innocents
throughout the land who wish to be-
come a writer of moving picture seem
arios and earn from 5000 to $500 per
week
"The government agents have the
names of the principal pliers OF the
new way Of getting soft money
have correspondent with the schools
have their literature, with its nislead-
ing statements and guarantees, ana
will act upon the evidence of wrong
doing and wrong intent as soon as
their present labors in the Motion ia
tents Co. suit are ended.
Scarcely q film trade journal cir
culates that doesn't carry advertise
ments of teachers and schools offer
ing instruction in scenario writing for
price. Commonly, II the prey
doesn't bite at the first price quoted
a second batch of circulars Will FOL
low. Offering the lessons at re-
duced rate.
"Some speciously absurd reason
will be given for the reduced price.
If the 'come-on' lodges this trap,
further overtures are made as In the
green goods game.
"rhese teachers and schools usu-
ally profess tremendous demand
for scenarios by the manufacturers.
They quote ridiculous sums as re-
turns for film manuscript. The man
ufacturers do nothing to discourage
the auacks. 1t suits the producers TO
keep the public believing they are al
ways open for film plots and that they
nav generously for them.
"The government agents have dls-
| covered that II Is as hard to sell d
| aim scenario as it is to book a vaude-
vile act: that most of the big man.
ufactiirers have their own scenarists'
that a. big proportion OF the playiets
come from the directors ana announcer
great percentage from magazine sto-
ries that readers for film firms peruse
and appropriate or n1isapproprlate.
| "a scenario school recently adver-
+ised that a contain scenario writer
had earned $4,000 in a single year.
| writing scenarios. One of the inVesti-
| eating secret service men declared 10
q Variety representative that the ns-
ures we're absolutely correct save Tor
three misleading ciphers.'