The Washington times., 1914-04-13
THE BEST
Photopldy Department in
WASHINGTON
Griffith, "The BeldSco
of the Screen"
Talks About
Projection

lille ordinarily jealous OF
vA their own interests and
keen to the merits Of
their own performers orly,
there is hardly a producer OF photo
plays in the country but will agree
TO the statement that the film owes
more to David w. Griffith than to
any one person connected with the
business. And while Griffith is a
name that means much to manufac-
turers and exhibitors alike, It is
probable that not one out Of fifty
patrons of the theater ever heard Of
him. Yet it was Griffith who has
done more than any individual to
make the moving picture plays a
work Of art, who has raised the film
from a freak to an honest delinea-
ton of life. Many of the great stars
of the screen owe their start in the
business to Griffith and their sue
cess in his painstaking instruction.
, Mary Pickford, Arthur Johnson,
King Baggott, Owen Moore, Henry
King Gaggott. owen Moore, Henry
" <A4iSC JOy 1[OIO(hy anu
Lillian Gish, Kathlyn Williams
these are only few of the names he
has been instrumental in making
famous throughout the country.
He is known to photoplay men as
the David Belasco OF the film busi-
ness and no less authority than Mr..
Belasco has announced that lie feels
himself complimented by the desig-
nation. Griffith is a producer, a
director Of productions.
1t Is with some satisfaction there
fore that The Times Photoplay Edi-
tor has obtained the following inter-
view with Mr.. Griffith on the way
pictures should be produced. This is
the first time ne has ever consented
10 make statement for publication.
AS he has given every phase Of his
work the closest study, and is the
inventor Of several devices and meth
DDS for securing better projection,
as well as remarkable effects in
photographing the plays originally,
his word can be regarded as au-
rdoritative.
Projection Of motion pictures is a
fine art" declared David w. Grif-
fifth. The tempo at which a mo
lion picture is run is as important
as 1t is in the playing for a stage
play A matter of five minutes
slower or faster for the entire pic
lure might not AFFECT it perceptably
tire picture of five reels should be
strung out for ten or fifteen minutes
overtime it would be absolutely
ruined. would advise a rehearsal
OF II ten or fifteen times with music
until 1t Is absolutely correct. often
me exhibltor wants to lengthen a
snow SO that he may not have to put
another picture on. with the result
that he absolutely ruins the pic
ture and succeeds only in dragging
the audience out and keeps them
out OF the theaters for good. The
picture Is timed In taking, SO that II
WORKS up toward the latter part very
lnuch In the same manner as the
play.
"f should think IT would bs
good idea for the man in charge OF
the exhibition Of pictures which re-
ouire care to know enough about
running projection machine to be
many instances thousands of dollars
nave been spent for theeters, for
the production of moving pictures,
and for the exhibition Of moving
pictures. which were absolutely
dsted- Inc location OF the theaters
has been blamed when the real
fault lay in the projection OF the
pictures, dim lights. or any of the
many seemingly trivial things that
make II so easy to spoil a picture.
&! have seen pictures absolutely
dead in one place that went big
In another; not IN any way on ac-
count of difference in the audience.
but purely and simply because thew
were shown with good. clear
light. the right tempo. and correct
focus.
am emphasizing this fact in
particular for the many theatrical
people getting into the motion pic
ture business may not get sight Of
this important item until II Is too
late. Most Of the theaters In New
York city. for instance, are guilty of
very bad projection on account of
the long throw and insufficiency of
light, the uptown houses, as a rule.
giving a much better performance
This statement by Mr.. Griffith is
the first time that a practical pro-
Queer OF motion pictures has ex-
pressed himself on projection az
fne art. That ne has the right idea
viii not be doubted when instances
are remembered OF pictures that
should have been shown at a fast
tempo which were killed by being
Sragged out and pictures which
which should have been stately and
dignffied being killed by the operator
racing the projection machine