The Washington herald., 1914-04-23

Everybody used to write a play-now
everybody writes moving picture scena-
rios. But there are few people who really
understand the fine points Of the game.
Like any other salable article, the
scenario must meet the demands of the
market. Plays written merely to please
the authors fancy, and sent out at ran
dom-however thrilling they may be-are
not likely to land. OF all literary crafts,
scenario writing is the most practical. 1t
is distinctly applied art-and the photo
playwright must bear in mind many re-
quirements Of the public, conditions in the
trade and the producing facilities of the
motion picture studio.
The scenario writer may have imagina-
ton. But he must begin at the other
end-he must first study the market. The
market cannot be taught. 1t must be
learned by experience and studious OBJ
servation The writer for the film should
acquaint himself thoroughly with the
charac acter of the different brands of pic
lures. and the special requirements of
each-eXactly as a magazine writer IA
miliariZes himself with the policies of the
various periodicals. He should observe
what kind of plays fill the theaters- He
should keep abreast with cdpditions and
changes in producing centers-
If a company puts out comedies and
light playlets almost exclusively. il is next
to useless to send it elaborate drama.
Some brands release single reels only.
Others specialize in big features and null
tiple-reel subjects.
The World. the Flesh and the Devil"
an English-made film founded on the
play by Lawrence Cowen-was dropped
on by Mr.. Redford, the censor. The joke
is that Mr.. Redford, when he was official
censor Of plays, passed the dramatic YER
sion. Luckily for all concerned, it has
been found possible to amend the subject
TO suit the censor, and now it goes forth
with his approval-and none the worst
for the advertising arising from the
slight preliminary difficulty.
The Strike is the title of a remark
able Thanhowser film, which will soon
be shown in Washington. 1t is one of
the most dramatic stories which has
recently been shown on the screen.
GThe Strife" ThanhOuser feature, at
the Colonial today. 927 Pa ave. NV
Adv.
..Tbrougb Blindness to Light is the
title of a two-reel melodraFna now in the
course of production by Director Frank
Crane at the New York Imp studio. BY
Stuart Patton, IL tells the story of blind
hero a girl who goes wrong, brother
who is murdered in attempting to avenge
her wrongs, and final reckoning. Mr..
Crane plays the part Of the murdered
brother. An odd situation comes where
the blind artist plays chess with the vii
lain who ruined his sweetheart and also
killed the brother without knowing It.
It is, evident after studying the tastes
Of few audiences and after talk with
the men behind the box Offices, that the
demand for foreign films is not. as strong
as it used to be. This is in no measure
due to a lack of quality in the pictures
produced by the foreign companies. but
TO the increasing artistic perfection Of
the American made movies. We no
longer see. in the domestic pictures, the
crudely painted drops and unsavory "the-
african effects that once characterized
them OF course there are occasioned
lspses-but the American made films pro-
duced today are clean cut. artistic and
have a real punch to them.
Raphael, 9th and o. reels daIiy.-Adv.