The Washington times., 1914-07-30
PHOTOPLAYS AND
PHOTOPLAYERS
HO1U to Establish an
Inquest Club for
Aspiring Photo
PldyUrights
By GARDNER MACK.

The progress of the moving picture
industry has developed a new
branch of literature. AS has been
stated IN this column several times,
scenario writing is as dignified an
occupation as writing any other sort
OF story or play, and requires as
much ability and certain amount
OF training. The tremendous circu-
lation that the writer OF q scenario
gets for his work is far greater than
the average fiction writer obtains,
no matter how popular he might be.
And ii is also considerably greater
tnan that OF the average playwright.
There is, therefore, a heavier re-
sponsibility LAID upon the scenario
writer than on either of the other
literary workmen, and he should
approach his task with greater
care. A successful novelist, on
being asked the formula for sue
cess IN writing, stated that the per-
son who would win fame and for
tune must first write what he
thought, put the writing away, read
II over year or two later and
then burn IL up. This meant that
the writer should let his work get
cold and go over II when the
cret!ve spell had passed.
something OF the same sort applies
TO scenario writing.
Ihe scenarios written in the heat
or the creative moment should be
permitted to~iie hidden away until
the writer can approach them with
careful Judgment as to their worth.
IL isn't always possible to do this
in this age OF short cuts to every
thing, however. And Epes Win
throp Sargent, the well-known au-
thor1ty on scenarios. has hit upon a
scheme which has the same effect.
de calls his scheme an Inquest
Club, and instead of allowing
scenarios to lie hidden, the writer
brings them out, and reads them to
others of his ilk who have been sim
llarly afflicted, and ''inquests' are
held to determine just what is the
matter with them-if there is any
thing the matter. The id0a seems to
be a very good one, especially in
cities where the itch to write
scenarios has become epidemic-like
Washington. There are numbers of
embryo scenario writer's in this
city. who would probably receive
much help from such a club. For
the benefit of those who would profit
by Mr.. Sargent's suggestion, We give
1t in his own words:
we want TO see the coming sea-
son end with an Inquest Circle in
every photoplay writing center in the
country. Most of those already es-
tablished have done great good in
bringing the isolated writer's together
and getting them into the atmos-
phere of the work. and we want to
see more of them established.
But We want to see them con-
Quoted on the lines Of the Inquest
Club of New York City, and not
along the cut and dried lines, for we
believe that the rules laid down make
for best and most permanent organ
ization. Many Of local coroners have
started out to pattern their organ
izations On the lines of the usual
literary club, and this defeats the
end of the club. The rules are very
simple.
Some competent person undertakes
to gather about himself or herself
the other writer's of a city for the
purpose of study and discussion.
Each can help the other without los
ing any personal advantage, and
already the circles in Pittsburgh.
Baltimore. New Orleans and else
where have done much to develop
writers into sellers.
IF you want TO start an inquest
circle in your city write in. In
the fall the various circles will be
advertised at least once a month
and an effort made to keep in init
mate touch with them