The Washington times., 1914-09-18
THE BEST
Photopldy Department in
WASHINGTON
Directors the OcR
Foundation For
Success of
Film.

One Of the most important factors
In the making of a successful photo
play is the director-the audience be-
fore which the actors and actresses
first perform their parts, and who
must be absolutely satisfied with
their work before it is Incorporated
n the film. The original photoplay
directors were compelled TO create
heir own rules and supply their own
IDEAS There was no such thing as
4 scenario at the beginning. and the
director, as a rule, furnished his own
story. And then came the scenario
writer who relieved him of that por-
tion of his work. The competition
had become so great, however, that
II was necessary for the director to
work day and night to make his film
picture the stories that were written
Tor IL. as the acting of a play is
simply the elimination of the work
OF production-not the whole Of it.
These conditions developed a class
m directors who thought they were
really the play, and who gave neither
scenario writer nor actor the credit
Tor having ideas. There are yet a
number OF directors who will not
even deign to explain to the members
Cf their companies what they are
acting, and who begin in the middle
OF a story and work toward both
ends without letting the acting staff
know what it is supposed to be do
ing. This class. happily. is rapidly
living ont The greatest complaint
Today among people who are familiar
ith some of the technique of the
photoplay. is what they term the
direCtor-made" play-the play that
produced without regard to the
authors story or the actors idea of
heir parts.
As d matter of fact the successful
iirector is the man who can cordi-
ate the work of the author and
actor with his own so that a perfect
production is made. David w. Grit
nth has set the pace for this kind of
2 III eCtor. There arc several others
II his class and it is rather evident
they must all come to il if they eN-
'""t TO make any sort of success.
od@y the men and women of note
tire literary world who are writing
s"enarios or permitting their stories
90 be dramatized are not the kind to
=, calmly by ard permit their work
e bn rs-hashed and patched to suit
he iurid fancy of some melodra-
ro'iC or Slap-stiCk comedy direC-
rT. one Of tho youn- men who has
80 tt'hl DIS dS wen 'tS a u
.,r'Or. Homaine i-belding of the LII
1U company. secs new chance
tor the ambitious worker to sue
rod IN the spirit of the times.
: lie day has gone by for good.
n declares when any actor with
= few years experience may aspire
90 the direCtorship of \ company.
The Up-to-date director must study.
I'd study hard. Above all elsa. he
rTst he pOst-Sra duate in human
.4ture TO know accurately the linn
IiatiOrS Of the human material he
- working and Co realize its eN-
rsn~ive quality. likewise of corrsa.
Of tho ro'Itine and the technical he
must be A past Erandmaster. While
fhr mechanical improvements will
ultd hT leaps and hounds. SO will
.. Grrart-n- nrG. The time - not
-r distant when there will I've ere
.r,T II general director OF directors.
'-r-'e vi hrinC about greater uni
srrm.tH and CCh,siVeEcss. 1t will
81 out SOM the careless workers
ID strengthen some who are nov
AK. The public will reap the
.-rft II is anything but A Veri-
40 playground. for the cOnsc'en-
..,,rls director. Many uninforrned
rink his lot AN ideal one. The
Ia axiom. Look before you leap
IN, es- most trIthfully to the actor
= moving pictures"