The Washington times., 1914-11-16
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To "Pu bliSh" Film
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Charles Pathe Of the famous film
producing establishment of that name
has put forth a novel idea. He be-
lieves the present producers OF mo-
ton pictures will shortly become a
sort Of publishing community and
that they will simply take good film
productions from recognized direc-
tors and distribute it. In other words
the future producers OF films will
really to be present directors Of
the acting companies. The produc-
er or director, which ever you might
want to call him, will submit q pic
ture to a distributing company and
the company will accept or reject it
tust as publishers accept or reject
o book. When a negative is accepted
positive prints Will be made and the
producer will be paid in accordance
with the manner in which the film
Is accepted by the public.
Mr.. Pathe has tried out this scheme
in Europe and has found it to work.
There has been also something of
the same sort done here on a small
scale Several of the big stars have
formed companies for the production
OF their own films and have been
marketing them through the agencies
OF tho big manufacturing companies.
In the Lubin company this idea-was
worked out a year or more ago by
one of the well-known Lubin direc-
tors. The Lubins agreed to pay this
20. y,vSro for HE
film. He was one OF the most sue
cussful producers. He established a
studio in California and his plan has
worked out in excellent fashion with
profit to himself, to the manufac-
turer, the actors and the public
The Pathe scheme is considerably
broader than this. 1t involves the
establishment OF a system of ex-
changes throughout the country
ard the marketing Of the best films
through these exchanges. There is
really no producing Pathe company
in Europe at present, and there
hasn't been very big one here for
some months past. The Pathe
films have all been handled on the
publishing basis about which the
head nf the firm speaks.
1T is my DESIRE says Mr.. Pathe,
in explaining his future plans. ito
group around me here, in the same
manner as / have done in Europe,
a number Of the most intelligent
producers Of America, who will be
to make the best pic
lures: and, Ii naturally follows, the
most money. / shall see all the
producers Of films who desire to
discuss my new cooperative plan:
and, more than that, l shall. most
Of the time. inspect all the negatives
that are offered to my company.
My scheme is. indeed, a simple
one; it is. as matter of fact, moth
Ing more nor less than that which
exists in regard to the stage and
the publishing business with this
instead OF giving the
producer OF films a disputable and
percentage Of the profits
arising from his productions, he will
receive from US exactly so per cent
Of the net proceeds from his film.
Producers who heretofore have
made 1t rule to try to produce
film every week will soon learn that
their idea is as false as would be
The idea of an author for the stage
VINO tried to produce half a dozen
plays for the theater in a year.
Three or four films in such a period,
properly studied, first, from the
,oint Of view Of the scenario, then
:arefully handled in the execution:
'uch is the program that must
Re followed in the future by
he producer who wishes to earn
eally big money. The receipts from
iuch productions, in the way / of
er. will satisfy the reputation and
he interests Of the most ambitious
I'm producer in the world.
Let me mention. in proof Of this
Lrgument, the case of the celebrated
lax Linder. whose films / have
10 need to offer for sale today. as
hey are always ordered in advance
~ my regular customers. AS an
mploye in my studies. Max Linder
armed 5000 year: as producer
through my present combination he
arms ten times that sum. Surely,
$1,000 year is a prize worth trying
or by the most ambitious, is it
Iot?"