The Washington herald., 1914-06-29
A VISIT TO THE
VITAGRAPH STUDIO

CBy The HerAlds New York Representative. Willard
| Howe.l
| visitor is always welcomed at the
vitagraph studio, and so was 1; in fact.
I was made so perfectly at home that
forgot I was a visitor. Mr.. Spedon.
the publicity manager, gave me free
range of everything.
The plant ranks among the most mod
ern for size and mechanical equipment,
stage. effects. lights, etc. The big yard
| Of such II may be called, is dotted with
log cabins, Indian shacks, parts OF street
scenes and portions OF buildings to on
set the necessity of going on the road
for such backgrounds that need little
depth.
The two large glass studios amply ac-
commodate many sets for different
photoplays at one time. Here is where
the interiors are made. In order to re-
tain the eXactness in detail a scene may
sary, when this scene occurs often
throughout the play. Usually all scenes
of the same setting are taken consecu-
lively, irrespective Of their position In
the completed story. Even the camera
man must maintain the same angle of
perspective and will sometimes chalk a
spot on the floor for this purpose.
An instance of this was noted in "A
Florida Enchantment" which was being
photographed. When everything was m
readiness and lights" had been called.
the operator slightly moved a casket on
the table, remarking to the director.
''In the other pictures this is more IN
view"
I'VE must watch such details" said
Mr.. Sydney Drew, who was directing.
They are ,very essential in the final as
sembling of the film"
And the public is also watching for
such details" l added.
Despite the fact that the day was very
bright with an intense sun, big arc lights
were used in the photographing of the
plays, so that clearness and even light
should be secured.
This particular drama has been begun
in Florida where all exterior scenes had
been made in order to secure the atmos-
phere and vegetation and foliage peculiar
to that section.
Mr.. Sydney Drew will be remembered
as an actor of the stage. who has ap-
peared in Washington on frequent oc
casions
Not two rods distanct Mr.. Ralph Ince-
was directing NO. 49," yet neither dis
turbed the other. In fact / noted that
the PLAYERS spoke quite softly, almost in
whispers, forming their words very &C
curately with their lips. They remem-
bered that only the camera was the audi
ence and that was recording action and
not sound.
Mr. Ince is a stickler for naturalness.
saw him rehearse the simple incident
OF a telegram being received no less than
a dozen times. Even the manner of
opening the door is of importance to Mr..
Ince.
Another photoplay which attracted my
attention was the military drama, Con |
vict IS5," directed by Capt. Lambert |
Thoroughly familiar with military tao
tics, courtesies and precedents of the
army Capt. Lambert was ever alert for
these points. Time and again he had his
company rehearse the exchange Of greet |
ings in a single scene.
In the yard several scenes were heing !
enacted. some OF them calling for large !
numbers of supernumeraries Here l dis |
covered where the funny pictures are /
made that demand interiors where water /
is thrown about as though il were not /
a damaging element Mingled with the /
laugh at these films is the thought of /
the studio being flooded by the deluge. |
Nothing of the kind happens. Such pic |
lures are set in a large cement sunken |
excavation in the grounds about the ,
studio, where the flow of water harms !
but the furnishings and people |
of the scene. When all is over the sur
plus water is allowed TO run off.
When 1 arrived a company in gay at
tire and equally gay faces were starting |
in the auto bus for some natural back |
grounds in the neighborhood. They were |
a jolly set. Before I left this same |
company returned in the same gay spirits
ready for lunch.
I might add here that picture producing |
is not conducive of loss of appetite, If /
I am to Judge from the scene-not for
the camera-which presented itself to
me at noon time at the Vitagraph studio.
Yet If a play demands that meals and
hours be sacrificed. directors and players
are quite willing TO forego both for the
photoplay in progress. In fact it was
this congeniality and mutual readiness
to serve that marked the relation of play
ers and director at the Vitagraph studio.
The many characters with which I
came in contact told Of the many and
varied phOtoplay in simultaneous pro-