The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-01
HIGHLY Paid Specialists
Developed in the Last
Decade in Progress
Of the Film Plays
The Work of D. w.
Griffith

.,on now is only beginning to show It's |
disabilities. Ten years ago the photo |
,,.y scenario as 1t exists to-day was |
nractically unknown and actors were
x,ectcd in their work only In a des-
ultory way
Then gradually some men displayed
an ability to tell others how to produce
.rsc,s which forced them naturally into
,romincnce and they were called upon
"a direct others so frequently that they
,onl devote little If any time to por-
,,,v,ng characters for reproduction
r,on the screen. These men therefore
s,,u TO devote all their time To telling
ohers how to act. to preparing the stage
.sttlngs. to developing plots and TO maxi
inc original plots themselves and stag
hg them.
That was the beginning Of the motion
.,cturc play director. a man who
assesses an order Of ability vastly Diff
ferent from that Of his brother the
stage director in a theatre.
The compensation of the director Is all
mt Of proportion to the youthfulness
Of the profession, but not at all dis
,ropor,ionate to the righteousness Of the
labor and the skill necessary to sue
cessful work Like any other profess
sop. II has it, grades OF compensation.
and pecuniary emolument Is based upon
,brity TO reproduce worth while re-
suits.
If director can do anything at ALL"
said A film manufacturer recently. "he
commands $4,000 a year. and more II he
can do something very well. Some d.
rectors are drawing larger salaries than
the average bank president and there
are few competent directors who could
afford to exchange incomes with the
average good lawyer or doctor with
What would he considered an excellent
Practice"
The highest paid director in the coun-
Try. and that argues in the world. Is
D W Griffith of the Mutual Film Cor
poration. one of the Independent COM
psnies, whose salary is conceded to be
not less than $4,000 and is probably
considerably more. But Mr.. Griffith Is
q director Of directors now rather than
a director of plays, although he fire.
Quen,ly rehearses the actors in a big
play before 1t is ready for production
before the camera.
i.,.,pap nplarc IN pda IiffIa Of tho
work OF director of a motion picture
play. which is perhaps as we'll for the
enjoyment Of the finished product. The
director deals with the bare bones OF
his subject. and a skeleton Is not
slightly object. He takes material so
crude for acting that the average stage
director would look upon it as utterly
hopeless. ticks it into shape in jiffy,
Grapes ii about the bones OF his plot,
and in comparatively short time pro-
duces a pleasing and attractive figure
for the delectation Of the patrons OF
the five, ten and twenty-five cent ex-
hbltion houses.
So sklful does he become in this work
that to first class director there is very
little Of the material ofYered-that is,
people who wish to actsf for the movies
which he cannot use in one, way or
another, But he does not teach them to
act, his time is too short for that: nor
does he even simply tell them how to
act He shows them how to act. ana
he cannot on the moment show them
exactly the steps they are to take. the
motions they are to make, how they are
TO move about in the limited area COW
cred by the eye of the camera and the
EMOTIONS they are to depict on their
faces. the scene is ruined and the length
Of film used in taking a picture Of that
scene Is spoiled. 1t must all be done
over again, at cost.
II is obvious. then, that through the
course Of single day busy director
VIII himself run several times through
the whole gamut of simulated emotions,
Affecting them so forcefully that he
moves the actors whom he Is directing
10 similar Counterfeiting. To illustrate,
lake scene in court where a man Is on
uldl for his life as directed by Davis OF
Inc liamo. Judge, jury, accused. counsel
ana spectators are in place, the argu-
ments are finished and the case about
10 be closed. The camera Is In position
and the director is standing where, OF
eours" he is not caught by the lens.
All ready" says the director.
'amcrt.' The word which starts the
camera man turning the crank. Now.
counS". for the defence. stand up. We
rest our case, your Honor Register that
you are perfectly satisfied that your
man viii he acquitted.
Accused, lift your head and register
peasure Judge, nod your head sedately
Shd with dignity. Sit down. counsel.
Jury, look at each other and show that
you ar" practically agreed for acquittal.
'ude". turn to charge the jury.
Now, gamekeeper, stand up. i de-
mand to be heard That's right. Au-
uiehc" all turn to him and register as
'ohlShmcnt "a gamekeeper, roughly
dressed has stood up in the audienceD
Judge, look indignant at the Interrupt
u'h' Jurymen, all look establishment at
sdin'h""per. Accused and counsel. turn
ana look at him, surprised. Attendant,
zap and call for order. That's right.
N"w, gamekeeper, come on. Push
'oushly through that gate. Get up. ac-
euSed, and try to stop him. Good! ScOwl
IL him ,threat Uaunak Gamer