The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-04-24
PRODUCING MOVIE
'OANON AND PYTHIAS
Vast Undertaking To Stage
Great Picture-Much
Expense Attached.

e More than half of the expense IN
producing a motion picture, set in
time other than the present. is incur
red before the actual staging OF the
production begins. Upon the screen
the spectator sees the armies in con
dict, the wreck OF ancient cities. repro.
duced solely for camera spectacle.
streets of forgotten communities
swarming with people costumed in
conformity with historical record ana
all properly fitted out with accoutre-
ments Of war and peace. But the spec
tators do not see or scarce realize the
task set the small army OF technical
experts, craftsmen, mechanics and
workmen who transfer these pictures
of ancient life from historical narra-
tive in realization not only accurate
but breathing life and atmosphere Of
time and place.
Recently the Universal Company
selected Otis Turner, one Of the most
experienced and capable directors OF
production in the motion picture
world, as the man who should take
complete charge OF its multiple reel
production of Damon and Pythias."
It will presently be seen that this was
gigantic undertaking General knowl-
edge of the subject was practically
worthless. 1t required an intimate
technical knowledge not only of Greek
architecture of the period four hun
bred years B. c., but also of the life
and customs. Soon the company's ar
chives were filed with seekers for
facts. 1t looked as If the whole Gre.
clan section of the British Museum
had been transferred to Mr. Turner's
office. Then after two weeks of com.
parative quiet, during which time only
craftsmen and designers were admit.
ted, Mr.. Turner announced that the
preliminary was complete. lie had
finished with historical records and
given the craftsmen their inStruc-
tons.
Accurate drawings, not only Of every
structure to be used in the production.
but also of every individual property,
such as helmets. chariots. shields.
tavelins, breastplates, short-sworGs
and household articles, were then pre-
pared. Likewise designs of all cos
tunes to be used were put upon paper
with the correct measurements, ma
terial and color.
The actual production was now we'll
under way and the work was divided
among the various departments.
trip through the designing 70 Inns dur
ing these days would have brought
delight to a child. On one table was
pasteboard model, a replica of the
stadium. Although 1t was miniature
stadium, II was complete in every re-
spect. Then again there was model
of the interior of the seNate house at
an dexterior of Greek houses. The
room looked like toy shop. All these
intricate models were made with tho
most scrupulous care, first that IN"
director might have an exact idea
what the scene was to look like before
he gave authority for its construction.
and second that 1t might be used as a
working model for the scenic artists
and carpenters.
Another set of drawings was turned
over to the papier-mache department,
where the helmets, shields. greaves,
jayelins, breastplates and short-swords
were manufactured. This work re-
ouired considerable time and only
skilled labor could handle 1t. After
all these papier-mache properties hai
been dried and painted the interior OF
the shop presented most war-Like APP
pearance, because sufficient accoutre-
ments of battle were made to accom-
modate five hundred soldiers.
: In the meantime the costuming de-
partment was not idle. There were
hundreds upon hundreds of costumes
to be made. This is another class or
work requiring skilled labor and in
finite pains.
All the preliminaries through with
and the plans and models for the lar
ger structures o. KID by the director
of the production. the actual work OF
reproducing in their original dimen-
sions the palaces, prisons. streets and
homes OF the ancient Hellenes began.
Mammoth frames rose up In dag.
Carpenters were as thick as bees until
the frame structures of these build
H.. 1~tN ~
was turned over to the scenic artists
and the frames assumed definite shape.