The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-15
Photo PLAYS.
The story the Thing. But Mighty Few
There be That Can Write It.


To THE EprroR OF THE SuN-Str! Four
oklahoma reader, Mr.. Sterrett. makes
IL very plain in his letter in THE SUN
OF March IL that he is almost, II not
quite, ignorant of the inside workings
of the editorial department of a big
film company.
1t has taken several years-and tho
European war-to teach the heads OF
some of the big producing companies
the all important truth that the playa
the thing" The editor. actors, camera
men, directors, all ma do their best,
try their hardest, give their uttermost
of brains and ability, but unless the com
pany receives good stories to put on In
photoplay form tho combined efforts Of
all count for naught.
The Edison Company receives on an
average five hundred scripts a week
from all parts of the world. I have not
the least doubt that the Mutual and
Universal film corporations, each em-
hracing a dozen or so different brands OF
films, and having therefore as many
different studios and a proportionately
larger number of directors, receive a
great many more than that number.
out of this avalanche OF stories" the
different editors, with the assistance Of
their readers. must pick the good ones.
No magazine editor ever felt greater
Joy than does the average scenario edi-
tor when he suddenly lights on a good,
fresh. interesting plot from the brain
of "A hitherto unknown photoplaywright.
The fake" school are entirely right
when they say in their advertisements
that ~photoplay editors are crying out
for new plots and clever. new writer's
But we are not issuing the call tn the
illiterate and the incompetent, nor to
the writer's who are looking for easy
money"
Better prices for scripts" is the cry
that has been raised by the writer's for
over three years. And. while the cry
still keeps up. better prices are really
being paid. And still better prices VIII
be paid when better stories are forth
coming. What absolute rot to say that
the editors occupation would be gone
If he were to accept the stories, the good
ones, offered by the writing public! In
over nine years Of photOplay producing
experience ! have never read a state
ment 50 foolish and so absolutely UNI
true. Every scenario editor is called
upon occasionally TO write original stun,
or to r%carrange a purchased story which,
although IT contains a good idea, is
poorly constructed. But the editors
business Is 20 edit. quite as much In the
motion pictuye game ~ IN magazine pub
fishing. and there IL not a scenario edi-
tor in the business who does not look
forward 20 the day when he can confine
himself to the work OF selection and
disposition OF scripts. As for adapts-
ions Of hooks, plays. SC, that Is done
by the Arm STAFF Of writers. or occa-
s.onally In some studios by the editor
himself.
As for editors not knowing ideas when
they see them, IL must he plain TO every
thinking person that, after all. the ed
tor Is best qualified 20 know what his
particular company wants In photo
play production more than in any other
line Of literary endeavor one mans
meat is ano.her's poison. Thu farce
comedy wit the slapstick incid,n ts
thai would be welcomed by a certain pro-
ducer would be totally unacceptable 20
another frm. Tine editor knows the
policy of his company and chooses ac-
cordingly. But never. never. does he
pass W a single good idea thai MS firms
directors could use at all There is not
a producing firm In this country to-day
which has not "~overbOught' its needs.
Scripts are purchased because the Idea,
the story. Is there, and Il some OF these
are sldetracked In favor Of a sti,l bet
ter story. and there are degrees OF eX-
ce.lenCe in all things, Of course, they
are never sidetracked for very long
No one who has not studied the game
from the inside can even begin 20 rcdi.z'
how very few stories, out Of tn" thou
sands submitted every year. are accept
able and when a slump in the uumhe.
OF scripts sIbm.Se ed occurs. the good
stories that have been temporarily file
away are brought out n assigned 10
the directors, each ON 20 the man
whose tastes, experience and ability
aye hest suited TO its adequate pro-
duction.