The Washington times., 1915-08-28
THE BEST
Photoplay Department in
WASHINGTON
Cannot Fool All the
Public All the
Time, Asserts
Tom Ince

The idea that the MANUFACTURER Of
motion pictures should get In closer
touch with public sentiment regard
ing picture making and try to pro-
duce the kinds of films the public
most wants to see Is gradually gain
ing considerable ground. The film
manufactures has depended largely
on the exhibitor In times past-at
matter OF fact many Of the film man
ufacturers consulted only their own
Ideas and inclinations and films were
MADE to please the boss rather than
the audience before which they were
to be exhibited. And circumstances
Of the growth Of the picture busi-
ness has not always made 1t pos
sirle for the boss to be a very good
critic.
thomas NJ. Ince has sounded q
warning to manufacturers and ex-
hibitors alike that they. must pay
closer heed to the desires of tho
PUBLIC In running their business
much thought and has Incorporated
some OF his ideas in an article which
appears In the current issue Of the
Motion Picture News Among other
things he states:
One Of the serious problems with
which the producer of motion pic
lures has TO deal Is feeling the pub
himself the class of film that is pop
uiar and that which is not
unfortunately. some producers do
not attempt to get in touch with the
pubic at all. preferring to produce
pictures that please them and dis
posing OF all further doubts as to
the ultimate success of the film BY
cxpendins a large amount OF money
on yellow advertising.
consider this the most outstand-
ms SO called wrong Of the motion pic
trre business and one that should be
Immediately corrected II the indus
Try ~ to continue to bask in the ia
Nored light of public opinion.
The supreme critic Of all motion
pictures Is the public. not the pro
dncer. nor the exhibitor, nor the drn-
matte writer. The public Is. there
lore. the one to whom both pro
duceEs and exhibitors should cater.
HIance over the motion picture
field OF the world and you will no.
tice that the most successfui pro-
ducsrs and exhibitors are those who
have made close observation OF the
wants Of their auditors, the people.
Those who have not done this in
many instances have signally failed.
AND the exhibitor must forget that
- tioco coSy klnU Is porn every
minute: that the world Is very large
and that there Is always a new bank
roll to dig into in every town and
city, ~
These reprehensible tactics do not
last. at best. They create distrust
and overcaution. two elements Of
which are bound to injure the indus
try trreparably II permitted to con-
tinue.
The manufacturer should be on
the level with the exhibitor, and the
latter should he absolutely on the
square with the general public. The
public may be gullible, but the pub
lic Is also very critical, and II has
the power to make or break a man or
corporation. no matter how big and
powerful
The stage has always had a most
wholesome respect for public opinion.
In my stage days there was always
the little peck-hole in the curtain
through which. unknown to the aud
tcnce. we watched the effect of a
play on the public mind
we studied Its pulse. its emotions
Its wants. Its dislikas. We caught
the audience unawares and there
Tore got. first-hand. the unvarnished
truth about our plays"