The Washington times., 1915-04-24
THE BEST
Photopldy Department in
WASHINGTON
HozO Scenario Editor
Plays Important
Part In Every
Photopldy.

sonalities ofNthe motion picture bus
mess occupies a position that Is
never heard Of by the public, is
never noted IN those complete casts
OF persons responsible for the plays
tf.at are sometimes shown on the
screen-but is. nevertheless, Of vital
Importance to every producing film
company.
This Is the scenario editor-the
man who receives. passes judgment
or ana prepares for the directors
Al OF the thousands of scenarios
that every photopay concern re-
ceives. The position Is one OF the
most responsible In the business, On
the editor falls the work of select
ing, In the first instance, Just what
shall be acted by the actors, and In
preparing for the use of the direc-
tors the stories OF the plays
The position is one of the most
ainlcuit to fill and the men who hold
IL IN the various film companies arc
REGARDED as among the organiza-
lions most valuable assets. The
way these men do their work has
never been given much publicity
tney nave been too busy doing the
work to take time to tell about il.
one OF them. Russell E. Smith, of
the Mutual company, has recently
prepared q most Interesting story FOR
the Photoplay Author, In which he
tells something of the editors trials
and responsibility.
In this connection It might he
noted that the Mutual company Ia
now producing some Of the most i'm
portant productions that are being
maze, and that technically, as well
as In point Of human interest, the
plays being produced by the various
companies operating under the Mu-
best that have been produced on the
screen. Just what part the scenario
editor has played in this general
progress toward very high ideals OF
dramatic interest and production
may be judged from the excerpts
from Mr.. Smiths article. which fol.
lows:
THE word editor Is misleading
and only partially names his duties.
One of his duties consists OF writ
ing regular output of scripts and
rewriting partly or wholly those
few photoplays that are purchased
by him. For few. of any scripts,
are ever received in the exact form
REQUIRED by the directors of his
company.
I'm writing the script, the editor
and contract studio author have
the advantage OF knowing condi-
tions and people available and thus
MS script Is more apt to be cor-
rect and can easily be put on. The
average outside writer knows lit
tie OF these conditions.
OF course every amsteur sus-
poets all editors Of r deep laid
conspiracy against him, until an
occasional author ssils ono script:
then he changes his mi hd-untii
the next forty Or 80 als3 fail to
sell. when he Erverts to hts origin
huS a, Sonrius,En nnH,h;, NAT editors Eefuse to
It remains az afacethat the busy edi-
tor halls with delight unspeakabie
the good script from an Unknown
from the depths OF a forest or
backwoods farm, and his tired eyes
eleam with interest as he scans a
synopsis that promises something
new or virile in drama or comedy.
The concern for which the pres
ent editor edits does not have any
'hrst readers at all, but the writ
er reads personally every script
that comes into the office, through
the mails or otherwise. And when
one Is assured that, when the bu-
reau started, the mails brought
over eleven thousand manuscripts
in seven weeks, it can readily be
seen that the writer had some
night work to do.
we prefer to read ourselves
pima rather than to have any less
experienced reader pass over some
thing that is good. The foreign
public offers another phase Of the
scenario editors work for which
he must be alert. especially in
writing a scenario.
Certain things are liked in Eu-
rope that are necessary to consid-
er when writing a script. things
that are sure to make the picture
sell abroad. That Is the main rea-
son why so many cowboy and
Western pictures are done. as the
european public. especially the
British: are wildly enthusiastic over
such films"