The Washington times., 1916-10-11
Shows How Film Play Is Pre-
pared for the Producers
Hands.
idea is THE BIG THING
George Bracket Seitz Declares
No Unframed Person Can
Do the Work.
What is a scenario2

What is a scenario?
This question, In a variety OF forms,
II asked the photoplay editor Of The
TIMES a dozen times a week. There
have been many inquirers who wish
TO write scenarios because ,writigg
scenarios seems to be an easy way
to make money. The Times has
stated repeatedly that only trained
writer's should attempt to- write
scenarios. and only then after they
had demonstrated their ability to
write short stories and short plays.
However, that doesn't answer the
question of what constitutes a scena-
rio. The best answer, the most prac-
tical that has been developed yet Is
that given by George Bracket Seitz,
. successful scenario writer, who Is
the author OF The Shielding Shad-
the first installment of which VIII be
shown at the Casino Theater the
latter part of this week, beginning
tomorrow.
mo unframed person can write a
scenario" declares Mr.. Seitz. "The
20 anyone mentally equipped for It.
But II would be foolish to say that
anyone can write scenarios. II Is
hard work to begin with.
But sometimes the unframed mind
Will conceive brilliant idea and in
the present state Of the motion pic
ture business, II Is the idea that
counts. There are trained men on
the stats of the film companies to
develope the ideas. When we consid-
Or this fact, / believe that an or
dinarily intelligent man or woman
who follows motion pictures closely
and who studies scenario writing,
In 81
success"
Model Scenario.
With this end In view Mr.. Seitz
suggests that the inquirer to The
Times be given model scenario.
Or rather, that a sample of a sue
cessful scenario be sent him. Mr..
seitz has supplied the photoplay
EDITOR with a copy of the scenario
Shadow" This Is valuable only as
II shows the form in which scenarios
are prepared. Following IL a sam
pie of this form showing how the
nrst few scenes are blocked out.
In the scenario proper the cast Of
characters is given under the title
and the name of the author. Then
follows the scenes. II should be
noted that the first installment OF
this play contains exactly thirty-one
scenes. The scenes that follow were
selected simply to show the form In
which the scenario is written:
Scene h>Schooner H. Miller at
sea. Jerry Serson getting atmo-
sphere for his new sea novel,
aboard. Stops writings Gazes tender
ly at picture of Leontihe, walcott.
Scene 2. Library in Walcot manor.
Steven Walcott reading F1ash--por-
ton of letter on screen: IF voyage
of the II. Miller is successful, you
cott. worried. rises and exits.
"Scene 8. Porch OF Walcott manor.
Leontine seated. gazing fondly at
title page OF book written by Jerry.
walcott enters. Sees her and speaks
peevishly.
QUOTED title-'It would be infinite
ly better II you would pay more at
tention to our guest, Sebastian Nav
AFRO, and stop incoming over that
penniless pencil pusher.'
Continuing scene, Walcott speaks
out above and. at Leontine's spirit
Cd protestations. stamps angrily off.
Scene 4. Foredeck of schooner by
open hatchway. Sailors gathered
talking. smoking. One unwittingly
drops pipe down hatchway.
Directions for "Close-ups."
Scene g.. Open. sea. Jerry swim
ming hard. Gazes back at ship.
Fire raging furiously.. 1t reaches
gunpowder. There Is a deafening
defamation and the II. Miller is a
mass of blazing driftwood.
Scene 10 Second omen sea ioca-