The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-03-07
People Who Furnish "Atmos-
phere" for Film Plays Of All
Sorts and Conditions.
ALL SURE THEY CAN ACT
Grandsires and Babes in Arms
Found In the Crowds Of
Would-Be Stars.

"The late Mr.. Pope Of essay fame
once stated that the proper study
OF mankind n man. Which IL about
all Mr.. Pope was required to say TO
gain fame in the benighted day ne
lived. Had he lived today the
chances are he would declare tho
proper study of mankind Ia the
crowd in a motion picture studio on
casting day for a big feature pro-
duction.
The study OF human nature is best
followed In place where they buy
Il by the individual character or In
lob lots. Il is the business OF the
casting director OF a hlm feature
to hunt out the types that appear ~
OF the big rtudios throng with tne
most varied assortment OF humanity
waiting for a job at 50 per day.
At the World Film Corporations
studio a day or two ago the directors
were making ready for the prodnc-
Reapers," In which John Mason IL
shortly TO be seen. William Sheer -
the casting" director for the World
company. He sent forth word that
at o'clock In the afternoon ne
would select atmosphere" This ID
the word by which extras ana super
numeries are known In all MIN STU
dos. s -.
When Mr.. Sheer came In from
, lunch he found all Of the available
waiting room space outside OF nus
office nlled with u motley Assembly
OF human beings ranging from IN
fants in arms to gray-halred men
and women. taking In almost every
age between, and representing
dozen different phases OF life.
All werc there hungry for a days
work. and many of them hungry
FOR food, and all willing and eager
10 put in ten or twelve hours: OF
even longer. for the three dollars
which ordinary "atmosphere' JOBS
command.
Tho door opened moment later
and the Office hoy .ushered In nuny
blonde In fur coat reaching from
her nose to her heels and saucy
hat that looked as II II had done
. service since last April.
"I want a lob" she said boldly.
and have gotta have II. A frien' of
mine told me to come In and men
ton his name and you would nx me
up"
Ever been in the picturesY'
asked Mr.. Sheer. Ignoring the
friend" insInuation.
No" replied the nun. but j know
I'd go gooc In 'em cause my frien.
says look just like Lillian Gish'
saws Mr.. Sheer: I'VE see many
odd characters here. Some OF them
humorous. and some OF them pa
thetIc. Notice that old chap stand
ing over by the railing there: He
was one Of the cleverest and best
known Shakesrearoan actors in the
country twenty-five or thirty years
ago, playing big roles with Booth.
Barrett, John Mccullough and the
other great stars of his time.
up to the time the picture craze
began he was seldom out OF an en-
gagement with travelling companies
at good salary. Since the collapse
OF the onc-night stand business he
has been clubbing around in the films
at anything he could get.
See the number of women outside
with little children. You would be
surprised how many able-bodied fe-
males there are In this town willing
TO let their infants support them.
The energy which sorle of them
waste dragging their little ones from
studio to studio Is enough to earn
them n good living IL they'd so to
work, themselves.
You would lie surprised at the
number OF people who come In here
who are greater than Charlie Chap
lin. or Francis X. Bushman. OF Mary
Pickford, or Geraldine Farrar to
hear them tell II. Their nerve and
self possession Is something colossal
only eoualed in some instances BY
their Ignorance and inability"