The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-03-24
Incorporating HUMAN
NATURE IN PA0TO-PLAYS
pEoRoE FITzMAURIcE, PATHE
PRODUCER, REVEALS SECRET
ART OF EFFECTIVE
DIRECTING
AN IaFINlTuDE or DETAIL
Aptitude Must Be Unborn for the ciEs-
ma Drama Has Its Unique Rules,
Technique and Psychology.


Technique and Psychology.
Coming from a director who has
proved his theories by practical appli.
cation and demonstrated their truth
by a record of a series Of productions
without a failure, these ideas of George
Fitzmaurice, the Pathe producer, on
photoplay directing, are well worthy Of
serious consideration. He says:
"The right and proper direction OF
, photo-drama is necessarily as much
Of an art as painting, sculpture or
any OF the other arts. II has its rules,
Its technique. its composition and,
above all, its psychology, and 1t is,
this latter phase of the subject that
is given too little attention by the
average director, which is largely re-
sponsible for the vast quantity of only
mediocre pictures now produced.
"A comprehensive knowledge Of
psychology, in all its branches, Is a
necessary complement OF good direc-
torship, for motion pictures have
progressed to such stage that
psychology is the base upon which
they are all built. The public Of to-
day demands something more than
mere action; 1t demands a well de.
veloped theme, and when you enter
upon this YOU enter the realms OF
psychology. To incorporate human
nature into a picture you must under
Stand the science of mental phenomena.
for 1t Ia this science that Is guiding
the guiding hand OF realistic action.
"To my mind the action of a d.
rector in producing picture is largely
suhconscious. ! can only speak of my
own individual methoi. First, there
is the purely technical work OF de-
signing the sets. / work out every
detail OF this In advance; even select
ing the design and color Of the wall
paper. Then I pick out my furniture
and work out detailed plans Of just
how II will be arranged in the com
pleted sets. ! even carry out this
initial supervision so far as to accom-
pany the women OF the cast to the
stores where they purchase their
gowns, In order TO be perfectly sure
before I start work that everything
"a in harmony. During all this time
j am thinking deeply OF the play as a
whole. not in conscious detailed man.
,ner. but absorbing the theme, the
atmosphere. In a subconscious man
ner. When It comes to the actual
acting OF the various scenes the whole
idea is in my mind. ] first send my
people through a scene without
instruction. for frequently they, in
studying out the action OF the picture.
evolve ideas that are valuable. Then
by combining the best OF their initial
work with my own previously con-
ceived Ideas, ! arrive at the manner
in which the scene should be played.
Composition is subject that
bothers many directors. Personally,
never bother about 1t, except to notice
when Il Is wrong. The ability to Judge
composition Is something that Is more
or less born In one. One does not
necessarily group his characters in
certain definite positions. but should
they group the nselves in a manner
that ofends the rules of good COM
position the fault Is at once noticeable
to the good director"
Mr.. Fitzmaurice, It is interesting to
rote. is the man who produced via
wireless" AT Bay" and New York. .
for the Pathe Gold Rooster program
three pictures that are considered
among the best OF the last twelve
months. He is now finishing "Big Jim
Garrity" for the same concern.