Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-09-02


tlcable, he admits that he will have only
himself to blame; but at least he will have
realized the joy of freedom in artistic ex.
preston, something difficult to gain when
producing for release through the customary
channels
Mr.. Powell was in the midst of prepare.
tions for his first independent photoplay
when he stopped to explain the purposes OF
Frank Powell Productions, Inc I'VE ex.
pect TO make six pictures a year" he said
land all will deal with topical subjects
something big and vital In the public life
of the time. For several reasons 1 do not
care to announce the nature of our initial
picture, which treats of a condition of prime
Importance that to the best OF my belief
has never been handled in a dramatic way, /,
Creighton Hale, who is under contract with
me for the coming year, and Linda A. GrIf.
fifth will carry the leading roles, supported
by players selected for their suitability to
the characters have in mind.
I'm this picture, and probably in those
to follow, 1 plan to dispense with studio
and take scenes in whatever neighborhood
or building best suits the story For in.
stance, we will need a courtroom and have
arranged for day in Georgia court where
the action will be photographed in a set
ting more natural than one is likely to BIZ
built. however carefully model is copied.
"A picture made under these conditions Is
apt to be more convincing because of the
indeflnable difference between that which Ia
real and a clever, perhaps too clever. iml.
tation.
"The appropriateness of the settings In
The Fourth Estate was commented upon,
though 1t was not generally known that l.
produced the picture in Chicago without
using a studio. After finding what seemed
to me to be just the right environment, /
arranged my own lights and succeeded in
getting good photography the kind Of
photography that presents dim hallway
or room as it actually appears to the
eye."
Presently Mr.. Powell explained moro
fully his theory of what may be termed
advanced photoplay art, which is based on
the principles behind all art a presenta-
tton OF the meaning of a scene or a situa-
ton by placing emphasis on the essentials
and subordnating inconsequental details.
THE picture of the future will have to
please the imagination" he said. Amy
one may snap photograph Of Broadway
that, Will be more full and complete than
an inspired painting but 1t takes an artist
TO bring out dominant human note in
scene that is commonplace because of Its
familiarity. He appeals to the imagina-
tion, arrests attention and stirs new
thoughts In those who study his picture.
Broadway is revealed in another light the
crowds and the buildings that we see every
day have fresh meaning.
'The same results can be obtained in
motion pictures, but not without study
and effort Mere Photographic realism,
however much 1t may crafty the eye is not
art unless it strikes deeper and carries
message TO the mind Most pictures
suffer from too much detail overemphasis
and a lack of subtlety. A poet may write
quatrain, which through the power Of
its suggestion awakens memorable thought
where a page of reportorial description
dealing with the same subject would be
read and forgotten To some extent the
analogy holds good with photoplays.
believe 1t is far more effective TO work
upon the minds OF an audience through
a series of significant incidents than to
present every action with indlscriminate
completeness leaving nothing to the i'm
agination. My pictures are going to be i'm
pressionistic, but they will not be vague
or difficult to understand. If a mans mind
and imagination can be reached, he is
going to be interested and entertained"
According to present plans, a Broadway
theatre will be engaged for the permiere
OF each OF the Powell productions, after
which territorial rights will be sold.