Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-08-18
real SUCCESS
PHOTO DRAMA
LIES in PLAY
Director of New Aloha Com.
pany Says Beautiful Scenery
is Second Consideration

Successful Photo plays must be
founded on principle Of giving the
people what tEev want said DR.. H.
| G.. Stafford today when asked what
Hawaii al to offer 10 the moving
picture director -''The plays the
thing You might take scenes of the
Pail, the palm rress. the surf riders
and other sights that Hawaii can
boast Of, BIZ: unless you get these in a
certain form your photopiay will not
be a success" ...=.:. .-.... -. .
DR.. Stafford is known as one of the
five directors in the country who can
produce feature film from beginning
to end. He knows the scenario end,
the light, the background and the sell
ing end. He was asked to give clear
conservative statement of what can
be expected from the photo play BUSH
ness here. ~..>..,.. ......
Il have been Rere before and fully
realized before visiting Hawaii the
second time that these islands had
much to offer the moving picture peo-
pie. In the first place the light here
Is such that in the morning the COM
pany can work in the scenes, and Ha-
wall can give more light than the
mainland. That is one advantage
You have. .@...:..
"In Hawaii there is the merging Of
the Oriental and the Occidental,
something that cannot be obtained on
the mainland. This IL an asset TO the
moving picture people, but it must be
remembered that the scenes which
could be taken of Japanese or Chinese
life are only small part of the NOV
ing picture business.
Il was very much surprised to hear
IA man state today, while talking on
the moving picture subject, that he
did not see. why q moving picture
company should use studio, with so
much wonderful scenery around. This
man had a queer conception of the
work that Is necessary in making a
successful film.
Without studio the moving pic
sture people would be like an automo-
bile without whe els The people who
spend their money to see the pictures
in the present Jay want effects, and
although much expense is saved in
having q background of rich foliage,
beautiful scenes and cosmopolitan at
mosphera, still one must remember
that the play or story is the thing.
"A company must bank on produe.
ing pictures here fully UP to the stand.
ard Of the best On the coast. Natural
ly che filming of pictures here will do
much to give HAWAII place in the
sun, but the Aloh1 Film Company will
work a;ong the lines u building up an
indusIIy, and aim To produce pictures
that will not be excelled anywhere.
In conversation with one of the
leading BUSINESS men Of Honolulu yes
tcrcay he said to me that Hawaii will
be benefited more by the production
@: pictures thet will be salab.e, than
by the production Of plays that will
show all Hawaii's scenery and fail to
bring in box office receipts. think
this man has the idea that will be
followed. .: =. - -.
IF the Aloha Film Company can
send out pictures that rank with the
best in America, then we have accom-
plished our mission. 1t is question
of dollars and cents, and there are
many features here that will help to
that end, but the people Of Honolulu
must realize that the play is the
thing and this will not be sacrificed
for the sake of scenery.
albert Capellani, one of the noted
European directors, says that in pro-
ducing play the story is rated at so
per cent, the star at 80 per cent and
the director at 20 per cent. | differ
with him in one respect / believe
that the play is rated at 80 per cent,
the director at 80 per cent and the
star at 20 per cent In present day
directing the star is told what TO do
and many of the. famous productions
have not featured stars.
The soft light In Hawaii is won
derful and to one who pays attention
to this point is worth much The film
ing of pictures here should be sue
cess. There must be no cheap pie
lures There is a vast difference be-
tween cheapneas and economy. Look
ing at every angle / believe that in
a short time there will be at least
four companies working under the
Aloha Film Company. Plans have al
ready been drawn up for the studio,
and in a short time ] hope to be able
to announce our definite plans" he
ron cIuded -s..... 49,.