The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-02

moving picture studio Is likely
to see strange sights indeed.
II is a world by Itself. peopled with
real human beings, but dealing in
matters which are a puzzle to the lay
man. II is a world OF "cut outs"
close ups double exposures" and
other things which mean nothing to
the un.n.tlated.
In the Famous Players Film Com
panys studio, the former Durland Rid
ing Academy on Fifty-s.xth street.
New York. an opportunity vas given
the writer the other day to witness the
intricacies that go to the making Of a
moving picture. In one corner OF the
biz building Mary Pickford was acting
for one of her latest pictures. in an
other Marguerite Clark was enacting
4 film version Of "Mullie Make Be-
lieye." while in still anothe. portion Of
the hall a group Of stars were posing
for the camera
Scattered from one end or the build
III W TIE tIc wiz al iio wa
sets" as they are called in the Ian
guage Of she movies. Here was the in
side OF a caboose. there was a luxuri
Gus ballroom scene; between then.
rushed back and forth the directors.
electricians. property men n camera
men. The effect was of bedlam, and
80, ... ,.oa -,n,bAl L., ~ tha mad
lsss which seemed to prevail.
Hugh Ford, who is perhaps best
known among the followers Of the
silen, drama for his direction Of the
Famous Players production OF THE
Eternal City" pi!oted the visitor about
the studio. interspersing his eSplana-
tory remarks with orders to his vari-
Gus assistants throughout the room.
The first thing which happened to
catch Mr.. Ford's eye was Marguerite
Clark in one Of the far off corners Of
I the studio. She was just then bus!ly
engaged in falling off a hay rick in a
little old barn. She was dressed as the
queen Of the fairies. The scene was
SET TO the smallest detail. Hay and
straw hung from the ra:ters and
peeped from between the cracks Of the
walls. Hay was spread profusely on
the floor and there were real live
chickens running about over II. iet
the wko.e scene took up an area
hardly ten feet square.
w three sides Of the set were brill
Ian. pNarpuvu liuhfS thrnwinO q white
and dazzling glare over the scene
which made the faces of the players
seem white and drawn as II in bright
moonlight. Just inside the surround
ing banks Of lights there was placed
about the scene a rubber tube which
denoted the boundaries within Which
the actors could appear without
getting out of range OF the camera.
The bank OF lights gave way on the
front TO a small aperture in which
was placed tho camera, shielded OF
course from the direct rays.
The camera man slowly turned the
crank, Mss Clark and her supporters,
who In this case were children, played
about in the hay and the picture was
over. II took hardly five minutes.
That is only one OF our small sized
ee's," remarked Mr.. Ford in passing.
i! is Of course only n OF the many
sc'hea which will go to make up the
p.clLre. The scenery is placed on the
roof Of the studio along boundaries
previously marked out and on three
enN~ are set the rows of lights which
might be called the footllglits of the
ordinary stage except that they are SCI
higher w and are sometimes placed
over the scene as well.
You viii notice that there Is an
open window at the rear of the barn.
q light must he placed behind this
"Ihd6" shining on a white screen,
sN' ms light must be just q little bit
stronger Than that which Is shining en-
We scene from other directions In
"3e' 50 s,yr the Illusion OF looking out
."'o space. II II was Of the same in
,us'ty is the other lights the win
W" opening would look merely black.
." Various shades OF light, so to
speak that are thrown upon a given
""le acc"ntnate certain details that
y. necessary in the production,
l"'h''ng l. an all important branch
" 'h' notion picture business. Vari-
Os produ"crs have their W special
ways Of ght!ns. While we may do It
=" one Say another producer will he
'1"d VINO will use an entirely differ
tl method.
ms studio Is used exclusively FOR
.na' are called interior sets, that IL
.eH's which arc taken altogether in
Us In this category fall ballroom
"soee. Convention halls. dining rooms,