Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-08
Lasky Wants
Authors With
Screen Ideas
Head of Big Company Re-
organizes His Scenario
Department
Rv Jesse LASKY

Recently 1 went on record with the state
ment that the art of motion picture pro-
ducing was not advancing and gave as the
reason the scarcity of good material for
| stories; in fact, I laid the blame for this
lapse of progress entirely on the shoulders
of our novelists, dramatists and scenarioists
who are providing the material for the
present-day photoplays.
Since the wide publication of this article.
less than n month ago, have been deluged
with letters from authors and writer's and
others connected with the motion picture
industry. many of them agreeing with my
views Of the matter but the majority lay
ing the blame for the lack of suitable dra-
matte material back on the producers and
on myself as one of the producers.
The motion-plcture columns of many daily
papers and some of our trade papers also
took exception to some of my statements so
that am moved to not alone defend my po-
sition, but I want to show IL can that the
Lasky Company at least. does more than
criticise a deplorable fact, that II is taking
every possible means to remedy the existing
state of affairs The controversy Is based
on the following arguments: claim the art
OF producing on the screen is hampered by
the lack OF good material and the fact that
our authors are not rising to the occasion.
Ny critics, on the other hand claim that
the fault Is with the producers that we do
not recognize good material when we see it,
and II we do recognize good story then we
thor is not encouraged to continue his writ
ing. They further state that good ideas
submitted to scenario department are
often returned to the writer by the depart
ment later to appear disguised in a different
form and produced under another title.
One very able writer and critic writes me
It takes months, instead of weeks, to
write strong. original and vital story
in such carefully revised scenario form
as will do away with costly editing
after INSTALLATION. There is a vast
amount OF creative work involved and
lot OF skilled craftsmanship besides. Yet
all this labor must be handed over with
out consideration of any sort, without
protection from wholesale stealing or
retail peculation, not to the reputable
producers themselves, for private exam;
inaton and secret consideration, but to
a department OF responsibility wholly
unknown. Every week / am asked by
authors about the responsibility of pro.
ducers
What can reply?
The concluding paragraph Of very able
answer to my article by Epes Winthrop
Sargent, OF the Moving Picture World, is |
worth quoting. Appealing to the producers |
he writes
Come out in the open and buy and
nay for stories Give the promising
writer's a chance TO see how things are
done. Follow their scripts until they no
longer have to write in to inquire II the
. current release is their story or one like
II, as has been done In the past. and 1t
will be found that the supply will equal
the demand when there is a real and
genuine demand backed by checks.
Recognizing that there is some truth In
these statements, the Lasky Company on
June / established scenario department
along new and original lines and through
this department we hope to answer every
one OF the above criticisms by doing away
with as many of the evil conditions existing
the producers and authors as is
humanity possible
First, we guarantee that all material sub
mitted will get quick Consideration and II II
Is not acceptable We win return II to the
author with a very carefully written. con-
structive criticism, In which We will en-
deayor TO point out the reasons why the
story, In our humble opinion was not worth
II, on the other hand, the
story contains an idea or even a situation
worth developing, we agree 10 collaborate /
with the author and 10 help him develop his
story TO point where II is In such form
that we can pay the author good price for
material that under ordinary conditions
would have been returned as being not good
enough for production.
After a practical experience OF over two
Tears at our coast studios during which he
wrote some OF the most successful Laslxy
we have brought 10 New York
o head the department. Hector TurnbuII
N TuTnbul has been persuaded TO give IN
writing himself and to lend his time TO tho
and assisting OF other writ
rs, We intend 20 appeal to men at the
op OF their professions who In the past
would not take the trouble to study this new
lrt with care, We want 20 cooperate WITH
he men who write good stories or Who
laye not YET ESTABLISHED lheir names 10 ths
lteraFy neiai ~ t4el - AK every WrFssr.
zperienced and otherwise. to Est IA -.
szzh ~ degartmsnz