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 Faoto plays must be
| founded on Q principle OF giving the
people what thev want said Dr. n
G.. Stafford today when asked what
Hawaii lad 10 offer TO. the moving
picture director THE Iiiayis the
thing: You might take scenes of the
Pail, the palm trees. the surf riders
and other sights that Hawaii can
boast Of, BIZ: unless you get these in a
certain form your photoplay will not
be a success" .-.... .....~.. r..
DR.. Stafford is known as one of the
five directors in the country who can
produce feature film from beginnin 6
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 bust
ness here. D.: + 49,. -.
Il have been mere 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. .*. ..s-.. -....-.
In Hawaii there is the merging Of
the Oriental and the Occidental,
something that cannot be obtained on
the mainland. This Is 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. III. ~. .."...
Il was very much surprised to hear
q 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 q queer conception of the
work that is necessary in making a
successful film. ....
Without a studio the moving pic
ture people would be like an automo-
bile without wheals The people who
spend their money to see the pictures
in the present Jay want effects, and
although much expense Is saved in
having background Of rich foliage,
beautiful scenes and cosmopolitan at
mosphere, still one must remember
that the play or story is the thing.
"A company must bank on produc.
ing pictures here fully up to the stand
ard of the best On the coast. Natural
ly :he filming OK pictures here will do
much to give Hawai- place in the
sun, but the Aloh1 Film Comfan will
work a;ong the lines u building up an
Industry, and aim to produce pictures.
that will not he excelled anywhere.
In conversation with enc Of the
leading BUSINESS men Of Honolulu yes
tcrcay he said to me that Haw ali will
be benefited more by the production
OF pictures that will be ,alas.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. .... II.
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. H.
Albert Capellani, one of the noted
European directors, says that in pro-
ducfng play the story is rated at so
per cent, the star at 80 per cent and
the director at 20 per cent i differ
with aim in one respect. / believe
that the play is rated at so per cent,
the director at so 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 a sue
cess. There must be no cheap pic
lures. There is vast difference be-
tween cheapness and economy. Look
ing at every angle believe that in
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 short time hope to be able
to announce our definite plans" he
III, 1,1s