Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-07
ADVICE FOR YOUNG
SCENARIO WRITER'S
GurdOn w. Wattles Makes sugges.
tons for Ak-Sar-Ben Movie
Play in Nebraska.
PRIZE OFFERED FOR BEST FILM

Besides managing a street car company.
directing the principal operations Of
big national bank and doing several other
stunts OF that kind, q. w. wattles might
also be a playwright. That Is u he cared
TO direct his talent in that way.
! Mr. Wattles has shown something Of
his ability in arranging plots and select
Ing exciting scenes in giving a line OF
suggestions 20 the young writer's who
would compete for the 500 prize offered
by the Board OF Governors of Ak-sar-
Ben FOR the beat scenario reviewing the
fifty years Of history Of the state of Ne
braska.
Here is in part what Mr. wattles has
| to say,
The principal business OF Nebraskans
is farming. Tho largest number OF its
inhabitants are engaged i'm farm work. l
therefore have conceived that this story
should deal with farm life TO a large
extent. IL picture can be produced
which will illustrate the trials. the sacri-
fices and the final triumph over poverty.
drouth and disaster OF the average
farmer who has lived on the prairles Of
Nebraska during the last fifty years. It
viii illustrate the history OF this state.
to my mind. in a more comprehensive
manner than In any other way / cen
imagine.
honeymoon over Plains.
such a picture would naturally start
with the marriage scene Of young
couple in some eastern or middle western
state The wedding trip would be taken
IN prairie schooner westward toward
the new state Of Nebraska, where home
steads could be secured. The young
a ferry boat, and, while encamped on
the Nebraska side would he Joined bv
other immigrants with similar Intentions
to become settlers in this state They
would journey together across the bare
prairies over new and rough roads. camp
ing at night In the manner OF travellers
IN the early days by the formation OF a
stockade with their wagons as a protec-
ton against Indian attacks. An Indian
attack could be shown In which some OF
thelr horses or live stock would be driven
away They would finally reach their
destination and enter upon the lives OF
the early settlers on the homesteade they
mad selected. Sod houses would be con-
strueted. and with old fashioned breaking
plows the new and virgin soil would be
turned over for the first time. scenes
and Incidents OF the sod house period
eouid De Illustrated.
Trip 20 Omaha.
THE second stage, would natursi,v
} snow the frame house. the sheds, the
trees, the fences and the cultivated farn,
which came along some year. after ~.
, first settlement. The drouth. the grass
hopper period and other trials Shouts
be illustrated. The coming OF the rail-
road and the Joys and conveniences e
brought TO the early settlers; the In
. crease OF prosperity. ana incidentally
the Increasing age Of our pioneer couple.
= with their family OF children growing up
: about themi trip TO the metropolis OF
: the state to see the Trana- Mississippi
exposition, with views OF the buildings
ana grounds; trip to the Omaha stock
yards where the farmer found a marKet
for his live stock; the departure OF some
1 OF the children to attend the State Uni
Versity at lincoln; the introduction OF
improved farm implements: the Increase
In number and Improvement IN charao-
ter OF the live stock on the farm; the
actual farming operations OF blowing
seeding. cultivating. harvesting, hsying.
threshing, corn huaking; the average
country school house with the school in
session, and perhaps the terrors of =
Nebraska blizzard: all with the many
other incidents, which viii suggest them
, selves to the play writer. would form
part OF the early life of the pioneer.
show Modern improvements.
The final triumph might be pictured
when the pioneer. mature in years and
prosperous beyond his dreams. would be
, suggested by his neighbors as a fittinn
candidate for the office OF governor OF
/, the state the canvass OF the votes and
his triumphant election; the Inaugural.
tlon at the capitol in Lincoini the
changed scenes about the old homestead
showing the full grown trees, ths I'm,
modern farm house and barns, the i'm.
proved live stock. the meaern machinery
; including the tractor. the steam thresher
$ and the automobiles the rural mail de.
. livery, the telephone service, and all
: the other manifold comforts and con,
9 veniences which have come within tn,
= brief space Of fifty years to bless the
a lives OF the farmers OF this state.
I "a prelude to the main story might
e properly illustrate the first landing Of
$ American citizens on Nebraska soil wher
I Lewis and Clark with their party held
= council with the Indians In the fores
: near Fort Calhoun. An interesting limo
4 walton might be introduced in throwing
4 on the screen the photographs OF mei
! prominently identified with the develop
: mont OF this state.