The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-06-02
IN STUDIO LAND
Facts and FancieS About the Folks
Who Make the Films

The dividing line between photo play I
and 4 photo spectacle is becoming more
and more marked Most especially Isl
this true because of the recognized fact
that there are great many who can
direct and produce photo play, but, for
the making Of spectacle there must be
a super craftsman who has sublimated
capacity for conceiying and producing e4-
fects that when cameraed and registered
upon the film provoke wonder and marvel
in the minds Of the spectators. But IN
the dazzling swiftness of the KALEIDOSCOPE
| &c action of the pictured wonders, and
because of the stunning effect they pro-
duce upon the mind. few theCe are who
ponder upon the difficulties surmounted
| ny the producer who was responsible for
the production. When d. ". Griffith pro-
| duced The Birth of a Nation the world
naiveled at the stupendousness of the
/ spectacle. / was in California at the time
| OF It's production, in the scenario depart
ment of the Metro, and ] witnessed prae-
tlcally the entire producing of that won
derful film. Wherein does one producer s
abllltles surpass another's? Why are
there so few capable Of producing a spec
tacle while many are able to produce 4
H photoplay? That is the primary purpose
Of this article. And as a fair example the
writer cites experiences of ID. w. Griffith
in the producing of The Birth Of Ma
ton.
First of all the studio. Out in the San.
Ia Monica ranges of California where the
sun is dutifully radiant continuously
Throughout the year was situated "Grif
fiths,' studio comprising $1,000 acres
It is considered to be one of the mos
4 perfectly appointed studios in the world
Its staff of mechanical workers Is draw
4 rom the best of the craft. On the stat
4 are scenario writers, men experienced IL
the framing and development OF drlm
& plots whose sole occupation IS the prepar
q ing OF manuscripts to furnish the dmecto
with the plan OF action in the filming o
4 the pictures. When Griffith conceived tn
! idea Tor his picture 1t required tire
3 months Of constant work before he ha
Il working script of the future spectacle
d The project promised to involve a fabt
lous sum Of money, how much C,riffit
Z did not know, nor did he give it car,
L Two hundred carpenters were immediate
a ~ engaged and the first set begun Tl
3 search for the cast was made, drastic an
disappointing examination OF people
4 search of that great desideratum Of tn
photo producer, types" that would f
& perfectly the roles For in this respet
E she ineXorability OF the truth telling can
u era allows no faulty substitution an
\ pierces the most Elusive makeup. ri
+ principal personages We're filmed in the
4 respective scenes first to make way f
3 the most trying Of the ordeal, the mo
= scenes, so-called because Of the ter
a the theatre has always applied to supe
d numoraries, the mob. In this pietu
the obtaining OF the mobs was indeed
large order, for in totafity there we
10000 people used in the whole produ
ton and it, took an entire year for Il
filming And vet there is little more
aGi a1el tlepstAetl,an tvieal thenara0anin mn
pectacle than photoplay Anoth
item was obtaining Of horses even there
the midst of the horse country The
were 10000 horses used A veritable arm
Of foot ahd cavalry 1t is here in Il
handling Of these massive scenes tn
methods of different directors are varie
Some obtain their ends by silent surety
direction much as the modern gener
directs a battle. Others are bundle
fiery energy whose physical effort expan
ou itself in unison with his nervous ment
es action. The first has plan drawn 0
z and trusts to his generals and heutenar
among the forces to carry out the plal
by Some aver that there is the slightt
Wy of suggestions Of stiffness in the acti
on, Of such directors productions The otl
oh is in the thick Of the melee enthusing
l subjects ny example of his movemen
rs; OF the later variety is Griffith He /
rse been described as a human dynamo
ar action, going after his effects in fight
rk; action keyed up his actors and lllitti
In the fabric Of bis story firmly
es; Consider, then, the handling Of n
md. Of thousands of people Like multitr
on Of checkers they are placed upon the
gantic board and made to rehearse
action ard evolutions lie wishes to h,
pictured What energy is here expend
- At last they are trained to the action 9
n the order is given to shoot (the te
OF the studio for taking the pctuel
here the ante human element forces
sell. 1t may be that one of the tho
ands makes a fragrant false move
whole work is nulliied The culprit