The Washington herald., 1920-03-04
New York City
BY o. o, Mcintyre

New York. March b. There Is
reason to believe that moving pic
ture producers will soon be Sob
bing at the studio doors Of authors.
whining piteousiy for stories for
the films. The day Of the author
has arrived. Just the other day a
well-known novelist got contract
for $4,000 year for four scenarios
and a share in the net profits.
| which ought to make IL 100000.
The moving picture producer has
been rather contemptuous toward
| the author. In the days Of the
picture infancy the author was
something to be tolerated-like the
measles. There are stories, too. that
in the early days submitted scena-
rios were not even returned. and
In many cases they were flched
brazenly,
Now there are plenty of stars,
! directors. studios,-but not stories.
And enter the author with his Gig
arctic, fur coat and rather naughty
manner. He will write deathless
plots for-puff: puff! puff!-O! well.
say, $4,000 a week with a limousine
to carry him to and from the stu
dos. And a couple of trips year
| to California; thrown in.
Writers who have trunk loads OF
rejected manuscripts dig out a few,
polish them up with a few thrills
! and get their own price. Rex Beach
has proved that the movie fan will
go to see the authors works as
quickly as blond curled star or
a brunette vamp He has left lit
erature and is said to be making
100000 a year writing scenarios.
A good plot man can write a
picture play in a couple of days.
All he needs Is action. The writ
ing takes UP about three pages,
Then he is through, the Continuity
men" do the rest. They are paid
81, 900 week in many cases. 1t Is
their job to- make IL a real scenario
so the director gets the true atmos-
phere of the story, The author
virtually furnishes a synopsis.
Summed up movie producers have,
against their own wishes, found the
pulling power of the author. So great
is the pulling power that the authors
at such theaters as the Rivoli and
Rialto find their names In electric
lights the same dimensions as the
star. 1t looks from here like it is
going 70 be a great summer for au-
thors!
He was fat. bald, and wore awning
striped shirt and suit. A bowler derby
came down over one eye and a heavy
black cigar tilted upward from a cor
ner of his mouth. Not even white
powder covered the blue black that
showed through a shave OF an hour
before. His voice was husky. A big
diamond headlight in his tie flashed
fire. That is why he created a ripple
of excitement as he came into a quaint
little tea room on Fifth avenue. Co.
ing back to one of the little wicker
tables he tripped over a Pom and a
Peke and the thin wire legs of the
chair almost bent under his bulky
weight. A daintily white capped wait
ress approached as he took a purple
handkerchief from his pocket and
wiped beads of ooZe from his fore
head. Bring me a nut sundae or
something" he rasped. "Gawd! What
a hell of a life to lead"
Out-of-town visitors to Manhattan.
strolling along the Forties between s
and midnight see some queer sights
Actors In their makeup come out the
side doors for breath OF air and a
cigarette. Their faces under the dim
light. together with their costumes.
appear grotesque. Some even slip into
the little restaurants for a ouick sand
wich and a cup of coffee.
A. perpetually unshaven fellow who
runs a newsstand near the Winter
Garden was hailed into court the other
day for some trivial charge. He plead
his own case and was dismissed. The
magistrate was interested in his ex-
cellent address and his knowledge OF
the law. He explained that he had
been admitted to the bar and was
graduate Of a big Eastern college. Il
could only make $500 a year with my
law" he said. and 1 make about
$1,000 a year selling newspapers. 1t
may surprise you to see how unkempt
am, but it is business psychology. II
I dressed in good clothes people would
not purchase from me-"