The Washington herald., 1920-12-05
Frank x. Finnegan Gives
"Don'ts" for Film Authors
Successful Writer of Scenarios Hands Out
Some Good Advice.

lust because you have been q
successful author and written many
stories or books that have been ac-
cepted, don't think 1t Is snap 10
write a scenario.
Just because you have great
deal Of ability, and admit II, for
thinking up snappy phrases ana
terse and telling lines, don't think
that you can become motion PIC
ture title writer offhand."
lust because you have seen a lot
OF bad pictures and groaned at the
moor stun in them, don't think that
YOU can write a better one between
breakfast and dinner. Probably
your first attempt, il it was ever
screened, would be worse than any
you had SEEN"
These are a few of the "dont's'
that Frank ]. Finnegan, we'll
known and successful writer OF
many short stories for the popular
periodicals. one-time newspaper
man, scenario writer. and now an
expert title writer for Paramount,
q the Lasky Studio, has suggested
TOR other writers of fiction VINO
aspire to a screen career.
Says Mr.. Finnegan:
.sPossfbly / was once like the
other writers Of fiction In this re-
gard, but 1 have had my eyes well
opened.
There is no way under the sun
"a become scenario or uue
vriter except to study the work
- the studio. There are thou-
and things that enter into the
sitafeszion That the average author
rata naver dream of. All his
ttacWledge Of writing for the
ucintsd page. whle immensely val
= tte. would b. inzufhcfent. he
must 9esru, and while learning ne
has no more right TO expect that
his first work win be acceptable
than he had when ne wrote his nrst
short story or novel He Uses the
same tools. but a different corner
of his brain in picture writing.
There is so much that enters
into the work, and the mere mat
ter of writing so many words Is
tbe least of his tasks. An idea Is
always valuable, If it is new one'
ttrt after the idea comes the de-
tailed work, and there are plenty
of details. A man must know his
medium and every phase of ac-
tivfty that it entails. Drama, me-
chanics. literature, poetry. all have
their place in pictures. and all must
concern in some degree the duties
If the scenarist-"
Liquor is just liquor to a. great
many people, but Ben Pierce, CO.
rfledian at the Gayety Theater this
week. is authority. for the state
r:ent that a deputy sheriff in south
erp Massachusetts, likes his 95 per
cent prr.. alcohol and 5 per cent
sweetening-
The versatile comedian had wan
ffered away from fishing party last
summer and adventure led him on
premises posted against fishing. But
a camper is not always mindful of
anti-fshing or hunting warnings,
anil Pierce proved n oeXception to
the general rule. He picked out a
shady spot and soon the fish came
rolling in-according to his own
version.
Pierce was in the midst of blissful
reflections. he told a visitor. when an
arm descended upon his shoulder
and a miniOn of the law crisply
warned him that it was too late to
plead for mercy.
The officer methodically proceeded
70 Confiscate fish, tackle, and other
properties not too personal in their
nature.
~ protested" said the Gayety
star, but there was no use arguing
With this deputy. offered him
money, and he refused; provisions
from the camp and he scorned them
/ was at my wits end when finally
q thought came to me, but it seemed
none too optimistic.
81 leaned close to him. DO you
drink asked.
@Sure," was the response; what
have you got?"
's&Witch hazel is a handy thing for
CInpers to have. Luckily / had a
buttle- in my tackle bag. 1 fished it
ott. He took half dozen swallows,
handed it back. and said:
.Neighbor, that's good liquor"
;He let me CO."
FINAL arrangements have been
completed by Morris Gest for the
pnssC ntation of the super-spectacle,
'ssphrodite," at Polls Theater. for
one week beginning Sunday night,
DECEMBER 19. This romance of
ancient Egypt, presented on a scale
Ofs great magnificence by F. Ray
Comstock and Morris Gest. with a
,Hst of 500 people. promises to be
the sensation of the year in Wash
iugtOn just as it was last winter at
the Century Theater. New York, and