The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-20

Anna Tries 1T Too.
BY WILL T. AMES.

illiterate and the abjectly lazy has
tried it, is trying it or is going to try
it tomorrow. Most folks experiment
in film fiction because they fancy
themselves a bit clever.
Anna, however, was prompted to
that endeavor pnly because she was
sure she was little less stupid and a
good deal less badly educated than
Hazel HazeIhurst; and Hazel, SO all
Hillsburg was one morning informed
by the Herald had written and sold
to the Imperial Films company a
scenario called Flaming Swords and
Bleeding Hearts, Afterward Anna
had seen the film herself, with the
subtitle, STORY by Hazel Hail.
hurst" as big as life.
It was an amazing thing to Anna,
because Hazel, spinner girl in the
silk mill where Anna was a stenog
rapher, had left school of her own vo-
lition at thirteen and was the kind of
girl who talks slang exclusively
chews gum on the streets and goes to
10-cent dances.
If it were really true that inarticu-
late people like that could get hun
dreds and hundreds of dollars for just
lacking together a few ideas and
sending them to film company, then
Anna felt she was doing herself an
dDSOluI0 iIIJUSllCS ny IlOL Ing ASE
hand at this fairy game of chance.
She would do it.
Wherefore, within the next six
weeks, Anna by dint- of much mental
toll evolved three stories. Each was
neatly typed and dispatched to the
Colossal Photoplay company, at New
York. And each, about a week after
its departure, came back as unerringly
as homing pigeon. With each was
enclosed the same printed form, stat
ing that the Colossal company re
grets that the material submitted is
not exactly suited to it's present
needs"
1t was Just at this time that the Ma
tional Fabrics company decided to
close down its Hillsburg plant for two
weeks for REIMBURSEMENT purposes"
Anna, receiving assurance from the
fected by the readJustment proceed
ings, found herself with fortnight's
vacation on her hands.
She determined that the way to dis
cover something about this scenario
game, meantime, was to go to the
place where it is played. So she made
the first trip of her life to the metrop-
oils, procured as comfortable a fur
nished room as New 7 ork's fantastic
prices made possible to her limited
purse. and set out next day to learn
the game"
Anna expected to get speech with
couple of scenario editors, at least.
and to obtain from them some words
of advice and suggestion; also, prob
ably, to secure permission to visit
studio or two and witness screen
drama in the making. She went to
the Colossars establishment first.
From q red-headed typist at the
portal of the scenario rdepartme emit
Anna received disillusionment. The
scenario editor wasn't to be seen. No
body was to be seen, except by ap-
pointment. A million people a day
wanted to see somebody about
scenarios Anyhow. Mr.. Highland was
QUITE The associate editor was out,
tooF
Anna was on the point of beating
a discounted retreat when Ted Malt
by, MISREPRESENTATION to have an early
lunch, emerged from an inner room.
Ted, one of. the Colossafs keenest
scenario readers, nevertheless was a
departmental joke for his softness OF
heart toward the genus writing nut.
He stopped, looking lnqu1r1pgiy at the
red headed girl and toward Anna;
as lady wantsta see somebody
bout script writin," volunteered Reo
Head, vastly bored.
"Perhaps I can be of service" Of
fered Ted. The proffer was made IN
sacrificial kindness, but as Anna Ter
hune's face lighted in acknowledge
ment Ted whistled. mentally, IN ae e,
Iighed surprise. "a regular girl"
he inwardIy congratulated himself
latter, oh Lord, these many nun.
dreds,"A Then. to Ann, ST am one OF
the Maltby." ~
Anna told him her name. "Of
Hillsburg?" Ted asked. Il have read
several of your scripts lately. .,o
girl. ssrhen YOU will be the very per-
son TO advise me. That's what have
come for, you know.
Maltby experienced the sudden
sense of depression that comes to him
who is unexpectedly called on to break
the news to the family of the victim:
II shall be delighted" he managed
to say, however. ST was just going
over to Forty-fourth street for mucn
coffee and little food. Would you
care to come? It's a wonderful place
to talk
ones first day. Anna, quite to her
own astonishment, accepted the 1nV1-
tation with no more ceremony than
had accompanied it's extension Zen
minutes later they were sitting, IN tne
camaraderie of old acqualntanceshlp,
at a little undraped table in the pres
enee of a negligible luncheon and
miraculous Brazilian brew.
..Now," said Ted, I'm going to play
the heavy-just mere plain brute.
You've come to New York TO get set
right in this stunt of screen writing
You've had your scripts sent back and
you've made up your mind to find the
reason why and how to correct your
faults That's it, isn't it
'fWhy, yes And Pm glad you
''Wait.''' interrupted Ted. u're
not going to thank me; in a minute
you're going to throw that coffeReup
at my head Miss Terhune"- Malt
by's expression showed that he hated
the task ahead of hint ask you to
believe that I am animated by the
sincerest. if quite sudden. frienship.
There is only one thing for you to do
about this work"
II think know what you are going
to say" Anna interjeeted. You're
going to tell me I must start all over
begin at a beginning, somewhere
and learn the craft, just as any other
must be learned"
ssWrong. Quite wrong The only
thing for you to do is to drop it. Quit
it, Forget it. You'd never make a
screen writer in a thousand years.
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