Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-06-11
DOROTHY FARNUM
ANSWERS QUERIES
ON SCRIPT WRITIlNC

JULlA-The only advice I can give
you will be hard to take. That is. cut
out remOrselessly and mercilessly all
scenes and episodes which are not es.
sential to the story!
!, myself, know only too well how
difficult it is. Then revise your script
and try to incorporate all the beauty
and all the originality you are capable
Of into the essential scenes.
If you are an invalid, regret to say
it will be almost impossible for you
70 accept staff continuity position.
Being u staff writer means more than
just Literary and dramatic effort. 1t
embraces a great deal Of the production
side OF a photoplay. You would be
called constantly into conference with
stars, art directors, film cutters and
camera men. However, this need not
discourage YOU. because it Is equally
profitable to write original stories for
the screen, and let the producer assign
them to q staff writer, to be put into
technical continuity form.
Try to be contcntcd. and take this
advice for the time being, at least.
Things will be better when your health
is restored to you. l can readily see
from your letter that you have a great
talent for writing
In the meantime. my best wishes !!
| shall be happy to comply with your
request the next time / am in Philadel-
phia.
GRACE NJ. RETTEW-I was glad
to hear from you again. Since you can
think faster than you can write, you
Will have to train yourself to write as
fast as you can think.
Always concentrate on developing the
quality In which you are most lacking.
If singer should possess few high
notes which surpass Caruso's, he could
not possibly hope to conquer the musi-
cal world without a middle register.
Therefore, he would have to develop it.
Some people have all the technique
OF writing. bur no ideas. You, appar-
emily. have the ideas, therefore, acquire
the technique. Start on the play fol
which you are most in the mood.
When l suggested that you keep star
in mind while writing your script.
merely thought the image of stars lik,
Norma Talmadge or Hope Hampton
would serve as inspiration.
| CHESTER-Tcll your story ms sim
| ply as you can. just as il it were de
signed TO be published in the magazine
only be careful to exclude all non essen
tials and avoid writing things that vii
not visualize.
The ideas of the stories which yo,
briefly outline should be interesting.
| j. C.-Send your story to the staI
or company to whom you have it bes
suited. l am publishing. from tim,
to time, a list of stars and producer.
with their requirements for stories.
Mrs. S. NJ. +. - Send your Charlie
Chaplin story to Charlie Chaplil
Studio, Hollywood. Calf.
1t was kind of you to call upon m
In the EVENING PUBLIC LEDGER offices
| am sorry that you went to all tha
trouble for nothing. You see, live il
New York; from time to time | com
to Philadelphia. I shall be most happ,
to let you know when come, SO that
can see you.
NJ. e. J. - A good agency in New
York is the American Play Co. Mr
HUFFMAN is in charge Of the Motion Pic
ture Department.
Addresses of producers are to b
found in back Of almost any photopla
magazine.
JOHN CARSON--No company vii
be guilty of the editorial rudeness o
telling you that your story Is no good
The printed words on the rejection slip
Not suited to our particular needs a
present." might be applied to al
stories, both good and bad. leave 70
to judge your own material for your
self, BY the general tone of your let
ter ! should judge you have reason t
believe in yourself as a writer.