Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-08
ONLY DIRECTOR
OF CHINAMEN IN
MOVING PICTURES
MANY unusual people may be seen

A'1 or heard about n modern motion.
picture plant, but one of the most un-
usual figures which has come to light in
some time is Tom Gubbins, who has
added new calling to motion pictures.
Mr.. Gubbins styles himself the "mo-
ton picture expert on things Chinese"
and he is the medium between casting
directors and Chinese atmosphere or
talent for motion picture productions.
He eliminates problem which has long
been worry to film companies desiring
Chinese characters for their pictures.
Before his time the casting director
would engage a group of Chinese, they
would work in the picture one day and
then perhaps the next day there would
be one or two missing.
uAVING spent eight years in China,
IL MIR. Gubbins has learned the
traits and characteristics of the race to
perfection and has come to be looked
upon as friend and highly respected
business agent by the Los Angeles Chi
| ncSe.
He has great influence with all the
natives of the little Oriental section and
knows their haunts, their ethics. their
points of appeal and the methods by
which they can be reached and is ac-
quainted with several "persuaders" by
which they may be induced to realize
the Importance of continuing on the
second day and perhaps every day
thereafter for n week the work which
they have begun before the camera on
the first day.
This is very important. for after
each man has once been registered on
the film in one scene. his presence
| IN I'm ;c hco al
sary in order that the picture be con-
sistent throughout.
Recently, when L. NJ. Goodstadt, the
casting director at the Lasky studio in
Hollywood. wanted something like a
part of the atmosphere for scenes in
the Chinese cafe setting in Betty Comp
tons picture, eat the End Of the
World" he simply communicated with
Mr.. Gubbins, told him what he wanted
and at the appointed time, the latter
appeared at the studio with his
Orientals in tow.
MIR. GUBBINS is one of the very
ANl few Americans who have mastered
the Cantonese tongue. This is con.
sidered the most difficult language IL
makes him indispensable to the directo:
when employing n number Of Chinese II
picture. The director makes known
his orders and Mr.. Gubbins huently
relays them to the Oricntals In theil
own tongue.
| He has also proved valuable in sup.
plying information of n technical an(
artistic nature regarding Chinese archi
lecture. furnishings and invcstiturc
costumes and the customs and char
acteristics of the people. While work
ing at the Lasky studio, Mr.. Cub
bins attracted the curiosity and ad
miration of all who happened to b
near the set and heard him talkin,
intimately and with no apparent effor
to these strange people in the languag
Of the Cantonese.
GONE might think that the Chimes
" would be very fond of woriin
in motion pictures and reapng tn
remuneration paid even to extra type
Of this kind. On the contrary, the
are usually indifferent about screc
being inside the studio than be
cause they are tempted by the So o
$3.50 day, which each receives 70
this service.
"Wages are very low in China. bu
the scale of living Is also very low.
America the Chinnman is very well
paid individual A washer in n Chimes
laundry generally always gets some
thing like $40 80 a week, with his ROOF
and board thrown in.
>, Their greatest passion Is the love {
gambling No sooner do they get thei
= hands on their money than they max
= all haste to stand around the fan ia
= table or buy tickets at the lottery.
y "Fan tan is their national gambin
IS game and, contrary to n common i'm
IF preston, it Is not played with caro-
lr hut with beads or buttons They tai
j. their losses very philosophically an
l. when they got more money return wit
= the same enthusiasm, the same passio
" for the game"
m MIR. GUBBINS is the only man
1Nl the world to hold such a uniqr
position in the work of making me
ton pictures. He Is making use of
;" knowledge which he bought dearly.
ne At the age Of twelve he ran awe
OF from his home in Roston and shippt
l. on a boat ne cabin boy. Landing
al HorgkOng. China he was thrown cr
~ tirely upon his own resources AZ
he faced the task of mastering the mo
ig difficult language on the face Of II
earth.