New-York tribune., 1921-01-02

that the entire feeling is one of auto
hypnosis
There always has been an over
production in this industry. Many
companies have made more pictures
than they could possibly market and
more than the country could absorb.
In justice to the old-time companies
IT must be said, however, that most of
the overproduction has been caused by
new and inexperienced producers. If
these companies now see the wisdom
the country can actually use the in
dustry will be vastly benefited"
Adolph Zukor, of the Famous Play
ers, laughed and shook his head. "De-
rression?" he said; mot at all, on
the contrary. You know, our real work
ing year, or perhaps | shou d s4y
our filming year, is from May to No
vember. That is, because the weather
al! over-yes. even in California is s.
much better during these months that
we try to accomplish all we can. There
Is plenty of work to be done in these
other eight months, work that the pub
llc knows nothing Of, such as casliNg
selecting and writing stories and se-
lecting new stars. But | do not be-
leve that the star is as important as
hibtors tell US a picture will draw
bigger crowds the first night if they
can advertise it in conjunction with
the name Of popular star. But un-
less that picture is really good pro-
ductlon the people will not go a second
night. Audiences prefer to do their
own selecting nowadays, and no matle4
how great the magnitude of the Iumi-
rary he will be rejected if he has
mediocre picture. A good picture with
star has much greater drawing
power than that same picture without
star but, as always, the plays the
II ing and ! think original stories for
the screen are the best.
IL DO not mean that there will be any
radical change N policy, for. of course,
there w II always be stars, and fewer
and better pictures will have them,
too. Stars are presumably greater art
lists than those who have not been thus
elevated. But greatest of all factors in
the success of a picture is the director.
A production is only as strong as it's
director" (Hear! near!,
D. w. Griffith was so busy that he
had to speak over the telephone
What's that ?" he said. "Gon ing to the
dogs? Well, if they are they're riding
there in limous mes. We are working
aS is.iu dS we CdH up mere at M2IndTC-
neck, and fifteen WAY Gown East
companies are out working on the road.
Each company carries its own set of
workmen and an orchestra. Why. I've
nade great deal more aoney out of
Way Down East than ever I made
with The Birth of a Nation After
running all these weeks at the Forty
fourth Street Theater there is seldom
performance where we do not play to
more than capacity. | don't know how
they do it. Put in some extra chairs, /
suppose. No, I'm gu te satisfied w tn
the financial outlook and Pm planning
10 things for 1921"
"The Vitagraph company feels quite
justified in sounding strongly opti-
mistic note in forecasting activities in
The film field during the coming year,
and particularly as regards its own
productions" said Albert Smith presi-
dent Of Vitagraph. The facts and
figures given out by John NJ. Quinn,
general manager, show that the 1920
business was ll2 per cent greater than
during 1918 and 35 per cent. greater
than it was in 1919. "Thc figures which
have at hand" said Mr.. Quinn, con
vince me that our business cannot fail
to be doubled during 1921. This is not
visionary goal, but one which we
have already partly accomplished, as
proved by the contracts here in our
files. That this industry will pass
through the period of readjustment
with steady steps is a certainty. We
are out to deliver the goods. We can't
rest on our 1920 laurels and we won't;
but we cannot help feeling satisfied and
strengthened by the results attained"