Omaha daily bee., 1921-08-07
Synchronizing Music to. s..
Films an Artistic Feat
Bits of Melody Used in Average Picture Musical
Hash That Sounds Like Everything-Opera and
Jazz Meet as Equals-Players Are
Dressed in Musical Garb

United States it's just merel y Sc
lecting piece of music that will jibe
with the action OF the picture.
Synchronization an Art,
Synchronizing is one of the phases
OF the motion picture entertainment
that must be done with care, artistry
aud precision. Harry Silverman,
uusical conductor at the Strand
thcater, is one of the best known in
the middle west, and he has this de-
partment almost mathcmatically
correct. Here's how it is done:
When the management of thea
ter receives the film that is to be the
feature OF the next weeks bill the
music has been doped out ahead OF
time, for with the advance notices
sent out BY the publicity depart
ncnt is what is called "cue sheet"
in which is outlined and numbered
the music to be used in the piece.
These various airs keep running
all through the picture, whenever
the characters they represent ap-
pear. The theme" is always evi-
dent, just as it is in operate or SYM
phonic productions.
If Conductor Silverman thinks the
theme" proper, he lets it stand. II
not he goes through his music and
selects something as near like 1t as
possible, but more appropriate.
This sheet has been prepared by
the musical department Of the pic
ture company, but nine times out OF
10 does not suit the local leader.
They proceed to dress the picture in
such musical garb as they deem
proper. Usually i'll the big pictures.
there is theme running all
through the piece. 1t may be Apple
Blossom Time" when the heroine
appears; "He was a Brave Soldier
Laddie" when the hero flashes on or
it may be some deep mysterious
strain from Aida" or one of the big
symphonies when the william enters
the picture to begin his dirty work.
Situations Are Timed.
Several days before the picture is
to be shown, the orchestra leader is
given a special screening Of the new
picture. Armed with cue sheet and
watch he goes into the pit and
watches the picture. Every situation
is timed to the second. When Betty
Bright comes home tired and hungry
from her work in the silks at OPP
penheimers, kisses her mother, sits
down to a supper of corned beef and
cabbage, and anxiously awaits the
arrival OF Gerald Godfrey, the con-
ductor in the pit is keeping tab on
her every movement. As each situa-
ton is finished, the time is put down
on record sheet. This continues all
through the picture. When it is
finished the real work starts.
The conductor goes into his Ii
brary, where cataloeued in their
proper places are piles of music of
all character. Silverman has more
than 5000 numbers to draw from
and he knows his library from "a"
to ~.
Period Music.
He must be careful in his sclec-
tons as there is period music just
as there is period dress. An Indian
idyl or war dance wouldn't iibc with
a street fight. neither would the
Irish Washwoman" sound very nice
when the heroine appears. Music
being played for some particular
situation must depict the same as
clearly as the printed words on the
titles.
He already has his theme picked
out and then following the records
he has made he goes through his
music and selects what he needs. All
situations are timed to the second
and only strains of rlusic of proper
length are used.
When he has completed his pro-
gram he picks out the parts for the
various instruments in the orchestra