Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-06-09
EIGHT-HOUR DAY
REQUIRED TO SEE
UNCUT PICTURE

THE average motion picture, in it
L rough form, is six miles long o.
about thirty five reels, according tC
statistics compiled in the cutting de.
partment at the Lasky eastern studio
It would take generous eight hour day
for n person to view one of the pictures
before it Is edited and cut. One Of the
biggest problems director has is &c
eliminate and coordinate scenes unit
the picture Is down to the regulation
length.
Many pictures run longer than thirty
five reels and some less. For instance
Sentimental Tommy" John S. Rob.
ertson's production Of Barrie s story, was
fifty reels in its uncut form and Thomas
Meighan 8 latest picture, The Con
quest of Canaan" was seventy -four
thousand feet before r. William Neill
the director, began pruning it. The
reason for the exceeding length Of these
pictures was the number Of outdoor
scenes. Whenever a director Shoots
cxteriors he always make more takes
to insure getting the best possible light
ing.
The modern motion picture director
usually takes three Shoots" of each
scene in the picture. which means film
Ing 12OO'sccnes for scenario that calls
for 400 scenes, the average length OF
the continuity for a FIVE reel picture.
To those who know little of motion
picture making this seems like a need =
less waste, but it is done to insure a
perfect picture.
A FTER b. picture is completed the di =
"A rector begins an orgy of viewing
motion picture which would delight the
movie fan. but which to director Is
probably the hardest work that he does.
From all this footage he selects the best
"takes,' After this is done the pic
ture usually is cut to twelve reels.
Then the director begins trimming off
the rough edges from the scenes selected,
which brings the picture closer the
prescribed length of about 5000 feet.
Again the process of cutting is INDUCED
in, the suspense scenes running longer
than the establishing scenes.
Atmosphere scenes, inserted to direct
the mood of the audience, are cut to
mere flashes, while the dramatic scenes
of the picture are prolonged. After the
balancing of the various scenes is fin
ished and the titles inserted you have
the completed motion picture ready for
exhibition to the public.
The process of cutting a picture takes
from one to three weeks, depending, of
course, on the length OF the rough film.
All this, however, is necessary to in =
sure smooth and clear picture for
projection.
Two methods are used by directors
in filming a picture. Some Of them, as
the studio parlance goes, "shoot close
to the script" and others 'shoot
freely" 1t is the latter group that
have the hardest job of cutting.
Many times scene is taken with diff
ferent interpretations so that when the
final selections are made the director
finds himself up against the Difficult,
task Of selecting the best take
The cutting Of picture Is just as
much directors job as that of WELD
ing a megaphone during the actual film
ing of the picture, and many Of the per
picking problems of direction come after
the camera is tucked away in a cabi
net and the actors have gone on theil
merry way, with only the film remain
ing.