New-York tribune., 1922-07-16
Beginning With the Scenario
The Writers Of Motion Picture Stories Well the Producers
Must Exercise Imagination

novel toward the writing Of the motion
picture script 80 It exists IN an its
possibilities. Few novels or plays,
for the rights Of which huge sums
have been paid. have really proved
adaptable 10 the needs Of the photo
drama. Big names have meant aston
ishingly little In terms Of photc-dra-
matte accomplishment Perhaps a little
larger printing Of an original scenario
authors name on the credit title Of a
picture would encourage more persons
Of ideas 70 write seriously for the
screen. Certainly way can be found
TO bring capable men and women into
this Geld OF creative work for what
may yet become the vital medium q
expression which many believe it al
ready is.
TIE point remains. and this is inn
portant In any talk about curing the
evils. whatever they are, Of the mo-
tion picture az the source that is.
with the scenario that the motion pic
ture studio. like the stage Of the the
ater. must remain open as a workshop
in which constant experiment revision.
thought and energy can be freely given
and carried on IN order 10 perfect the
product. celebrating. vivifying what,
until il is produced as a. present
concocted, remains simply cold words
on parer. Great dramstists have re-
vised their plays as a necessity OF
perfectiug them. Shakespeare. Moiiere.
lbsen. finished what they began on
paper on the actual stage in the the
ater where their plays were produced.
So with the motion picture Nothing
Of really constructive and perma-
nent nature can be achieved II the fact
is left out Of consideration that the
scenario must always remain suscept-
ible % the Imagination OF the person
who transfers 10 20 the screen in terms
Of motion pictures. Nor should it be
forgotten that no matter how innocu-
Gus. II one is looking for innocuous
pictures. or how wholesome, II one is
looking for wholesome pictures in the
true sense. q whole plot or any par
ticular scene may appear To- the script
there is no guaranty that 10 will APP
pear that way when IL is placed upon
the screen. for the simple reason that
one cannot exactly conceive what the
living animal looks like by examining
its skeleton Only complete. char
acterized. described and imaginative
scenario can begin TO give US the def
mite picture. II. therefore. the at
tempt is to be made 20 handeuf the
director TO the script, il is still further
up 10 the industry TO get together and
find the people Ct imagination, intelli-
gencc and workmanship VINO arc ca
Fable Of turning out something more
than a numbered pattern that r.. il IL
is with the scenario that the begin
ming is seriously going TO be made.
Meanwhile, II we remember correct
ly. ono suggestion made az Mr. Hayss
conference by writer was supremcly
pertinent namely TO discharge al the
doctors who are continually tinkcring
with the motion picture and making ii
sicker man every day Perhaps Mr.
Hays. besides nourishing the source OF
the cinema's health. can find some way
TO avail himself OF that suggestion
Indeed. II he doesn't he will find him.
self feeding the patient broth while rs
self-constituted guardians are keeping
up a steady dose Of poison
W. A. BARRETT
New York. July 10, 1929.