Evening star., 1923-05-13
IT'S ALL IN THE CUTTING
Famous Star Shifted at Contact
With Young Utility Actor, Then
The Film Cutters Turn Came

you being"'
Me being the cutter"
THAT leaves me afoot thirty miles
from a water hole. What do you
cut-salaries?"
'I cut film. Directors and designers
and editors and general managers
come and go, but 1 go on forever.
The author thinks he writes the story.
He's mistaken. The continuity hound
thinks he translates it: the director
thinks he produces it; the stars think
they act 1t; the old man thinks he
sells 1t to the public and makes 'em
like 1t. They're all wrong. Around
a studio. my son. the cutter is the
noblest work of creation"
TINE host crossed to a table on
i which were several dozen large
tin spools wound with narrow ribbons
of film. One of these was suspended
on shaft fixed on the bench; Burke
seized a loose end of film, unwound
few feet. and held it to the light.
That's the first part of scene
ninety EIGHT in Won Markets story
'rThe Wisdom of Fools" he said.
'Vons idea Of himself is that raw
stock--film that hasn't been SHOTS
bought by the old man for him to put
lots of little pictures on. and SO he
goes and does what he thinks he is
supposed to do. This story of his is
to run to six reels--6.000 feet, count
ing subtitles and introductions and
everything. He made $1,000 feet"
Il begin to see," Rod said. You're
the bird that makes 5000 feet grow
where only eighty or ninety thousand
grew before"
That's part of it. When the film
comes to me it's a drunkards dream
of scenes. sets, cast, story. directors
ideas, bunk, waste, and dead loss. /
have to start in at first with the
script in one hand and pair of
shears in the other, and find out what
it's all about. After I've trimmed it
to the bone l have to make q story
of It, Once in a while part of the
idea the author put in in the first
place slips by mo and creeps into
the picture but I try to see that
doesn't happen too often. l write
the story in film"
That's as clear as dirt on a white
shirt" Mcqueen said. But l was
asking about stars"
IF you'll stand hitched minute
I'll get to the stars" Jerry Burke
said. sourly. There isn't star on
earth that can act as well as nice.
bright. sharp pair of scissors. The
cameraman can make a star look
foolish without anybody knowing
how it's done. An electrician can
move his spotlight a tenth of an inch
and give a leading lady a face like
an old maid aunt. But when it comes
to making and breaking the best of
them I'll put my shears and glue-pot
against any combination in pictures
and give it flying start. When you
hear the favorite question of today
in America discussed now you'll
know the answer. What's wrong with
the movies? Me-
Rod Mcqueen adjusted his red
trousers with d grunt and a grin.
He crossed to the door and looked
out. He lowered the window shade
Il fraction of an inch. He stepped
softly back and addressed himself to
the cutters right ear
You can't make a silk purse out
of a ham -knuckle." he said: But If
you will take d few minutes off and
size up the little lady / was Grating
about
Don't say too much" Jerry Burke
advised him harshly. but with his
pleasant grin. 1--WE taken a dislike
to you that makes me want to do
something for you. What's this ris-
ing stars name?"
Rod colored again.
Ann Lusk.''
I've got you. Iii Duke Bassett's
company, eh? All right. It's jake
with me. Nora Norris. who's playing
his lead now tried to get the can tied
to me a while back for cutting out