Evening star., 1923-11-14
F|[MDO|M CUTTING
Down ON WASTE
Hollywood to Be Run in Fu-
ture on Scientific Shop
Principle.
by ROBERT r. SMALL.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, November I4.-The
moving picture people still are work
ing twenty-four hours a day endeav-
oring to explain to the public at
large just what is going on within
the industry. They say that various
misconceptions have placed the indus
try In false light. They say it is
foolish to think OF it as tottering to
fall. They say it is equally foolish
to think that any of the big pro-
ducers are going back to cheap pic
lures. They say the present produc-
lions are not good enough and that
better
The real purpose Of the recent aei-
tation, precipitated by the announce
ment or the Famous Piayers-Lasky y
computation that il proposed dras-
tically to reduce the costs OF produc-
tlon, Is said now to be the cutting out
OF waste. Actors, directors and
nearly every one else connected with
the picture business had got the idea
rainbow; that all about them were
pots of gold and that nothing in the
way OF extravaganza was barred
Extravagance, it was argued, made
good press stun and helped to adver-
tise the productions. The business
was new and had not adjusted itself.
Change of Mind mt Hollywood.
Jesse Lasky feels already that the
agitation has made good. He saws
there IS change of mind at Holly
wood. This change of attitude is re-
garded by the producers as extremely
vital, as much of the waste Of the
past was largely due to the mental
a md rrytf . r. 1T 4,
approached a production. They re-
garded the sky as the limit in every
respect. Now all that has got to be
changed. The picture business has got
to be put on a business basis. Costs
have got to be watched. In other
words the temperamental stars of
the screen have got to understand in
the future that productions are going
to be run on a scientific shop manage
ment plan.
There is to be a speeding up OF
production. Producers have allowed
the studio people to run things in the
past according to their own whims
and ideas. Six months have been oc-
cupied with a production which might
easily have been shot" in three
The odd thing about this movie con-
troversy is that the demand that the
salaries of stars be reduced has come
most loudly from the exhibitors or
owners of theaters who merely pay
a fixed rental for a film and have
nothing whatever to do with its pro-
duction. The producers are. not sc
confident they can give the stars a
cut in salary. This is because after
all is said and done there are so few
outstanding bright lights of the films
All the producers are after the same
stars and SO long as that competition
continues il is foolish. they say, to
talk about a reduction in salaries.
Shutting Down No Remedy.
temporary shutting down of pro-
duction will prove no remedy. accord
ing to some OF the producers. because
they realize that when production
work is resumed all the producers
Will proceed to fish out of the same
pond and salaries will rise again.
Too few stars. too few star di.
rectors, too few continuity writer's
are attributed as the root of the evil
in the picture industry, in the view
of F. j. Godsol. president of the
Goldwyn Pictures Corporation. Mr.
Godsol seldom is heard from officially y
even in all the welter of publicity
that goes out concerning the pictures
But he has felt that the present
agitation has called for some sort OF
explanation. In Mr.. Godsol's opinion
there are not enough stars to &c
around The yearly output of pic
mendous. This leads to much com
petitive buying for the better known
names There are thousands OF
young women and young men per-
fectly willing to be stars, but few
of the producers like to go to the
expense and the trouble Of exploit
ing new names. Yet that is what
must be done if the industry is tt
thrive and the people be satisfied
The comparatively few brillian
lights of the screen cannot make al
the pictures and it is foolish to LEAD
the public to think SO.
Time Saving Favored.
Mr.. Godsol feels that directors hav,
time in shooting productions and be-
lieves that the fixing of a definite
time for a picture to be finished
will cut out a great deal Of cost.
The real source of uneasiness "ir
the. pictures" is the quarrel that il
In many cities all of the local pic
ture houses are either controlled b.
one man or one group OF men. Thes,
groups tell the producers fatty tina
and To more The producers have t
take this rental or stay out of tn,
city. Several efforts to combat thi
state Of affairs have been made, bu
a combination of the producers ha.
not been attained. In cities wher
the arc tlOL III d COIu
bination and where competition fo
the better films exists the producer
charge exorbitantly in an attempt t,
make up for the poor rentals received
in the organized towns. Pictur
rentals, therefore, have not beeI
based on fair values, but on the polio,
of get what you can"
"Growing pains" some Of the pro
ducers call the present troubles. bu
they say the public need not b,
ala rmed. Matters will be adjusted
sooner or later and good pictures will
be produced.