New Britain herald., 1926-04-24
MAKER OF STARS
 IS VERY STRICT
David Mark Griffith Has Rigid
 Requirements

New York. April 2i Pl--pavid Wark Griffith has made many mos ton picture stars, but he admits that in all his experience ho has never found m actor who fitted perfectly his conception of any role.
 This, with the oXacting qualifica- lions he demands of players, ex- plains. perhaps, why it usually takes him longer than other directors to cast picture.
 For example, in "rhe Sorrows of satan, which he is now making with Carol Dempster, Ricardo Corte2 and Adolphe Menion in the leading roles, Griffith interviewed and gave screen tests 10 twenty-five persons, reviewed 6 number of old pictures and searched the stage before he found an actress 10 play Lady Sybtl
 The esuirements he consideres es- aential are no more nor less than would be necessary for success in any other line of endeavor. They are tmaEinatlcn. concentration, will power. perseverance and physical en- durance.
 'It would he 2 mistake, of course. to present person of repulslve physical appearance, unless A rare characterization called for such a fvpe," he said. But on the other hand. sheer physical beauty Is not necessarily essential in a player
 "There are numerous examples oI 'his truth upon the screen today One of the most popular actresses m ptrtpres actress Of abillty--ls noysossrd of head much too large far her hodg. I recall in the earlier days of her career she almost lost her iob because of objection 10 this imrerfection,
 "Imaeination ~-- the ability 10 visualize and re-create the character 1s the author intends-is the prime essential 10 any real and consclen- rions artistic effort on the screen, The more Of such imagination and the more fluid that imagination. the greater the potentalities of the actor or actress.
 Great powers Of concentration are required. An artist should have the power 10 shut himself up in the characterization 10 the exclusion Of all other thoughts and to the exclu- Sion of events transpirng around him. To change from laughter tu taars In 9. period of ten seconds re- auires this ability 10 concentrate.
 "Correlative with concentration of course, is unbounded enthusiasm This quality is just as essential.
 Then an artist must have inyeter- ate perseverance. He or she must have the patience to 20 over and over the same scene and action time after time until it is perfect and human. l do not doubt but every SC. a quence in The Sorrows of Satan fo' instance, will be rehearsed at least one hundred times.
 "To these qualities should be add ed q good strong physical constitu' ton. The demand made upon actors often Is very severe"
 Players should not attempt capi talization of good looks and person. ality, the director believes, bu should learn how to create char. acters after the intentions of authors This would make it possible fol actors not to depend upon persona popularity but upon the creation oI many and varied characters faith fully and interestingly
 ''It may be possible--and I should like 10 see ito create a motlor picture stock company like Daly's with no leads and no stars he said An actor might play leading role in one film and take the par of q servant in another.
 Such an organization would h' marvellous uplift to the art Of pic lures. II also would be practicable and profitable"