Evening star., 1937-04-25
Film Talent
Displayed in
Many Lines
Few Are Chosen for
Acting Roles, But
Other Jobs Seen.
BY KENNETH CLARK.

. career. They realize, however, that
not every one can become Robert
Taylor or a Joan Crawford. Their
problem is to find that branch OF
work in the picture business which is
best suited to their abilities. It is the
purpose of this article to assist them
in their search by describing q num-
Der of the careers open to them.
Let us first consider the require
ments, slight as the opportunities are,
in the acting field. To be screen
actor or actress you must possess a
special talent-that is, you must screen
well and you must measure up to the
publics demands. In word, you
must be "box office" You must have
an unflinching confidence in yourself
and willingness to bear hardship and
privation.
The best way to prove you are q
good actor is to take part in school
and college plays Then, when you
have been graduated, you can go on
to little theater groups for further
training.
Because of the difficulties in be-
coming an actor, it is well to consider
other possible careers in the movies
before jumping to the conclusion that
you want to be star
One Of the most important is that
Of director. The director IS key
man in the motion picture studio. As
head OF unit which includes cam
eramen, sound men, electricians, car
penters and many other technicians,
he must first be good executive and
co-ordinator.
When all is in readiness on the set
the actors appear and he directs them
In their scenes. 1t follows that he
must be we'll trained in the art Of the
theater. He must have a knack for
building dramatic situations. for upon
his shoulders rests the responsibility
of making good picture.
A few directors have come up from
the ranks of assistant directors. Some
were actors in their own right and
others were cameramen, engineers or
writer's.
Wide reading of dramatic literature
and good knowledge of the current
theater are valuable props for the
would-be director. A knowledge OF
dramatic Interpretation and theatrical
technique is essential, and this can in
part be gained from thorough study
of the art of the worlds greatest ac-
tors and theater technicians. Books
by Stanislavski, Komiserevski don't
let the names frighten you-they real
ly are very human, Sheldon Cheney
and others make for strong back
ground. Practical experience can be
acquired in the theater, amateur or
professional, and on the movie set in
almost any capacity.
Less known, but important to the
production. is the assistant director
the man who never leaves the set. He
is ever at the directors side and shoul-
ders the weight of set details He
,checks positions on set, wardrobe,
players and time details. He must be
energetic and willing to work, since his
Job calls for long hours and strenu-
Gus endeavor. But his position is ad-
vantageous If he has hopes eventually
of becoming director. He can learn
all the rudiments from experience and
actual contact-a highly valued privi-
lege.
Writers for the screen have been
recruited from all walks Of life, but,
rs Is to be expected, most Of their
number have risen from among pro-
fessional playwrights and novelists.
II you are ambitious to become a
writer for the screen, one Of the best
ways to start is to study English COM
position in high school and college
Your teachers can give you the best
fundamental training. When you are
ready to start fiction writing as a
career, submit your stories to the
magazines That is one of the i'm
portant sources to which the studios
look for screen material, and for re-
cruits for their writing stats.
So widespread is the popularity Of
amateur photography that 1t can be
taken for granted that many of its
enthusiasts can be found in the ranks
of Americas boys and girls. For these
persons the movies offer the career of
cameraman.
Aside from being well grounded in
the Photographic art, the cameraman
must adapt his art to particular sub
1ect. In other words, he must study
his star and photograph him or her
at angles that tend to show the in
dividual personality at its best. Almost
every important star has his or her
favorite camerman. This camera
man has made study of his star s
facial characteristics and physical
makeup. And this knowledge guides
him in all picture work with the par
ticular star
With the introduction of sound to
the screen, the sound technician be-
came an important figure on the pic
ture lots. A recording director is re-
sponsible for the clarity and intelligi-
bility Of all speech and sound effects
contained in picture. He has a
number Of assistants. One man takes
care Of the microphone-places 1t
where it will do the best work An
other handles the recording equip
ment and watches the sound register
Tor any possible flaws When the
sound Is finally transposed onto the
fllm, q final editing Is required to
guarantee perfect synchronization-
that Is, every spoken word must fit
In with corresponding action. Only
perfect combination OF the two
makes for acceptable film fare.