Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Thursday 14 September 1916, page 5


THE ' PICTURES.

Film Direction.

The success of a cinematograph scenario almost entirely depends upon directorship in the studio It is the director who literally makes the picture shows his leading artists exactly) what to do, and also frequently so greatly alters the whole story that the author recognises his own work with difficulty Amongst the principal producers of directors in the United States are D W Griffith (of Birth of a Nation fame)

R. A Walsh (who created Launch for the Fox Corporation) Herbert Brennan (of the Annette Kellerman Pictures) Thomas A Ince (of the triangle Corporation Alfred Tournouer (of the World films), Slack bennett (the comedy king)

and Canellan! 2 The producer is directly responsible for the whole of the super- ising work whilst the details are controlled by sub directors An accepted seen in First comes before the si enano editor who commences by roughing out the plot into scenes, irrespective of in but much we been the authors views then the scenario is handed to the producer who adds his own

ideas and allots the cast In

arranging the scenes the sub director divides them into the necessary back grounds irrespective of the continuity of the story hours for most men SLcnos 1 7 12 15 and 18 may line the same back ground There are al) cinematographed at the same time, and afterwards allotted to their respectivc places in the film J each scene is timed to the second line is very necessary, so that the completed story may be brought into the required number of

reefs

Before commencing the rehearsals a cost of the ston is handed to all the principal artists so that they may obtain some idea of how to make up and how to act their parts In the case of a costume play the wardrobe still arranges all the various eos mines and special dresses and costumes are ordered for the principals In some studios the principals are required to provide their own costumes for modern play s

As a rule there are three rehearsals be fore the camera men set to work and it is in theM. rehearsals that the dancer plays a very unit ortant part Whatever inn) bettie ideas of an a test as to how his or her part should be played the director is omnipotent in the more usual stages Once satisfied that the various cities are ver el in his conception of their characters the director allows them to give scope to their respective indi

A tduulilicH But even to of The line by no means finished and when the unions scenes are being played before the came i In frequently tells his. instructions at the p of his voice to star artists who may be depict the awful miser)

The camera means, completed its work

and the necessary subtitles li were. also been filmed the picone, tOLetlui of the various scenes takes lilies and the completed

picture is ready for the projection room Before this however fugitives of the various scenes him also as a lilly been shown on the sheet with a view to the correction of raising as a noun lies 1 mills the directors assume" the position of a

sub-editor lins frequently to make extensive use of the blue pencil

Amongst Australian producers may he mentioned Mr Alfred Holle who was ass) caused for many years with the late Mr Alfred Dampier whose principal rode trains have been the hero of the Dir candles Will They Never Come' and the royal Hebel, J Kay mond long field Mary Mimi s I me and other mail vessel film) Mr I lincoln whose Life Romance of A line I in Isa) Gordon

lately exhibited in Melbourne and Mr John Curtin the create of the Martyrdom of Nurse. Cavell and The Mutineers of the li Hint)

A Koumiiniinboin artist Miss Keitha Bikini will shortly he k on in Melbourne in Mander a dim produced by the 1 of ( corporation with, great success in the United States. It is claimed for Miss Killick that she has acted in no fewer than seven different languages and bel pop party on the stage in the United States is understood to have been well earned A better name for the story would probably be Mother Love is the whole pit hinges upon the sacrifices made by a mother for love of her children through a forged letter] the mother is threatened with the indignity of appearing in the Divorce Court 1 Fortunately however, the plotting of an under spurious scoundrel is frustrated, and the happiness of a home is restored

It is claimed by the Fox Corporation that A Daughter of the Gods in which the principal part is played by Annette Keller in inn cost £200,000 to produce So much is heard of the alleged enormous sums spent by) American hraiH in film production that Figures such as quoted naturally leave ground For considerable doubt At the same time the picture must have cost a great deal of money as "5 000 people were employed at one time or another whilst in some of the scenes 5,000 horses were requisitioned A town called the White City was built at a cost it is said, of £50 000 and was destroyed by fire to make room for the final spectacle Although only 12 000ft of him he shown in the picture nearly 250 4000ft

of film were taken

Picture lovers in Australia will have a grateful remembrance of the beautiful art films produced some years ago b) Pathe 1 acres, of 1' has Amongst the most popular of these may be mentioned Les Mabel ables Le Duc de Guise and L'Arlcsi enne Since the was no important pictures have been forthcoming from the reach him and it is therefore all the more gratifying to learn that a great historical film from the Pathe studios will soon be exhibited in Australia This is J hinders My Country adapted from a victorian S Eden s historical drama Pattie M Hain Krauss who acted in the les Miserables and who is one of the plan of a artists of the theatre 1 Francis takes the principal character whilst the daughter of the Duke of Alva is represented by Mile Juliet 61 France The story rcl lies to the tyrannical government of the Dill c of Wh i in 1 landers and to the romantic his son of the Prince of Orange Ypiea 1 ice and Louvain now martyred and devastated by German vandals are prominently Illus to it in the picture 1 Fortunately the various scenes were taken before the war, and put in i n interest is added by the fact that never again can the wonderful examples of architectural art for which these cities were celebrated be brought prominently before the public

I latest mail advices from America are to the effect that Arthur Shirley the Australian actor has replaced William Desmond as leading man to Miss Bessie Barriscale with the Triangle Company shirley it will be remembered made his film debut in Aim tribe in the Shepherd of the Southern Cross and followed that up with the Silence of Dean Maitland The first company joined in America was the Kalem as leading man to finish Ruth Roland After that he was selected as lead in the American historical spectacle The kill at the Nation The name of Shirleys first In a gas production has not yet been an

nounced

Miss Clara Knob all Young one of the most popular of American screen actresses is now producing The Common Law an adaptation of Robert W Chambers is well

known novel She will be assisted in the I reduction b) Albert Ciipcllini the well known 1 rench director as he has now elected domicile in the United States

Both Syd and Charlie Chaplin make vigorous denial of a report circulated in America that here has been a split between the brother screen comedians In denying the rumour Charlie Chaplin stated that there had never been any serious difference whilst the brother declared that each had always kept an intimate interest in the others work and that whenever it was possible they lived together