Show Photoplay Plots Must Have Action I Says Noted Author First of Series of Articles on Writing Scenarios by Gilson Willets By GILSON WILLETS Sta Staff Writer of the company I am lull glad to be able to give some information from my experience experience experience ex ex- ex- ex that may prove more or orless orless orless less valuable to other writers The Tile art of photoplay writing is not rIot an easy art education talent and amI Industry are essentials for suc sue cess To succeed as a writer of or photoplays photoplays photo photo- plays one must have a story to tell an unusual plot to present otherwise otherwise other other- wise the effort Is worth nothing In order to succeed In the photoplay writing art one must also write action action action ac ac- ac- ac tion and not dialogue You cannot photograph dialogue but you can pho pho- action tiOn In the writing of fiction one can utilize word paintings description description- embellish as It were the plot In some fiction stories the plot Is even secondary Not so In the photoplay the plot comes first and it must be bea a plot of or action consists The photoplay manuscript of main title cast of or characters synopsis synopsis sy sy- sy and action by scenes The title t should be an attractive one and at atthe atthe the same time should not divulge the plot of or the story The names Dames of the tile characters should be reminiscent of or orthe the plot and there should not be too many characters fo for too many characters characters char char- lead to confusion The synopsis synopsis synopsis sis of or a photoplay it if it heads a manuscript manuscript man man- of detailed action should not exceed to words words should should present present pre pre- sent clearly but the action carried out in the scenic action Subtitles Subtitles Sub Sub- titles should be used In places where the action does not clearly carry the I story The fewer the subtitles or explanatory explanatory ex ex- ex I plana tory text the better bettel Is the photo play Good clean unusual stories of or the life lile and the 1 people eople we all know are much to be desired Avoid scenes of or murder and assault for tor these scenes will not pass the boards of censors now in power in itt many states and cities clUes Such action is also old having been done many times There are a number of or text books which will give you knowledge of the proper form of or the photoplay I would recommend that you purchase one of or these But remember I no book can teach you the habits of observation the knowledge to write or how to know a good story when you see one The best school for the would be photoplay writer is the newspaper office Many who were formerly newspaper men are now successful as writers for the silent drama They know life a good story and the value of a gripping situation Avoid patronizing pa pa- schools which profess to teach photoplay writing Next week I shall take up markets the art of or substitute writing and other details of the he work which 1 Ii hope will hl prove interesting to my readers I |