Show From Froin Idea io to Screen I Is a Long Journey in inI I 1 0 t ion I How a Motion Picture Plot Fares From Manuscript to Playhouse I I From the idea to the n Is a l lengthy and difficult Journey in film film- lan land Let us make it together and as briefly a as possible lames James Mortimer Tones Jones I is seized with the idea germ ire He takes akE his pen in hand hand In in other words he sits at his hist t typewriter andl and he proceeds to write a He chooses choosE's a a. title a caste of characters writes a comprehensive comprehensive compre compre- synopsis and detailed action Hel then brea breathes thes a sigh of ot relief places places' the manuscript within a large envelope together with return postage and sends sends- i the story to toe the motion picture editor The motion picture editor isn't fE feel feeling II I- I ing his best a Jew few days later and he eY eyes eye's s the huge pile of manuscripts that I I ar dumped on his desk with 1 ing He takes oft off his coat and plunges I Ithe into the work of reading them The I editor reads quickly practice makes perfect in the art of reading as as- aswell well as any other art and the editor can ten tell tellIn I In tn a very short time whether the manuscript manuscript man man- is worthy He reaches Mr Jones Jones' cherished pic I He takes a glance at the I title titre sizes up the cast of characters and wades into the synopsis He it and lays aside the story until later He reads it again puts it up to the the boss the boss rather likes the plot result James Mortimer 1 Jones re receives receives re- re a check and he Is- Is glad The journey from the idea to the screen is now well started for a a. copy of this scenario is made and placed in inthe inthe the strong room and the ori original is 19 possibly sent sent to Horace Johnson a di director dt- dt rector who is at work worIc with a motion picture stock company compan on the Pacific I co coast Johnson receives rec the plot and reads It Nine times out of ten he doesn't like it that would be unprofessional But he has has- been ordered to produce the tha plot and he does so He assem- assem the company nv reads the story to I Il I. I E. E FORREST TAYLOR Who is seen at tha tho Broadway today and l tomorrow in p person and in the five five- reaf feature The Tha Abandonment I them and after atter proper sets are made i I and Director Jones has cut and slashed I I and tur turned and twisted that story to toi i I his own particular and artistic in inclination in- in it is put into production Mo Most t of ot the Interior scenes are taken at one time and most of the ext exterior scenes called for in the story are filmed when the sun is right and after aCter l loca locations cation ca- ca tion have been determined upon After the negatives are completed the they are sent to the developing rooms where after pro proper er processes positive prints are made They are later cut and trimmed and officially O. O Kd ItIs Jt It is the positive e films that are run through the projectors projectors' in the motion picture theatres theatre The motion picture trim film Is one and three eighths inches wide and the usual length of ofa a a. reel 1000 feet has approximately separate and complete complete com com- images or positive photographs After Atter Jame Mortimer Jones Jones' idea germ has been written by him sold produced developed and cut and trimmed into a 0 of say 1000 feet of film flIm it is sent to the distributing distributing dis dis- a agencies after attEr being viewed in the projecting room of the com com- pany There the censors and reviewers review review- ers get first peek at Jones Jones' idea The distributing agencies or exchanges proceed proceed pro pro- I to send the to the exhibitors and then Jones JonE's has an op opportunity ot of seeing his finished work I on the animated screen He may not like Ilke the changes made in his story but In nine times out of ten he never realizes the time cars care and expense that his Initial idea germ has created since he first sold Rold It to the editor There Is the the- cost of tion If It the scenario came forth fort a Selig zoo Jungle wild animal story perhaps beasts valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars enacted pa high salaried actors w were re engaged Inthe in inthe the unfolding of Tones Jones plot expensive locations perhaps an entire village be being being be- be ing built in order to lend true color and lifelike atmosphere to the drama There was th the cost of developing of cutting and trimming of distribution of publicity all following following- the preliminary nary price paid James Mortimer ToneS Jones Perhaps his story cost in all perhaps It cost more it alt aU depended upon the length of ot the story as filmed and the character of the story And then theu Jones may proceed to write rite another plot and the same old journey 1 of from the idea to the screen is com commenced all aU over again screen com j |