The Lasky Studio of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, Hollywood, California Frontispiece

Page

Producing a Big Scene in the Selig Yard

Film-Drying Room in a Film Factory 8

Essanay Producing Yard; Two Interior Sets
Being Arranged for a Historical Drama

Players Waiting for their Cues in the Glass-Enclosed
Selig Studio 58

Paint Frame on Which Scenery is Painted

Checking “Extras” Used in Rex Beach’s Photodrama,
“The Brand” 108

View of Stage, Lubin Studio, Los Angeles, California

Wardrobe Room in a Photoplay Studio 158

The Reception of King Robert of Sicily by His
Brother, the Pope

Same Set, with Players Getting Ready for Action 208

William S. Hart with Part of His Supporting
Company

Harry Beaumont Directing Fight Scene in “A
Man and His Money” 258

Arrangement of Electric Lights in a Photoplay
Studio

An Actor’s Dressing Room in the Selig Studio 308

Preparing to Take Three Scenes at Once in a
Daylight Studio 358

CHAPTER I

What is A photoplay?

As its title indicates, this book aims to teach the theory and practice of photoplay construction.  This we shall attempt by first pointing out its component parts, and then showing how these parts are both constructed and assembled so as to form a strong, well-built, attractive and salable manuscript.

The Photoplay Defined and Differentiated

A photoplay is a story told largely in pantomime by players, whose words are suggested by their actions, assisted by certain descriptive words thrown on the screen, and the whole produced by a moving-picture machine.

It should be no more necessary to say that not all moving-picture productions are photoplays than that not all prose is fiction, yet the distinction must be emphasized.  A photoplay is to the program of a moving-picture theatre just what a short-story is to the contents of a popular magazine—­it supplies the story-telling or drama element.  A few years ago the managers of certain theatres used so to arrange their programs that for four or five days out of every week the pictures they showed would consist entirely of photoplays.  On such days their programs corresponded exactly to the contents-page of an all-fiction magazine—­being made up solely to provide entertainment.  The all-fiction magazine contains no essays, critical papers, or special articles, for the instruction of the reader, beyond the information and instruction conveyed to him while