IN THE CAMERA'S EYE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2499, 28 June 1915, Page 3

IN THE CAMERA'S EYE

CHAT WITH A PICTURE ACTOR

A WONDERFUL BUSINESS

Loss than five years Mr. Stanley I Walpole was playing humble parts in more or less important productions under the management of J. C'. A\illiamson, Ltd. To-day he occupies an enviable position in the world of picture actors in America, and looks back 011 liis Australian cxporiences as so much tiiuo lost —lost ill a. pleasant way, becuuso the actor's conditions are easy out hero compated to what they are in America. Still he maintains years were lost, as a man is forced into a groove through tha conditions that obtain in Australia, and try as he -will there is no overleaping it. Managements continue to import their leading people, and the Australian actor is used, more or less, to fill up the subsidiary parts. That is why so many of our young actors go to America —to quote one or two, Jerome Patrick (now a leading man with tho Belasco management), Leonard Willey, Paul Scardon, Geo. and Jlario Majeroni, and Cyril Keightley. Mr. Walpole was a through passengei by the Marama on Thursday last to San Francisco. He has been visiting his friends in Sydney after a three years' sojourn in America, and was 011 his way back to America. Mr. Walpole talked most interestingly 011 the new art and tho conditions under which the picture actor works in America. When he first went to America he aspired to the legitimate stage, and was successful in securing an engagement under Wm. Brady's management. One day ho happened to meet the head director of the Relianco Picture Company, and tie latter asked him if he could ride. Mr. Walpole, who has a good seat on horseback, said so, and was asked there and then, if he would take the leading part in an American Civil War picture,, "My Lady's Boot,as the, regular leading man was not a good rider. Mr. Walpole acted the part before the camera, and, a day or two later was informed that his work pleased, and after .a time he was appointed leading, man of a company,. Mr. Walpolo explained that one pictureproducing company might have under its control six, eight, or ten distinct companies of players, and then , there were cases where companies of distinct titles had a working arrangement with one another in order to keep up the requisite number of "releases" per month. "We might be one or two releases behind, and another company ahead, in which case we would take over their film, or vice-versa-," explained Mr. Walpole. "I was leading man for the Re- • liance Company for a year, and then went over to the Eclair Company, which is established in New York and Paris. The Reliance headquarters were at New York, but they were, also established on the outskirts of Los Angelos, in California. A Picture City. "As a matter of fact," said Mr. Walpole, "all the picture-making companies have to have working quarters m. the south, so that they can do open-air work in the winter time. In the north the ground is, for the greater part of blie winter months, covered with snow, and only external pictures with a winter interest can be taken out of doors. It may be that one. scene is actod in snow country, and other scenes of the same picture away down in Los Angelos, or some other southern location. Companies have to travel a good deal when pictures of historic interest are being taken. In one Civil War picture we had to enter Now Orleans—well we really entered New Orleans, and when we were supposed to be on the Mississippi we really were on the big river. No expense is spared to get the real tiling whenever it is possible. About forty minutes' run from Los Angelos a city lias been created by the picture companies. It in called Universal City, and is peopled by the companies of the Universal group— ten or twelve companies in all. The conditions are ideal, the air is clear and salubrious, and there is a, sen'iceablo variety of scenery in the vicinity. Another picture town is Coytesville, New Jersey, born of the picture business. About Salaries. "The salaries paid are very good, and to people engaged the work goes on for the full 52 weeks in the year. Leading people are paid anything from £17 to £125 a week, according to their value. Stars are paid big money—Maurice Costello would get about £87 a week, Mary Pickford is 011 the £380 mark, and Charles Chaplin lifts £350 a week —but these are some of the outstanding figures. In the main tlie money is good, the work steady, and the conditions reasonable. When travelling away from headquarters the hotel expenses of cacli member of a company are paid, and there is an allowance of 12s. 6tl. a day for train expenses. I receive three times the salary I could ever hope to get in Australia, and, the work goes 011 ail the year round solid. In addition to those engaged on contract there are thousands of 'casuals' living on the game. An extra man might be needed for a part, or perhaps a particular type which the regular company cannot supply. If that is so, the director will inspect the- 'casuals' and pick put the .'type' required. These men get five dollars a day (£1), and once they are in a picture it might mean a week's work or even longer. Make-up Essential. "All picture actors make-up almost precisely as they do for the stage, with this exception, that instead of deepening the colour on the flesh groundwork, chrome powder is used. This gives the actors a rather livid appearance when at work, but is favourable to the best photography." Mr. Walpole said he had the pleasure of meeting Miss Mary Pickford, who is popularly known as "the Queen of the Movies," and testifies to havinp seen her receive her morning mail —two piles of letters and postcards a foot high, from every part of tho globe. All the 'eading people receive letters from admirers near and far, showing the wide field which tho kinematograph covers at the present day .