“SHOOTING" A FILM

Evening Star, Issue 22881, 12 February 1938, Page 5

“SHOOTING" A FILM

BIG SHOTS KEPT TILL LAST For the first time in his career as a film director Victor Schertzinger, of Hollywood, has “shot” a film in continuity, beginning at the first page of

the scrip book and ending at the last. This method of studio production is said to be almost unknown at Hollywood, the practice of directors being to shoot all minor scenes and sequences requiring the same sets at. one time, and reserve the more important scenes for the later stages of photographing and recording. It is explained that there are various reasons for this disjointed manner of presenting theatrical works before the film camera, the main one being lack of advance preparation. Stages may not be available, costumes not ready, sets not completed, script being rewritten. Then, too, producers are inclined to feel that there is always the chance of thinking of some even more dramatic climax for each of the main sequences than those presented in

the original script. The production which Mr Schertzinger put through the studio as a continuous film "was the musical revue ‘ Something To Sing About,’ in which James Cagney makes his first venture into this type of entertainment. Months ago Mr Schertzinger talked this subject over with Mr Cagney, and with Zion Myers, co-pro-ducer of the picture. Both were_ in accord on filming the story in continuity. Thus it was that every bit of the production was carefully thought out months ■ in advance.