MAW MOVING PICTURES

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11593, 11 January 1916, Page 5

MAW MOVING PICTURES

A NEW ZEALANDER'S EXPERIENCES.

Mr H. Mann, formerly a resident of Spreydon and at present in America, writes interestingly of his experiences in the- " land of the almighty dollar." His connection with the moving picture industries around Lob Angeles will bo of special interest to patrons of popular places of amusement. Los Angeles is the home of the moving picture producer, and films manufactured there travel all round the world. He writes: —

" We earned, our fust two American dollars in a novel way. On the first day of our arrival at Los Angeles we noticed an advertisement in the paper like this: "Wanted 100 well-dressed young men for moving picture work — line up corner Fourth and Olive Streets 6.30 a.m.." We lined up after saying prayers the previous evening to aid our awakening, and found a long row, of chaps at that early hour ready for the job. Sixty-five was the total number, and we were railed, expeditiously to the scene of operations. We passed through some beautiful country, with fine bungalows and no fences, but neverending rows of palms and green trees hailed us from all sides. Then we arrived at the works of tho New York Picture Company. This particular plant is a new one, and is yet in course of construction. Big buildings ;are being erected over rough ploughed ground. In one corner is being made a bit of mountain scenery —really scenery made of painted canvas on a scaffolding I , N We all had to "make up" first. Bach man smeared his face with cold cream and was then oiierated on by one of tho staff, who put a good red colouring on and backered the eyebrows and eyelashes. This is done to increase contrasts and so make a good photograph; but incidentally it served to cover any whiskers which should have been shaven. Some put on fancy moustachios to aid their beauty, and the make-tip made a surprising difference to us all..

TO WORK. Then to the work. W© came upon a two-sided structure like the inside of a bank. We were told that this was a " Stock Exchange," and that we were the "stock buyers." The building was of ■solid concrete; we saw it being madel Upon canvas tacked to a frame. One man painted while the" other blew the sand on. The Exchange having been finished sufficient to deceive the camera, the fun started. We, the customers, had to enter and examine the share and stock sheets attached to each selling post, while the "star" artists were doing their parts amongst us. Much of the language of the "stars" was in the " original language of man," slightly Americanised, but nevertheless an improvement on our colonial—no doubt no other words would help make the expressions required. Woe to any genteel persons who are able to read the lips as taught at the Deaf and Dumb Institutes! Theirs will be a terrible- come-down if they are able to decipher the language of one of their favourite actors. REHEARSED THREE TIMES.

A master of ceremonies or director supervises everything, and his is no "soft job." He gives his directions, then takes his place behind the camera man, who is usually on a platform, and yells further directions ~- through a megaphone as he watches the scene. It is generally rehearsed three times (or nntil the boss thinks it will do), then he yells "camera!" and the scene is taken. About six different scenes were talcen on the first day. There was the opening scene, the excited buying of the stock, the slump and then the panic, the closing of the Exchange and various other pictures in which we acted the "crowd" by just standing around. The picture is called " The Raiders," so if it comes your way you can see if you can recognise us. We had two interesting days' work (?), were presented with a, dollar per day and lunch, and shipped to and from the works, a distance of fourteen miles.

THE "SCENERY." Some 'cute things are done to make the scenery real. A slight alteration of the furniture of our Stock Exchange, the two-sided structure, made the iraaginery view of the other end of the room. During one scene the camera, man had focussed close to the concrete, entrance and was about to take the picture when the boss sighted it and yelled, " This will never do! You can see the nails in the concrete; take a long shot at it." The camera was placed far enough away to lose sight of the tell-tale nails, and set to "work afresh. On the floor of the Exchange were "iron" selling posts made of wood. "Now, you guys," says the director, " don't go running into them and knocking them, over; they ar e solid iiou and must never move!" We have since noticed a picture where the " permanent" fixtures have moved ajid that does not tend to convince one of its reality. Within a. half-hour's train ride in whatever direction are towns with populations up to 10.000 and 15,000 people, and along most routes the picture company's film-making works are seen as the train goes by. We passed tho famous Keystone works yesterday. Charlie Chaplin is going back there on January 1. The Selig Company has a big zoo wher ft the ai-imal pictures and the ho/ir-raiw'ng, blood-curdling lion hunts are acted (after being rehearsed. probably three time*,). Our business visit to the New York Company's factory has made us sceptics. When we visit the looal picture theatres and see some tragic act, perhaps when tho villain dies, or when the hero falls into the lever's arms, we are apt to picture the big managing director with a fat cigar in his mouth anxiously watching the scene while the photographer is winding and directs the precise mcitent for the villain to drop, close his eyes ,and di 0 properly (after his trying three times) ; or yelling to tho hero to put more action into it, and " express surprise " at seeing tho "dear girl" he lias been practising with throughout the day

"Thebusiness is such a big home industry and thb people are so Tised to the methods of i>rcducing pictures that they don't seem to take tho scenes seriously. Will you not look with a more discerning and sceptical eye <n tho next picture you see, after this littlo insight iuto their production?"