LATE EDITOR OF SCRIPTS, EDISON STUDIO
THE WRITER'S LIBRARY
EDITED BY J. BERG ESENWEIN
REVISED EDITION
THE HOME CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL
Springfield, Mass.
Publishers
Copyright 1913
Copyright 1919
The Home Correspondence School
All Rights Reserved
The Lasky Studio of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, Hollywood, California
Table of Contents
[Chapter I]—What Is a Photoplay? [1]
[Chapter II]—Who Can Write Photoplays? [5]
[Chapter III]—Photoplay Terms [17]
[Chapter IV]—The Photoplay Script: Its Component Parts [29]
[Chapter V]—A Sample Photoplay Form [34]
[Chapter VI]—The Mechanical Preparation of the Script [55]
[Chapter VII]—The Title [72]
[Chapter VIII]—The Synopsis of the Plot [87]
[Chapter IX]—The Cast of Characters [111]
[Chapter X]—The Scenario or Continuity [131]
[Chapter XI]—The Scene-Plot and Its Purpose [204]
[Chapter XII]—The Use and Abuse of Leaders, Letters and Other Inserts [218]
[Chapter XIII]—The Photoplay Stage and Its Physical Limitations [245]
[Chapter XIV]—How to Gather Ideas for Plots [255]
[Chapter XV]—What You Cannot Write [267]
[Chapter XVI]—What You Should Not Write [282]
[Chapter XVII]—What You Should Write [304]
[Chapter XVIII]—The Treatment of Comedy [324]
[Chapter XIX]—Getting the New Twist [347]
[Chapter XX]—Complete Five-Reel Photoplay Script—"Everybody's Girl" [363]
[Chapter XXI]—Marketing the Photoplay Script [408]
[Appendix A] [416]
[Appendix B] [417]
[General Index] [419]
List of Illustrations
| Page | |
| The Lasky Studio of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, Hollywood, California | [Frontispiece] |
| 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] |