The routine attached to a director's task before he begins actual production.—Also some instances of stellar temperament, which, though mildly amusing in their relation, are something akin to tragedy in their enactment
Chapter III
Before going further into the requirements of actual directing and the methods employed by certain directors, the various processes through which a scenario goes before the actual work of production starts, can be noted with benefit.
The scenario writer finishes his manuscript and the director goes into retirement for a day or two to study it and to put it through the test of visualization.
In the meantime other copies of the manuscript have been placed with the various departments of production of the studio.
The production department receives a copy. It is the duty of this department, first of all, to estimate the cost of the picture. So a “scene plot” is made. This consists of the description of each interior “setting” and exterior “location” called for in the story. A list is made as follows:
Interiors
Ball room
Kitchen
Living room