When it comes to taking a photo-play, a drama or comedy, different
conditions of a varied nature have to be contended with. To proceed
intelligently in taking a photo-play, a scenario or manuscript is
essential. It must be prefaced with a well-written synopsis of the
story involved, cast of characters, scenes to be enacted and a list of
properties required in the scenes. The director, or producer, of the
play, being furnished with such a guide, proceeds to select the actors
and actresses (called players) suitable for the parts and the filling
of the cast. This being accomplished, he insists that each one of the
players read the scenario in order to be familiar with his or her
part and understand the whole play before going into the picture. The
director instructs them as to the costumes fitting the parts and then
confers with the costumer concerning the furnishing of proper dress
for each one of the players. The director is ready to go on with the
performance of the play, and tells his cast to appear for rehearsal
at a set hour. At that time he puts them through a thorough course of
training or rehearsal, to “get over” and register the meaning of each
thought which is to be expressed by their actions. Sometimes a scene is
rehearsed four to six hours before it is photographed. A one-reel play
is generally 1000 feet in length, and it is very important that the
director, if he has twenty scenes, for instance, to introduce within
that 1000 feet, to time the scenes to the length of his film; that is,
if he has twenty scenes within one thousand feet, each of the twenty
scenes must not average more than one minute each. If one should happen
to be more than one minute, then he has to condense another scene less
than one minute, in order to bring all within the twenty minutes or
1000 feet.
[Illustration: STAGING A MOTION PICTURE IN A STUDIO