Photoplay Writing
LESSON I.
Every Photo-Playwright should know the various technical terms and names used in the profession.
You must use the right word at the right time, and, consequently, a knowledge of the different Photoplay terms and expressions is necessary.
Action.
Action means the movements, actions and gestures of the players in the development of the plot.
Adaptation.
A Play written from a copyrighted book, poem or story.
Bust.
A “Bust” is a “Close-Up” of a person taken from the waist line up. Practically all Directors use the expression “Close-Up” instead of Bust.
Cast of Characters.
The cast of characters is simply a list of the important persons who act in your play.
Character.
A player who takes part in producing the play.
Climax.
The end of a play or the last scene. The climax is the strongest part of the Play. The anti-climax is the beginning of the climax or the unraveling of the plot.
Close-Up.
If you desire to magnify or enlarge some particular scene, person or object it is called a close-up. To obtain a close-up picture, the camera is placed very close to the scene or object to be photographed. A close-up scene is taken when you want the same to show up in a very distinct and clear manner and is employed to break up an unusually long scene, or to make a certain point of your story very forceful.
Use Close-Up frequently as they give new life to the scene and make the characters more familiar to the audience.
Refer to scenes 33 and 50 of sample play.
Continuity.
A continuous story which runs along in a smooth, uninterrupted manner.
“Cut.”
A cut means to shorten an action as in scene 15 of sample play.
“Cut Back.”
Referring back to a preceding scene. See scene 16.
“Cut In” Leader.
A “Cut In” Leader or Subtitle is introduced into a scene after which the action goes back to the same scene. In other words a “Cut In” Leader cuts into the middle of a scene. Please refer to Subtitle No. 1 of sample play which is a “Cut In” Leader or “Cut In” Subtitle.
Development.
The building up of the plot and arranging the action into different scenes and parts.
Director.
The Director is the man who directs the different movements necessary in taking the pictures. He visualizes your play, arranges the various scenes, and casts the actors and actresses into their respective characters. He directs the correct actions of the picture from beginning to end.
Dissolve.
The gradual introduction or fading out of a person or scene.
Is done by double exposure and is used when referring to past recollections or dream pictures.
Editor.
The Editor is the person who passes on your play when sent to the Moving Picture Manufacturing Companies. If he sees any merit in your story and has a cast of characters suitable for your play, he will send you a check for what he thinks the play is worth. If he cannot use your story he will have same returned to you.
Film.
The film is in the form of a celluloid ribbon about one inch wide and is wound on a roll. An average of sixteen pictures are taken in a second and these sixteen pictures will be on one foot of film.
Flash.
A very brief glimpse of an action or scene.
Inserts.
Inserts are put in to make the story more clear to the spectators and are foreign to the actions of the characters.
Inserts may be in the form of a note, newspaper clipping, telegram, dialogue, a “Close Up” or in fact anything that is necessary to carry a scene along or to break a scene if it is too long.
Refer to scenes 23-27-36, 45, 46, 50 of sample play.
Leaders and Subtitles.
A “Subtitle” is a written explanation preceding a scene—except before the 1st scene of the Play, when a “Leader” is sometimes used. It is not advisable, however, to start your Play with a “Leader,” as good Action is better.
Refer to lesson 13 where we explain more fully the meaning of Leaders and Subtitles.
Masks.
Occasionally in moving pictures you will see the vision which a character witnesses when looking through a hole in the floor or wall or oftentimes through a field glass. Instead of viewing the picture in its usual shape it is shown to you in the same way that you would actually see it if you were to look at it through a field glass. Such scenes are called masks.
Melodramatic.
A Play of a sensational nature.
Padding.
Putting unnecessary action into a story in order to make a full reel.
Photoplay.
A Photoplay or a Moving Picture Play is a story told in pictures, where all conversation is eliminated and where the camera portrays the story. In fact, it is simply pantomime or dumb show, presented in pictures or, in other words, “Silent Drama of the Screens.”
Plot.
The plot is the theme or idea of your story.
Producer.
Producing companies hire the actors and actresses and take the pictures as you see them on the screen.
Projecting Machine.
A projecting machine is the machine that throws the pictures on the screens as you see them in the moving picture theatres.
Punch.
Any action that will create and increase suspense and make the play a success.
Reels.
Pictures are shown in different reels, viz.: Split reels, single, double or multiple reels. A Split reel is composed of two separate short stories, on one reel.
A full one reel contains 1,000 feet of film which can be shown on the screen in about 20 minutes.
A multiple reel means more than one reel.
Register.
The word register is used when you want to make the actions of the actor very impressive to the spectators. The actor is supposed to play his part accordingly.
For examples, refer to scenes 3-5-7-13-17 of sample play.
Releases.
Releasing a picture means that the film manufacturer places it upon the market.
Scenario.
Scenario is a common term now being used in the moving picture business, and means the outline or sketch of a theme, put into scenes in consecutive order so as to be in form to offer to the producers or film manufacturing companies.
Scene.
Action which takes place in one spot without moving or stopping the camera.
Set.
The arrangement of scenery for interior or exterior scenes.
Suspense.
Some action or part of the Play that arouses the interest of the audience and makes them “all attention.”
Synopsis.
The synopsis is the story written in a brief, condensed way, eliminating all unnecessary words. The synopsis enables the Editor to see, in a few minutes reading, the idea of your play. If your Synopsis appeals to him he will read the play. If not, he will reject it.
Technique.
The correct points of formation or construction for a Photoplay.
Visions.
When one of your characters thinks of some happy or well-remembered day in his or her life, a vision of the scene is reproduced. It is usually shown in upper right-hand or left-hand corner of the screen.
Visualize.
To be able to picture your story in your mind’s eye, and see that your idea is practical for screen production.