FLASH--close-up view of pad as he writes: _O. S. No. 2 by 3. 42. No. 5 heading out. Attempted hold up in express-car discovered, bandits captured._ Scene 46. _Despatch-office, as in 8._ Carson smiles wearily. Registers: “Black Jack got me. He was going to put them together to cover up the robbery. I gave all I had, boys. That’s all; I’m going now. She is waiting for me over there.” Slight flutter, scene fades. IX PICTURE-PRODUCING BY AMATEURS Motion pictures have become so intimate a part of our life that it is only natural to see amateur theatrical societies and other organizations becoming interested to the point of staging their own productions. To the amateur the ideal manner of staging a motion picture is, of course, to handle every detail of the production within the organization, merely going outside to rent a camera, purchase film stock, and finally for the factory work of developing and printing the film. The pleasure of “doing everything yourself” is almost too great to be resisted, but if a successful production is to be assured it is wise to call on professional help in other branches. Unless the organization has within its ranks a photographer of more than ordinary ability, who is willing to spend some time and money in preliminary study of the motion-picture camera, and in wasting film in experimentation, it is necessary that a professional camera-man be engaged. Again, were the organization to decide to dispense with the services of a professional photographer it might be necessary to purchase a camera--at prices ranging from two hundred and fifty dollars upward--since it would probably be difficult to find a company willing to intrust one of its cameras on rental to an amateur. Should the organization be willing to go a step further in seeking the aid of professionals, the services of a capable motion-picture director would go a long way toward the betterment of the final production. We believe it possible for an amateur with the dramatic sense, following the director’s method of work as outlined in this book, to stage a satisfactory picture without the services of a professional director. But this would depend largely on the quality of the co-operation extended by the camera-man. Let us proceed in this chapter on the assumption that you have decided to engage a professional camera-man, but you are going to place your trust for all other details on your own members.