The Fiction Factory: Being the experience of a writer who, for twenty-two years, has kept a story-mill grinding successfullyCook, William Wallace
Philosophy
The Fiction Factory: Being the experience of a writer who, for twenty-two years, has kept a story-mill grinding successfully
Cook, William Wallace
Authorship; Fiction
This, however, is a matter of sentiment, alone. The nebulous ideas most
scenario editors seem to have as to rates of payment, and the usually
long delay in passing upon a "script," are important details of quite
another sort. And, furthermore, it is unjust to throw a creditable
production upon the screen without placing the author's name under the
title. Of right, this advertising belongs to the author and should not
be denied him.
In 1910 a moving picture concern secured a concession for taking
pictures with Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Pawnee Bill's Far East Show,
and Edwards was hired to furnish scenarios at $35 each. He furnished
a good many, and of one of them Major Lillie (Pawnee Bill) wrote from
Butte, Montana, on Sep. 2;
"Friend Edwards:
I saw one of the films run off at a picture house a few days ago
and I think they are the greatest Western scenes that I have ever
witnesed--that is, they are the truest to life. I had a letter from
Mr. C---- yesterday, and he thinks they are fine.
Your friend,
G. W. Lillie."
For a time Edwards thought his faith in the moving picture makers was
about to be justified. But he was mistaken. He received a check for
just $25, which probably escaped from the film men in an unguarded
moment, and no further check, letter or word has since come from the
company. The proprietors of the Show had nothing to do with the picture
people, and regretted, though they could not help the loss Edwards had
suffered.
When the moving picture writers are assured of better prices for their
scenarios, of having them passed upon more promptly and of getting
their names on the films with their pictures, the business will have
been shaken down to a more commendable basis. Possibly the film
manufacturers borrow their ideas of equitable treatment for the writer
from some of the publishing houses.
The "hack" writer, in many editorial offices, is looked down upon with
something like contempt by the august personage who condescends to buy
his "stuff" and to pay him good money for it. Perhaps the "hack" is at
fault and has placed himself in an unfavorable light. Writers are many
and competition is keen. Among these humble ones there are those who
have suffered rebuff after rebuff until the spirit is broken and pride
is killed, and they go cringing to an editor and supplicate him for an
assignment. Or they write him: "For God's sake do not turn down this
story! It is the bread-line for me, if you do."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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