List of Illustrations

Chapter I—What Is a Photoplay? 1
Chapter II—Who Can Write Photoplays? 5
Chapter III—Photoplay Terms 17
Chapter IV—The Photoplay Script: Its Component Parts 29
Chapter V—A Sample Photoplay Form 34
Chapter VI—The Mechanical Preparation of the Script 55
Chapter VII—The Title 72
Chapter VIII—The Synopsis of the Plot 87
Chapter IX—The Cast of Characters 111
Chapter X—The Scenario or Continuity 131
Chapter XI—The Scene-Plot and Its Purpose 204
Chapter XII—The Use and Abuse of Leaders, Letters and Other Inserts 218
Chapter XIII—The Photoplay Stage and Its Physical Limitations 245
Chapter XIV—How to Gather Ideas for Plots 255
Chapter XV—What You Cannot Write 267
Chapter XVI—What You Should Not Write 282
Chapter XVII—What You Should Write 304
Chapter XVIII—The Treatment of Comedy 324
Chapter XIX—Getting the New Twist 347
Chapter XX—Complete Five-Reel Photoplay Script—"Everybody's Girl" 363
Chapter XXI—Marketing the Photoplay Script 408
Appendix A 416
Appendix B 417
General Index 419

Footnotes