Part 23 (1/2)
”Nothing missing, not even the firecracker Miss Alice sets off under the chair of the false count,” replied the property man.
”Good! I don't want any failure at the last minute. Now, Russ, how is the camera working?”
”Fine, sir.”
”Good fresh film?”
”Fresh to-day, Mr. Pertell--just like new-laid eggs.”
”All right. You may have a chance to snap some newly laid eggs if my future plans work out all right. Well, I guess we'll begin. Take your places for the first scene.”
”Oh, I'm so nervous!” confided Ruth to Alice.
”Silly! You needn't be!” was the response. ”You're just perfect in your part. I only wish I was as sure of myself.”
”Why, you're great, Alice!” said her sister. ”Only you do such funny things--it makes me laugh, and I'm afraid I'll smile in the wrong place--when I'm being made love to, for instance.”
”Well, it's a funny part, and I have to act funny,” insisted the younger girl. ”But I wish it was all over, and on the films. It's been a little harder than I thought it would be.”
”Indeed it has. But papa was so good to rehea.r.s.e us. Now we must be a credit to him.”
”Oh, of course. Come on, the others are ready.”
It was not without a feeling of nervousness that Ruth and Alice prepared to take their places in the actual depiction of the new play. The rehearsals had not been so trying; but now, when the photographs were to be made, there was a strain on all.
For in making moving pictures mistakes are worse than on the real stage. There, when one is speaking, one can correct a false line, or turn it so that the audience does not notice the ”break.”
But in the movies a false move, a wrong gesture, is at once indelibly registered on the film, to reappear greatly magnified. And though sometimes the incorrect part of the film can be cut out, mistakes are generally costly.
”Are you all ready?” asked Mr. Pertell again, as he stood with watch in hand beside Russ at the camera, while the actors and actresses took their places in the first scene.
”All ready,” answered Mr. Harrison, who was one of the princ.i.p.al characters.
”Then--go!” cried the manager, and Russ was about to turn the operating handle.
”Vait! Vait a minute. Holt on!” cried the voice of Mr. Switzer.
”Don't shoot yet alretty!” and he held up a restraining hand.
”Oh, what's the matter now?” demanded Mr. Pertell, with a gesture of annoyance.
”Vun of mine shoes--he iss unloose, und der lacing is dingle-dangling. It might trip me!” explained the good-natured German actor, in all seriousness.
”Well, fix it, and hurry up!” cried the manager, unable to repress a smile.
”Yah! I tie her goot und strong,” he said, and soon this was done.
”Now then--all ready?” asked Mr. Pertell once more.
This time there was no delay, and the clicking of the camera was heard as Russ turned the handle. Mr. DeVere and his two daughters were not in this first scene, so it gave the girls a chance to lose some of their nervousness--or ”stage fright.” As for Mr. DeVere, he was too much of a veteran actor to mind this. Besides, he had played many parts before the camera now.