Dear Ida,
I am pleased to tell you that you are now receiving a letter from an employed scenario writer! Well, very close - I will explain. Can you believe it? I hardly can.
The gentleman I met at the diner is named Maynard Knight. After introducing himself as an independent producer, he gave me his card and instructed me to call him up the following day. The woman from Metro appeared to be paying some attention to our conversation, which seemed to me to be a very good sign, so consequently I made the call the next morning.
He invited me to meet him at the diner that morning. I found this surprising as I had expected to present myself at offices. Once I arrived, however, he explained that he likes to spend all his available funds on the production of his pictures.
He told me all about how he had started out in New York, how he was old friends with DW Griffith from the Biograph days, and how he advised Carl Laemmle to take his successful Independent Picture Company and merge it with others to form his Universal Studio. I was frankly agog — even Hildy doesn’t know nearly as many influential people in the industry. He even said it was he who suggested to William Fox that the Rudyard Kipling poem The Vampire would make a great picture, and that it should star his pal Theda Bara. With credentials such as these, I don’t see how he can go wrong.
Because he is so very experienced and understands the financing demands of the picture industry so finely, he operates on quite a unique system. Everyone — including himself, of course — who takes part in one of his pictures initially contributes $500. This he brings to the bank to secure the financing for the entire picture, and then everyone gets their share returned, with interest. The writer, for example, gets hers back upon delivery of the treatment. Thereafter, she receives a wage of $100 a week until the assignment is completed.
I’m getting $40 to type for the lawyers, and I must put up with Mrs Gibson and all her unfriendliness. Therefore $100 a week to write a picture which is my dream, well it seems like a very fine deal to me.
My only concern is how I shall find $500. As I secured employment at the legal firm so quickly, I have almost $200 left from the sale of my story back in New York, but I haven’t been able to add to it. Between my lodgings at the Y and high times with Hildy, not to mention the clothes I have been obligated to order — my entire salary is taken up every week.
I have tried to be sensible regarding clothing, but it is just essential that one looks the part around the movie colony. Only the other week, Hildy and I presented ourselves at Menotti’s all the way out in Venice — the two girls ahead of us wore dark-colored business suits, double breasted coats and skirts that almost reached their ankles. They were turned away, while Hildy and I, in our drop-waisted silk dresses (Hildy’s a light grey with embroidered roses, mine navy with silver threaded through the full skirt) were admitted. So you see, it’s not really an extravagance but an investment.
I still haven’t heard anything from Hildy, by the way, so I presume we are on the outs. Maud and Lillian are still very busy at their respective studios, and Ruth is pleasant company but not really a pal. I’ve realized she is the type to have lots of friends with whom to socialize — and a different sheik to squire her about every week — but not really one to be counted on. She generally tosses an invitation to me over her shoulder as she heads out into the night. She is a kind soul, so I believe she means it to be genuine, but it never entices me to tag along. All of which leaves me rather alone for the time being, but I suppose I’ll meet some new chums soon enough.
Especially if I can come up with the funds to start work on Mr Knight’s picture! He thinks we would likely be situated at the Ince Studios on West Washington Boulevard, as Mr Thomas Ince is likely to become a partner in this endeavor. Therefore, I would need to take a streetcar into Culver City every day, which is a slight worry as they can be unreliable.
Last week, Ruth came home terribly late and flustered. She had been put off a streetcar near the aviation field at La Brea Avenue because a cow was standing on the line and refused to budge. She and another actress had to walk over two hours back to Spring Street in the dark.
Of course, a salary of $100 a week would be equal to an apartment. Perhaps even a small house — then I really would be sitting pretty. I wouldn’t like to just abandon Ruth as we get along well together, however I am sure she would replace me with no trouble at all.
I think I would consider living out by the beach and learning to drive. I do love the fresh ocean air, and there is talk that even more attractions will be added to the Kinney pleasure pier. Hildy and I went there a few weeks ago and rode the roller coasters, the Racing Derby, the Noah's Ark and the Mill Chutes - it was almost as good as Coney Island. The only thing I don’t like about Venice are the oil rigs dominating the view everywhere.
Whatever I decide about my living situation, I will be happy just to spend my days at a studio writing pictures. Mr Knight said that he would supervise the writing very closely, and if I show the promise he expects me to, he will really take me under his wing and develop me as a scenario writer. The energy I felt in the air when I visited Mrs Atherton over at Players Incorporated — I will be a part of that every day!
I explained my predicament to Mr Knight, and he was extremely kind and patient. He said he could give me a week or two to secure the funds, and that if I couldn’t quite reach $500, then he might take me in anyway as he was so impressed by the synopses I let him read. He explained that he would cover my share himself, only it wouldn’t be fair on the others and might lead to bad feeling.
So that is my situation — so close to my dream and two weeks to come up with the goods!
With love to all,
Yours,