stage, it will be seen that
it is almost twice as wide as the background for the
interior setting here shown. By "background" is meant the
space on the diagram between _B_ and _D_, not the "desert
backing," which, if the scene were taken inside the studio,
would be simply a painted background, taking the place of
the "drop" which would be used on the regular stage. It will
be noticed that, although there are a couple of steps
leading to the veranda, there is only one post indicated on
the diagram. This, of course, is because a post at the other
side of the steps is unnecessary, that point being "masked"
by the piece of scenery representing the back wall of the
room. The open door shows a portion of the veranda railing
and the post on the left of the steps. As the scenario
shows, Dean is carried up these steps, and into the bedroom
on the left, after he has been thrown from his horse. To the
right of the door, and looking out upon the veranda, is a
bay window, forming a window-seat. Attention is called to
the fact that what is so frequently called a "bay window"
is, properly, a "bow window," the three sides of a bay
window being at right angles to each other. The sideboard at
the right of the stage is absolutely essential to the climax
of the plot, though only half of it--enough to show the
upper left-hand drawer distinctly--need appear in the
picture.

CHAPTER XII

THE USE AND ABUSE OF LEADERS, LETTERS AND OTHER INSERTS

A full reel contains approximately one thousand feet of film. The
ordinary five-reel feature is therefore somewhat less than five
thousand feet in length. With far less stress laid upon the admonition
to "Make your leaders and inserts brief" than formerly, the writer
still must keep in mind the fact that the major portion of a
five-thousand-foot film must be devoted to _scenes_--to action which
the spectator merely watches--and that the inserts, of whatever
nature, must never be allowed to crowd this action-part of the
picture.

At the same time, any story with the average amount of
plot-complication can be told--the action-portion, that is, can be
fully worked out--in from 3,800 to slightly over 4,000 feet; which
means that something less than one thousand feet of film may be, and
frequently is, given up to the various inserts.

This matter of footage is one which dem