Thomas Harper Ince

Thomas Harper Ince (November 6, 1882 - November 20, 1924) was an American silent film director, producer and screenwriter.

Related Topics:
November 6 - 1882 - November 20 - 1924 - American - Silent film - Director - Producer - Screenwriter

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Born in Newport, Rhode Island, he invented many mechanisms of professional movie production, like the usage of a detailed "shooting script", which also contained information on when who was in the scene, and the "scene plot" which listed all interiors and exteriors, cost control plans and so on. He helped create a standardized and mechanized mode of production. He also was one of the first who had a separate writer, director and cutter (instead of doing everything himself).

Related Topics:
Newport, Rhode Island - Movie production - Shooting script - Scene plot - Cost control plan - Writer - Cutter

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Working at the California studio/ranch of Bison Motion Pictures division of the New York Motion Picture Company, Ince's movies were mainly early Westerns, which were successful because of their beautiful images and their rhythm. Ince wrote a number of screenplays including 1915's The Italian which has been preserved by the United States National Film Registry.

Related Topics:
California - Bison Motion Pictures - New York Motion Picture Company - Westerns - The Italian - National Film Registry

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In 1915, Thomas Ince partnered up with D.W. Griffith and Mack Sennett to create the Triangle Motion Picture Company.

Related Topics:
D.W. Griffith - Mack Sennett - Triangle Motion Picture Company

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On November 19, 1924 the silent film producer and father of the western died, offically of a heart attack suffered while on a weekend boat trip with William Randolph Hearst, Marion Davies and several other prominent Hollywood personalities. In the time since, several conflicting stories have circulated about Ince's death, often revolving around the claim that Hearst shot Ince in a fit of jealousy and used his power and influence to cover up a murder. A 2001 film, The Cat's Meow, tells a tale based around these rumours.

Related Topics:
November 19 - 1924 - Silent film - Heart attack - William Randolph Hearst - Marion Davies - Hollywood - 2001 - Film - The Cat's Meow

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• 1910: director at I.M.P.
• 1911: New York Motion Picture Company (merged with Universal 1912)
• 1912: "Studio Inceville" and the Bison 101 movies (as projects for Bison Life Motion Pictures)
 
Thomas Harper Ince: Filmography (as director) ►