A Street Arab was directed by William Heise. Children were depicted in a lot of short films. The daily life of the children in France inspired films such as Le Repas de bébé or Baignade en mar. The brothers were interested in the world of small street artists. William Heise was the first in the United States to follow the example of the latter, taking back some small artists among the many who then earned their lives by displaying on the streets. Some Native American children who were engaged in a spirit dance were taken back by him. He was the director of Dancing Darkey Boy when he was a child. The boy is from New York. In front of the camera, the small hero shows himself to possess considerable talent and interprets himself in front of the camera with extreme naturality, dignity and mastery of his own means.