A NEW ZEALAND SCREEN STAR.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18898, 13 January 1927, Page 14

A NEW ZEALAND SCREEN STAR.

SEARCH TO BE CONDUCTED.. With the laudable object in'view of giving New Zealand an opportunity of competing in the world-wide popularity- of the motion picture art, as represented by the purely artistic aspect, First National Pictures (Australasia) are now launching a campaign throughout New Zealand and Australia in search of what they believe to bo the girl who is possessed of the beauty, personality, and abilities of the screen star, and, in sending her to Hollywood, thus placing before the eyes of the stage world the names of these Dominions. THat there is hero a potential Mary Pickford or Gloria Swanson is not to bo doubted, and it is bat seemly that gifted and comely young women should comsi forward and offer themselves as candidates. First National Pictures (Australasia) havo entered into an agreement with the Crystal Palace Theatre, Christchurch, to invite all aspirants to report, at that theatre to fill in the competi-. tion form and learn more exhaustively the torms of the competition. Tho girl selected for Hollywood is to receive a ten-weeks' contract with Cecil B. de Mille, the producerdirector of "The Ten Commandments" and "The Volga Boatman," to appear in a leadiug part in at least one production, and, providing she reveals the average talent, she will, if so desirous, be offered a long rontrnct. Her salary for the ton-weeks' contract will be £2O per week, and all her expenses and those of her chaperon, to and from America, will be paid by the company. One girl will be selected from New Zealand and one from each State in the Commonwealth, the final adjudicating to take place at the Green Mill Palais, Melbourne, during the week commencing March 20th. 1927. Passages have been tentatively booked by the s.s. Sonoma, and, if the winner cannot be ready by that date, they will be changed to the s.s. Ventura, sailing from Sydney on April :10th. If the winner is a New Zealand girl, she will sail direct from tho Dominion. The committee to judge the finalists will comprise representatives of First National Pictures and the Press, an artist, a doctor, and a professional photographer. It is to be understood that tho decision of the casting directors is to be accepted by the candidates as final. Further particulars .may be obtained from the manager of the Crystal Flaaoo Theatre, where the entry form is to be tilled in. Entries close on January "'2nd.