A NEW ZEALAND SCREEN STAR.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18901, 17 January 1927, Page X

A NEW ZEALAND SCREEN STAR.

" _ + ; SEARCH TO BE CONDUCTED. With tho laudable objoct in view of giving Now Zealand an opportunity of competing in tho world-wide popularity of the motion picture art, as represented by tho 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 tho beauty, personality, and abilities of the screen star, and, in sending her to Hollywood, thus placing before tho eyes of tho stago world tho names of these Dominions. That there Is, liore a potential Mary Pick-ford or Gloria Swanson is not to be doubted, and it is but soomly that gifted and comely young women should come forward and offer themselves as candidates. ' First National Pictures (Australasia) have entered into an agreement with the Crystal Palace Thoatre, Ohristchurch, to invito all uspirants to report at that theatro to fill in tho competition form and learn more exhaustively the terms of the competition. The girl selected for Hollywood is to receive a ten-weeks' contract with Cecil B. de Mille, tho producerdirector of "The Ten Commandments" and "The Volga Boatman," to appear in a leading part in at least one production, and, providing she reveals the avorago talent, she will, if so desirous, be offered a long tract. Her salary for the ten-weeks' contract will be £2O per .week, and all hei 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 Common wealth, the final adjudicating to take place at the Green Mill Palais, Melbourne, durins the week commencing March 20th, 1927, Passages have been tentatively booked bj tho s.s. Sonoma, and, if the winner cnnnol he ready by that date, they will be changed to tho s.s. Ventura, sailing from Sydney on April 30th. if the winner is a New Zealand girl, she will sail direct from the Dominion, The committee to judge the finalists will comprise representatives of First National lietures and the Press, an artist, a doctor, and a professional photographer. It is to be understood that the decision of the «sting directors is to be accepted by the candidates as final. Further particulars may be outlined from the manager of the Cr : ,' Plaare Theatre, where the entry form to be filled in. Entries close on January — Da -