A NEW ZEALAND SCREEN STAR.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18903, 19 January 1927, Page 7

A NEW ZEALAND SCREEN STAR.

0 - SEARCH TO BE CONDUCTED. With the laudable object in view of giving , Now Zealand an opportunity of" competing in the world-wide popularity of the motion picture art, as represented by the purely artistic aapeot, First National Pictures (Australasia) are now launching a campaign throughout New Zealand and Australia in search of what they believe to be 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 6ta"e world tho names of these Dominions That there is here a potential Mary Pickford or Gloria Swanson is not to be doubted, and it is but seemly 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 Theatre, Christchurch, to invite all aspirants to report at that theatre to fill in the 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, the producer-director of "The Ten Commandments'* and "The Volga Boatman," to appear in a leading part in at least one pro-, duction, and, providing she reveals the average talent, she will, if so desirous, bo offered a long contract.. Her salary for the ten-weeks' contract will be £2O peT week, and all her expenses and thoße of her chaperon, to and from America, will be paid by the company. One givl 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 dote, thev will be changed to the s.s. Ventura, sailing from Svdney on April 30th. I? the winner is a New Zealand girl, she will sail direct from the Dominion. Tho 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 the decision of the casting directors is to be accepted by the candidate.? as final. Further particulars may be obtained from the manaeer of the Crystal Palace Theatre, where the ontrv form is to be filled in. Entries closa on January 22nd.