A NEW ZEALAND SCREEN STAR.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18905, 21 January 1927, Page 9

A NEW ZEALAND SCREEN STAR.

SEARCH TO BE CONDUCTED. \\ With the laudable object in view of giving New Zealand an opportunity o£' competing in the world-wido (popularity of the motion picture art, as represented by the purely artistic aspect, First National Pictures (Australasia) aro now launching a campaign throughout New Zealand and Australia in search of what they believe to be the girl who ia possessed of tho beauty, personality, and abilities of the screen star, and, in sending her to Hollywood, thus placing before tho eyes of the stage world the 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 forwara and offer themselves as candidates. First National Pictures (Australasia) have entered into an agreement with tho Crystal Palace Theatre, Chriatchurch, to invito all aspirants to report at that theatre to fill in the competition form and learn more exhaustively the terms of the competition. The gir) 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 production, and, providing she reveals the average talent, she will, if so desirous, bo offered a long contract. Her salary for tho ten-weeks' contract will bo £2O per week, and all her expenses and those of her chaperon, to and from America, will bo paid by the company. One girl will be selected from New Zealand and one from each State in the Commonwealth, tho final adjudicating to take place at the Green Mill Paiais, Melbourne, during the week commencing March 20th 1927. Psisages have been tentatively booked by the s.s Sonoma, and, if the winner cannot be ready by that date, they will bo changed to the s.s. Ventura, sailing from Svdney 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 Pictures and tho Press, an artist, a doctor, and a professional photographer. It is to be understood that tho decision of the casting directors is to bo accepted by the candidates as final. Further particulars may be obtained from the manager of the Crystal Palace Theatre, where the entry form is to be filled in. Entries close to-morrow.