New Zealand’s First Big Picture.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1923, Page 1

New Zealand’s First Big Picture.

THE ANNETTE KELLERMAN FILM “A SURPRISE FOR THE WORLD” The Keilerniiin tihn was completed at Christchurch this week, and will be dispatched by the Tahiti on February 20th for the American market. A representative of the Nelson “Mail” interviewed -Mr E. Norden, technical director and productions manager of Dominion Productions, Ktd., who have produced the Kellerman film. “Without doubt it is the finest film Miss Kellerman has ever taken part in,” ‘declared Mr Norden. “She has never photographed as in this picture, and when it is released it will lie a great surprise to the world.” The credit for the photography, added Mr Norden, belongs to Mr Fred Bentley, of Eos Angeles. The film depicts a South Sea Island story in connection with the pearling industry, and is woven round Miss Kellerman. There are a number of under water "nets,” for which experts and gear were imported from America. Scenes have been taken in dozens of locations, including Nelson City, Rivaku coast. Takaka, The Sounds. Christchurch and Wellington harbour. At Wellington the Hinomoa was placed at the disposal of the company by the Government. At Takaka the company erected a village, and this, Mr Norden says, is one of the most prominent features of the film.

How much film was takenr asked the reporter. “From (id,ooo to 70,000 feel,” replied Air Norden who went on to say that there was not an inch of had (ilm. The picture will he cut clown to SOOO feet. To get WOO feet of a completed picture from 70,000 feet of dim was an extraordinarily good performance. and one on which the photographer was to he congratulated. Everv scone. added Mr Norden. Ts taken three or four limes, and the best is selected. The Kellerman scenes were all so uniformly good that it was difficult to make a selection. The actors in the Kellerman film have returned to their respeelive countries; the electricians have also returned In America : and the camera men have loft on their way to America. Miss ixellernmn’.s future movements are uncertain. She will remain in New Zealand pending a decision as to producing another picture in the Dominion. Should there he no fut ihei New Zealand picture. Aliss Kellerman has arrangements in ham! tor producing in other part- of the world. “Will Nelson figure in any future ph i tire P Mr Norden was asked. “I can't promise that,” was Mm i - plv. Mr Norden went on to i" ■" to some drawbacks experienced in connection with tho Kellerman film. Dim of those was the absence of electric light, consequent on which studio work had had to ho done at Christchurch. Then the company had been unlortunj n [],c weather. Tho film should have boon finished ago, but abnormal weather i ondß ions had made this impossible, and had also add ni verv veiisidor.lbly to Ihe cost. Had there boon electric light in Nelson a largo studio would have been built, and tints wei days could have boon utilised with inside work. It was the sunshine record that first directed attention to Nelson. I hen tests wor • made, and showed that t he almosplw . conditions were good; hut they did iw remain so. "A'ou can get womieriK photographs in NeLim," said Mr Norden. tint a haze sometimes caused serious delays. Another diltienliy was that in a place tho -izc o| Nelson it was impossible to get nocossarv plant, and a good deal of money had to be .-pent in experiments. When expressing thanks to variottlocal residents for valuable assistamo. Air Norden complained that obstacles had been placed in the wav ol Mm company. Exmessive charges hail been made by some will) whom the company had to do business, and there bad been a good deal of pin-pricking. Mr Norden was surprised at the attitude taken by sonm people towards the company, especially in view ol many thousands of pounds having boon spout locally, anil in a short time, in the production of the picture. “However, with all the obstacles, we have got absolutely the finest film produced this side n! the Lino, declared Mr Norden. Concluding the interview, Mr Norden said that when tlm Kellerman film was sold the N.Z. Rrodnelioiis Co. Imped to make another film in the Dominion.