“MISS NEW ZEALAND” MAKES HER TESTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 323, 7 April 1928, Page 21

“MISS NEW ZEALAND” MAKES HER TESTS

BEFORE ARC LIGHTS OF CULVER CITY "LUCKIEST GIRL IN WORLD!” j If “Miss New Zealand” (Dale Austin) had to depend on American newspapers for New Zealand news she would learn very little of what was happening in her own country. I FORTUNATELY, however. The Sun keeps “Miss New Zealand” up to j date in the Dominion’s happenings, j Each mail brings The Sun to the New j Zealand girl in far away California. Writing of her expehiences in the movie centre, “Miss New Zealand* j says: “The day after I wrote to you I last, I was told to make up for my j screen test. Naturally, I felt very nervous, as I thought that this was mv one big chance, and all depended on it. The chief dress designer, Mr. Gilbert Clark, chose a little sports costume for me, which had belonged to Loretta Young, the new leading lady in Lon Chaney’s latest picture, “Laugh. Clown, Laugh.” It was very chic, with its green and white check trimming. Mr. McCarthy, the well-known director, and Mr. Arnold, the finest of the M.G.M. cameramen, took my test, and were exceedingly kind and patient with me. X had. to do a pathetic little scene with Mr. Edward Connelly, the veteran actor vou have all seen so often on the screen. • I felt very nervous, as the lights were so strong on my eyes, and it was hard to keep from blinking, ana then there was such a crowd watching. Always on a picture set there is a crowd of hangers-on and lookers-on. “X had to kiss Mr. Connelly, I felt very embarrassed, although I tried not to show it. It took nearly all the afternoon to take this scene as they rehearse it several times and_ sho „°A it from various angles, and for each different shot all the lights and. reflectors have to be altered. I felt quite worn out after it was finished, and rather depressed, as I felt that it could not be very good. “Next morning I had to make up again for another screen test ™ time it was to be with Sam Woodo, one of the foremost M.G.M. directors. He made “Rookies,” “Bluebeard s Eighth Wife” and many other famous pictures, and is a very charming man. and very patient and understanding. Mr. Arnold was again the cameraman and o-ave me the full benefit of all ms exStrt knowledge, took innumerable Shots’ of me, and used his very best lenses, ’some of which - only used for ‘close-ups’ of the stars I ten. indeed that I was the luckiest girl m the world to have this marvellous chance.

“You will see the whole story in my film, which gives my arrival and adventures in ‘Movieland.’ I quite enjoyed acting this scene, but when it came to ‘close-ups’ of me, portraying various emotions, I felt dreadful. Gazing right into the camera, trying to look sad and angry, was a dreadful task, and I felt just hopeless. With all the men looking on and everybody waiting it was really an ordeal, and I knew that I hadn’t done very well. For the rest of the day, I did some scenes for my film, including meeting Mr. Louis Mayer, being made up by Madame Rosine, all of which you will see for yourselves on the screen. The next day* was Sunday, and i was really glad of the break, as I wa j? tired out with working so hard, and _ the anxiety of

whether my screen test would be successful or not. We had dinner with Mrs. Beryl Caton, a Xew Zealand girl, who has been exceptionally kind and hospitable to us. She and her husband took us to see Emil Jannings in “The Last Command” after dinner,

Emil Jannings and we enjoyed the picture, the palatial theatre, and the beautiful music from the big orchestra and organ. Our orders for Monday morning were to wait at the Hotel Roosevelt, and go through our arrival scene again. We had to drive through the streets, while the cameraman, who had perched his camera next to the driver, photoraphed me as we were moving along, ’he afternoon we spent taking still >ho to graphs of me for American taper’s and movie magazines. We had iad to think what would be novel hings for a Xew Zealand girl to find n America. decided on ‘hot dog,’ raffic signals, shoe cleaning by a shoedaclc. and having a haircut in a tarber’s shop, next to men. So my >hoto was taken doing all these things, nd I am sending them back, so that rou can see them for yourselves.”