BIG THREE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 484, 13 October 1928, Page 25

BIG THREE

I’ ~ ! | PICTURE PLAYERS’NEEDS DISCUSSED BY FILM DIRECTOR. Every so often a new name appears on film title lists, a new face is imprinted on the consciousness of picture patrons. Jesse Lasky, president of Paramount pictures, describes the qualifications. “Youth, personality and talent”—he does not mention beauty, although few succeed without it—“and they come from all walks of life, from school and college, from cattle ranges, shops, musical comedy and factories. A Prime Requisite “One thing they have in common a sparkling youth,” he says. “Under Paramount’s system they have another thing in common, an apprentice training in minor roles A few years ago we put into operation machinery for bringing new personalities before the public. The picture school was started, and ambitious young people admitted for training. "If it accomplished nothing else

the school would be justified by the discovery of Char les Rogers, just made a star, whose fan-mail, a never failing barometer of popularity, ex ceeds that of any other male star and even mail received by the late Rudolph Valentino.”

Following Precedent “Our hunt for talent resembles a search started several years ago by big corporations, Standard Oil, General Motors and others, for executive ability. College graduates were offered training with these companies. Then came minor positions with the firms and signs of special ability were carefully noted. Onr course of procedure is somewhat the same.