BACK FROM FILMLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 118, 21 May 1928, Page 8

BACK FROM FILMLAND.

"MISS NEW ZEALAND, 1927."

BUSY DAYS IN HOLLYWOOD.

ONCE WORKED 23 HOURS

STRAIGHT

Entirely unspoiled by her adventures in America's Filmland, Miss Dale Austen, better known to a -host of movie "fans" as "Miss New Zealand 1927," returned to New Zealand on the Aorangi, after an absence of five months. As the stately motor ship came to her anchorage in the stream, Miss Austen was seen at the * head of the launch gangway, waving to friends who had gone out to welcome her.

"It has been a wonderful experience, but I am glad to be back in dear old New Zealand," Miss Austen told an interviewer. "The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film folk did more for me than

was promised, and everyone was very kind."

Among those who welcomed Miss Austen were Mr. Henry Hay ward, Mr. arrie . lchiel, New Zealand representative of the Metro-Goldwyn-'Mayer Film Company, and his assistant, Mr. Phil Maadox.

Although she remained in the background throughout the undertaking as every good journalist should, Mrs. B Vernon, who acted in the capacity of chaperone and publicity agent, has played an important part in looking to the interests of "Miss New Zealand." Mrs. Vernon was congratulated yesterday on the excellence of her publicity work in connection with the trip to Calf. J'" la v y' a ? la [ gcly due to iler efforts that New Zealand picture-goers and the public -were kept informed of Mise Au»ten s doings in Hollywood. A,^l llee tVf five months which Miss Jf d b ® en awa y were spent in Hollywood where she obtained a ten weeks' contract, after an exhaustive series of tests. It is said that the test pictures cost fiO oo . She played the part of the heroine's "girl friend" in "The Bushranger," a feature film «-hich was supervised by Mr. Reg. ("Snowy"? Baker, of athletic fame. The film is a story of Australian bush life, with lote of exciting scenes, but Miss Austen had a drawing room part, and was not asked like +1 t bronchos or anything like that. A brother of Mr. "Snowy" Baker, had a leading part in the film which will he shown in Auckland about afl th/Slrf"' M L* Au * te ° . the details wi,. be accurate, and the t rV' • atmos l lllorc ' y will be true ? I'! 9 ' ° wl L n = to the assistance and work of the Baker brothers.

In addition to her work in "The Bushranger," Miss Austen did what is known to movie folk in Hallvwood as "small bits in other films. "She worked verv hard for two days in one film," said Mrs. Vernon, "yet when we saw the picture screened, after the editng and cutting, Miss Austen was seen only momentarily now and again. She just'flaehed by. . course, the producers spare no expense, and go to any amount of trouble to get exactly what they want, so that muchof what is done before the camera is never seen in the finished picture." Films in which Miss Austen had small parts were: "Diamond Handcuffs," "The Actress." "The Loves of Louis," "Polly Preferred*' ami "Detectives." It is quite usual for film folk to start work at 7 a.m. and carry on through the dav, working to a carefully-planned schedule. On one exhausting occasion Miss Austen worked from 7 a.m. till 4 a.m. next day! Miss Austen was astonished at the rapidity with which the Americans worked, and the long hours were something of a surprise. Cinema actors and actresses are paid large salaries, but Miss Aueten is convinced that they earn every penny they receive. Camera men get from £10 to £50 a week, the "trick shot" photographers commanding the larger salaries. Scenario writers are also well paid. Miss Austen has returned to New Zealand to play the leading part in a film to be called "The Bush Cinderella."