HOLLYWOOD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 180, 1 August 1932, Page 8

HOLLYWOOD.

AMERICA'S FILM CENTRE. ITS NATURAL ADVANTAGES. WRITING OF SCENARIOS. "Hollywood," was the subject of an address delivered to the Auckland Rotary Club to-day by Dr. A. L. Lewis, who is a vice-president of the Hollywood. Rotary Club. While emphasising that Hollywood, with a population of 50,000, is something more than the home of the American film industry, Dr. Lewis devoted most of his address to subjects and personalities connected with that portion of the city's activities. There was no likelihood, said Dr. Lewis, of Hollywood being deposed from ite position as the centre of American lilmdom. Situated on the foothills of Los Angeles, it enjoyed an abnormal amount of sunshine. Within a f°w hours' travel in various directions there could be found snow-clad ranges, miles of sea coast, heavy timbered forests or 'vase expanses of prairie, so that the outlook and atmosphere for almost any class of outdoor picture were readily obtainable. Following these natural at! r vantages there had been created in Hollywood huge vested interests which would effectually prevent any other centre from becoming a serious rival. ■ In the old days, said Dr. Lewis, the mail to Hollywood from scenario writer* from various parts of the world was stupendous, so much so that one firm alone used to spend £10,000 a year for a staff to deal with this class of mail. There was a good'deal that was pitiful in these efforts, for more often than not the writers were entirely igno-rant-of the technique of film production. Now all the principal concerns had their own permanent staffs of scenario writers, whose work was classified to deal "with special features in the films.

In moving the vote of thank's Rotarian Harry Welsh urged upon the visitor the necessity of Hollywood producers showing a closer discernment of the class of picture which appealed to New Zealand audiences.