MAKING "MOVIES" IN MAORILAND

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 102, 30 April 1921, Page 9

MAKING "MOVIES" IN MAORILAND

AN INTERESTING UNDERTAKING

According to Mr. Beaumont Smith, tho Australian, film producer, who is at present in • Wellington, it is easier to train Maoris in the way they' should go before the camera than to coach .their white brethren. Mt. Smith hadl plenty of experience with New Zealand's Natives lately. Sevetral months ago he brought a company to the Dominion, in order to secure scenes for his latest picture, and secured some fine negatives. "We worked mostly around Kotorua," says Mr. Smith, "and have introduced good studies of Newi Zealand life amongst the whites and; the Maoris. The Maoris themselves were easy to manage, in spite of the fact that we were always running up against some superstition or other. They liked having their pictures taken, provided they were paid for it, of course; and old Mita, chief of thfl Arawa jtribe, proved a great actor. He made us laugh occasionally, though. Mita once, delayed' us for several days, whale he went to Taranaki to marry a girl of 23. He himself is 72., • Notwithstanding several wet days, we were able to finish all the New Zealand scenes ml the period, w« had allotted for them. As a matter of fact;iwe.didn't mind the little rain, for we. found we couldi get ■along better just after it finished', for the air was clean' and clear, and we weren't troubled' then, by pumice dust. "The thing that induced me to come to New Zealand last December was the fact, that so many pictures had been made with the Australian' bush) as their seen*. I, myself, during the past three years, have turned out eight Australian film dramas and comedies, chief among them being. "The Man From Snowy River, 1" founSe'd on 'Banjo* Paterson's classic. I diecided that audiences needed new locations, so I adapted a plaj thai I had. had read, for stage production for a considerable time, turning it into a film ■drama. I firmly believe that pictures of New Zealand life will -find a ready market in- England, and/ probably, in America. ■

My present intention is to return, to New Zealand again in a few months' time, with several people and) complete technical staff, and make two or more film dramas of New Zealand life amongst both the white and Maori people. I will utilise any available local talent in these productions.

"For some, time /past 1 I have been studying New Zealand literature, bmfc I am sorry to find so little of it. Historical records there are in abundance but I can find very little literature dealing with present-day life. The historical records of the Maori/ are unique, but for picture audiences these need blending with modern life stories. In the past, I have written all my own. scenarios, or adapted them from well-known Australian authors' works. I would welcome any scenario with: originality, but I regret to say those that are submitted fo me are invariably useless. "I have lately purchased for picture purposes, from that clever New Zealand girl, Duleie Deamer, seventeen of her best stories ami novelettes, including that famous story of primitive man, "Aa It Was in the Beginning." Of necent years, I have bought the motion picture rights of the best known Australian, books, including 15, volumes of Henry "SrTfifn. °£& amongst them being •While The Billy Boils," all the works of Banjo Paterson, and. stories by Bodenc Qinnr,, Edward Dyson, and' other well-known Australian writers Picture production is very much in ite infancy, m this country and in Austraha, and will'need a great deal of encouragement if it is to develop. However, tne public is encouraging it, and