SCREEN TRIALS

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12022, 27 December 1924, Page 6

SCREEN TRIALS

MR BEAUMONT SMITH’S TESTS. Mr Beaumont Smith’s quest for film talent for the production of moving pictures in Australia and New Zealand lias met with a good response as tar as Wellington is concerned, and so far there have been over 300 applications for trials. Of these over 150 have been put through. It wall be found practicable to put all applicants through before the season ends, a thing it was first thought impossible to do. Two or three particularly promising “types” have already been discovered, declares Mr Smith, and there is every reason to hope that his quest will be more than successful. Yesterday’s audiences were treated to some rare inside workings of the motion picture house, and at the matinee there was a large house. The scenes were of the orthodox type, but even as it was several must have realised that it is Teally harder to make love than it would appear, especially when a very unroman'tic director calls into one’s ear “register emotion,” or “look embarrassed,” or “look into her eyes.”

“Connie, I love you.” says an adoring suitor in the full glare of the powerful arc lights, and while words of encouragement come from behind the camera he falls on his knees to the, applause of an appreciative audience, and fumbles madly after imaginary articles in oil his vestcoat pockets. The village bully wa» given a try out, and lie eiiVctivelv crabbed a harmless child of five, and shook her until a smart young man entered and dragged him back. Then the smart young man recognisedl the dofericeleos child as his baby, stolen from her cradle, and carried her off to tlio accompaniment of great applause. As Mr Smith pointed out he wanted screen tvpes. and it was his intention to use Now Zealand artists in a section of an epic film showing the history of Australia and New Zealand. Judging by the applications he will have a difficult task to piok his actors or actresses, ,