IN SEARCH OF PERFECTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21983, 19 June 1933, Page 8

IN SEARCH OF PERFECTION

A NOTEWbRTHY COMPETITION

The Paramount Film Corporation, pursuing a line of policy that has been peculiar to its operations in the Dominion since it first brought motion pictures to this country, has now instituted a searctt for perfection in the matter of male and female form and bearing which comprises an entirely new departure from the stereotyped " beauty contest" of the past. Paramount are at the moment in search ot a type of New Zealander to whom may be entrusted the not inconsiderable privilege of representing this Dominion m tne film colony of Hollywood. Unlike the customary "beauty contest which has from time to time excited public interest, this competition represents a genuine search for types which will m all respects reflect the character, manners, and ideals of the Dominion. It is not simply a question of finding a type 01 feminine charm -which will appeal to a majority of tastes, but a bona fide effort to select from the million and a-half population of New Zealand a young man and a young woman who may confidently be sent abroad to represent the Dominion in a community where competition is very keen and standards are unusually high. This requires the selection of persons exhibiting more than a mere personal comeliness, and for this reason the competition will have far wider and more significant scope than the type of- competition that has in the past been arranged for the amusement of the general public. The search is for types which will worthily represent New Zealand in a galaxy of beauty drawn from practically every country in the world, and such young people as are fortunate enough to gain the decision of the judges here may look forward to a strenuous tussle, with the best that the remaining countries of the world can send forward. Paramount is looking for the perfect New Zealand man and the perfect New Zealand woman, and these will be expected to take up a contract at Hollywood for the production of a film. Their expenses will be paid to and from the American film centre, and during their stay in America they will be in receipt of a salary of 50 dollars per week. Also, they will.have the opportunity of participating in a 2000-dollar competition for the best couple from all countries. Entrants must be between the ages of 17 and 30 years, and must be New Zea-land-born, and after a final selection has been made of the best entrants in the North and South Island, screen tests will be taken, and these will be forwarded to Hollywood, where a special committee of judges will decide who will go to Hollywood to appear as representatives of the Dominion in the film " The Search for Beauty."