A VISIT TO HOLLYWOOD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17527, 2 May 1925, Page 20

A VISIT TO HOLLYWOOD.

novelists and playwrights in considerable numbers have made permanent connections with the firms there and are established members of the community. All this is for the betterment of the business, and the pictures 1 saw there in the making all show a definite improvement upon tho old type. “With the influx of well-known writers stories for the screen are much improved, their dramatic qualities are more carefully develox>ed and greater care has been exercised in the scenario department. This is particularly noticeable in .comedies. The old slapstick variety with little or no story is being replaced, and to a great extent lias been replaced by natural humour and clever comedy situations. A number of excellent new comedians have also been imported, and bid fair to becxtrcmely popular. “The improvement in world conditions is felt in Hollywood aud reputable concerns there feel that they can now loosen the purse strings and spend their money on better pictures with .• certainty that tho improved prosperity of their public will justify them in their returns. “For my own part I was greatly pleased at the excellence of tho pictures I was able to acquire on behalf of my company and T feel that my pleasure will be shared by the public. I made a careful survey of the various studios and was able to secure a great i many pictures which T feci are peculiarly suited and enjoyable to the Australasian public.” Mr Carter, who by the way is * Canadian, will he making his iniiil trip to the Dominion in a few weeks' time.

SELZNICK REPRESENTATIVE’S IMPRESSIONS. Air X. M’Le&n Carter, a director of Selznick Pictures (Australia) Limited, lias just arrived in Sydney from Hollywood, where he has been making a trip in quest of productions for his company. “Activities there.” he said, “have taken a turn for the. better. All tho studios are showing signs of increased activity. This is particularly noticeable among the larger companies. It is quite definitely evident that picture stantial basis —more than it lias been before. Busy as most of the studios are. the number of pictures being made for the coming year, according to the report of the officials, will be fewer but unquestionably better. ‘‘The last year has seen a shaking out of the smaller producers and the firms manufacturing pictures of recognised merit are coining into their own. “My last trip to Hollywood was over two years ago and it is astonishing to see the changes that have taken place, not only in tho studios but in tho city itself. New hotels and restaurants have sprung up, and tho streets and stores would do- credit to any city in the world. “On my last trip. Hollywood was busily engrossed in its business of making pictures and new faces came and went daily; to-day thero is an air of permanency about the place. Many of 1 he people who formerly lived in hotels have now built their own homes. There is a distinct resentment on the part of any of the people engaged in the in- - dustry if they are sent East to New York as is sometimes necessary in their work. Well-known Broadway actors and actresses whose names were synonymous with New York are now distinct- j lv Californian in their opinions and f feelings, and proud to be so. “Hollywood is rapidly becoming almost as famous as a city of beautiful homes as it is of the motion picture centre of the world. “The studios have also taken on a changed aspect. They are no longer more or less temporary quarters for one independent company after another—all the concerns are now established in their own quarters and are still working on beautifying and rendering more efficient their workshops. The influx of screen-struck applicants for work, too. has dwindled; the disillusionment and disappointment that was the lot of dozens of young men aud young girls j lias made itself known, and the motion I oor ’j 01 ’ inexperienced people who fee) » 1 There- is a distinct poliev on foot L - 1 employ only actors and actresses of experience and from what T saw of it. • most of the companies prefer to employ people who have worked for them ! «r who they know of as screen artists. I “Famous members of all arts have J been imported and well-known painters,