The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-26
CeSSeS in Art

extra" girl is needed the casting director
telephones to an agency, describes the type
of girl girls he needs for certain pictures.
whether he wants blondes brunettes
whether they are to be tall, medium or short
and he is sure to find what he wants in the
agency's supply
Influence does not count in this particular
profession, he emphasizes, as do other man
ayers One of the managers called attention
to the pictures of Caruso, which cost a good
deal of money, and only one of the three
series Of pictures made was ever shown.
Though there is no singer or actor better
known to the American public than this
Metropolitan star, the motion picture audi
ence preferred Charlie Chaplin Dorothy
Gish or Anita Stewart or some other equally
pretty girl.
Often 1t Takes Years to
Develop Into Screen Star
But to continue with Mr.. Selznick's obser-
vations on the opportunities for young girls
as movie" stars, there are many girls who.
have never been on the stage who would
prove drawing features on the screen. And
the Eastern audience, which Is the biggest
in this country, is the one that can make
girl famous. Beginners sometimes get from
S. to $40 day for six or eight weeks. No
special preparation is required. Good looks
are all important and intelligence helps con-
siderably. The ordinary wardrobe is usually
sufficient for small parts and a girl is glad
to be taken on for few days and supply her
own costumes for the sake of the chance to
get in
Maxwell Karger, supervising director of
the Eastern studios of the Metro Pictures
Corporation, holds out hope to the screen
novice. He sees future for the girl who is
endowed with natures graces and who
knows how to be patient. "A girl must
sacrifice time If she wants to become film
star" said Mr.. Karger. There is no more
brilliant example of the success that is the
award OF patience and hard work than Alice
Lake. who began as an extra girl four years
ago and has worked her way up until she is
one of the biggest picture stars with
promise Of ranking among the first five i'm
the film armament.
Miss Lake has beauty and she soon de-
veloped talent for comedy. Her emotional
work is out of the ordinary. All through
her career she relied entirely upon her own
gifts; her progress was made without in
fuence. Her stage story parallels that of
David Warfield who was picked out by
Belasco who saw him in burlesque. Belasco
recognized Warfeld's dramatic talent. Miss
Lakes talent as a comedienne was per-
ceived just quickly when she was doing a
burlesque act Her success has been phe-
nomenal, not only from the box Office stand
point but from the critics.
is easy. They don't realize that intelligence
is more essential than beauty. Ever since
Mary Pickford's name became a household
word girls with long curls hanging down
their backs and with short dresses havf
swarmed around the studio doors hoping to
be given chance in pictures. They fail to
consider that Mary Pckford has worked
hard that she really is a genius and that
she has maintained her position by working
all day and often until midnight. Conscien-
tious work and long hours are necessary TO
success
These aspirants for film honors are not
prepared for disappontments and they think
TO impress the casting manager by making
themselves look like some well known film
star. They are overdressed and don't APP
proach the work with the right attitude The
girl who comes simply dressed and is willing
to accept any work who keeps her eyes
open. will pass other girls who fail to take
stage work seriously"
The seriousness Of screen work is cmpha-
sized by Bert Lytell. one of the Metro stars
According 20 him many stage folk look upon
screen work as something that will enable
them 70 make about five times as much AZ
they do on the stage, and make il quickly
They seldom consider the work seriously ard
the result is failure.
THE silly type Of girl is absolutely hope
less But If girl has a spark of genuine
talent she receives every encouragement
from directors" said Mr. Lytell THE direc-
tor will pick her out Immediately"
AS to class on the screen Mr. Lytell told
of young girl of great beauty whose
mother took i'm washing The girl wanted TO
go into motion picture work. publishing
house reproduced her photograph i'm one of
its magazines. The girl showed this picture
to a leading motion picture producer. who
engaged her on the spot. and since then she
has become a headliner.
Types are picked from all parts Of the
country. May Allison is one OF their stars
who came from the South She started In
doing a bit i'm "A New York play. TO her
youth and beauty was added great deal OF
patience. without this quality she would
never have succeeded. A publicity campaign
frequently has helped TO bring a young girl
before the public, but publicity that Is nor
backed BY genuine ability and patience ans
q desire 20 work can help girl along just
so far. The rest she must do herself.