New-York tribune., 1921-12-18
Not a Busy
Mans Job

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Not Busy
Mans Job
AS any one might suspect, Mr.. Gold
wyn has other things to do than walk
around the streets looking for these
new faces" and it is no secret now
that his agent at this task is Miss
Bijou Fernandez, who made an enviable
reputation as dramatic agent after she
had acquitted herself more than credit
ably as an actress. She began her stage
career at the age of two.
Miss Fernandez is paying particular
attention at the moment to stock COM
panies in and around New York. But
it is understood that Mr.. Goldwyn
hopes that she will strike pay dirt out
side of professional circles. That is,
Mr.. Goldwyn looks upon Miss Fernan-
dez as a prospector whom he has grub
staked. He has high hopes that she
will discover at least one human gold
mine. Maybe she will.
Mr.. Goldwyn has been criticized ad-
versely at times because of his atti-
tude toward "stars." He hasn't en-
ccuragcd the idea of making million
airesses out Of eX-manicure girls in a
year. Apparently he has worked on the
belief that a motion picture actor must
be something besides clothes horse.
But he has gone to the author hard and
heavy. Any writing person, no matter
how ooscure, might we'll be pardone.i
for cheering for Mr.. Goldwyn. Nearly
every one who is writing for him has,
at some time or other, been news
paper person.
The man who strikes out across lots
has something of Christopher Column.
bus or Vasco da Cana about him. To
such a one the Cape of Good Hope
lever has been discovered. He is
eternalIy looking for it. 1t may be
behind the next tree. Mr.. Goldwyn is
oAe of the persons who likes to strike
out across lots. That must be con-
ceded. He hit the idea of eminent au-
thors." His "eminent authors" have
made good pictures. He has done his
best To get the authors to study the
motion-picture business so that they
might help him to make good pictures.
He is a practical business man and
has been perspiring at the job while
many others have been only emitting
words about it. Now he has decided
that his business needs new pcrsonali-
ties more than it needs anything else.
And it is rather astonishing to learn
that he has been looking quietly for
these "new faces for some months
now.
It's romantic quest. That must be
admitted. Any one with that screen
face" he speaks of may step from OBJ
scurity and real poverty to celluloid
fsme and comparative riches to-mor-
row.
Miss Fernandcz's title, we arc in
formed, is special studio representa-
tive" 1t speaks we'll for the reserve
OF Mr.. Goldwyn (and his publicity de-
partment) that Miss Fernandez had
been at her job for several months be-
fore Broadway heard about it.
All Ready to
Stake Her Claim
! Miss Fernandez is charming wom-
an. There is no doubt about that. And
she is an able one. Ii she weren't MIR.
GoIdwyn wouldn't haze employed her
as his prospector in the search for
living gold mines. She is also most
modest woman. Strange, considering
she has neen associated with theatri-
cal America all her life.
She told US the other day that the
whispered word that she is selecting
actors and actresses for Goldwyn is
all wrong; she only suggests them. She
wanted it made plain that Robert B.
Mcintyre is the casting director for
Goldwyn and after that of MI. Goldwyn
Mr.. Mcintyrs's word is the final one.
Miss Fernandez also said that she can
toll about some of those screen faces"
Just from hearing the voices they be-
long to ever the telephone. Said she: !:
II haven't misjudgcd face yet after
hearing the voice over the telephone.
ut is crucifixion for me sometimes
when am scouting in theater to be
forced to disregard the diction of an
actor or an actress. Diction has been
one Of the guiding stars Of my exist
ence- But on this search for Mr..
Goldwyn ! have TO sit in theaters with
piy hands over my ears. Can you i'm
aSine that?''
Thousands of new faces have been
examined already. 1t seems to be
amazing how many men consider them
selves handsome and how many women
who admit that they are perhaps not
really beautiful still believe that they
sse iilied with personality. THIS search
for new faces may bring fairylsnd to
sorae obscure little girl. Mr.. Goldwyn
beIievcs that it will But on one score
we must differ with this screen au-
thority. lIc Gays that the search will
bring disillusionment to many. Now.
this does not follow at all. Where ones