New-York tribune., 1922-06-11
YouWhOW Would
Be a Movie
Player, Hear.
Eyes, Light Gray or Blue;
Heavy Ankles and Thick
Wrists Bar From Films

girl" some one says. You're lot
prett!er than a raft Of movie stars I've
seen. Ny eoodnessl I should think
you would 90 into the movies"
Then some one else Ssys tho same
thing. or words 10 the same general
effect. and Esmeralda-there are thou
sands Of her-spplies in letter or In
person for the privilege Of making the
movies just that much more attractive.
gpt IN 1929 times out OF 1000 all she
gets is courteous treatment. Esmeralda
is indignant. her friends and well
wishors are more indignant. Maybe she
tries again. with the same success.
Some Of her never give up hope. Any
wny she and her friends begin 70 talk
about pull" whenever the subject Of
motion picture acting comes up.
Now getting Into the movies right
that Is. getting into them with some
assurance Of earning a good, steady in
come for some years, is not so easy.
Every now and then there is a
character or type part for which some
one particular individual appears to be
manufactured by nature. But playing
one Of those this year and another one
perhaps next year Is not exactly
rosy career.
So far os qualifications for straight
leading parts are concerned, there ere
some simple general tests that any
young man or young woman may ap-
ply 10 himself or herself at home be-
fore knocking at the doors Of motion
plcture company. and thus save time.
money and heartaches.
Miss Bijou Fernandez. special studio
representative for Goldwyn, who in the
last six months has looked over up
ward Of 1000 applicants for motion
picture Jobs from among whom she
selected four Of which four Robert b.
Mcintyre. the casting d!erctor, chose
two "for development" is sponsor for
the following home tests. They're the
ones she uses herself.
"Of course she says, there are
exceptions 10 every rule, but on broad
general terms l would say that the
primary requisites we're: Height
For men. not over 5 feet 10 inches:
for women. not over 5 feet inches
Weight-Slimness Is essential. because
the screen has a tendency 10 make a
person appear plumper than is really
the case. Ankles and wrists-lt is ex-
ftremely important for women particu-
larly 10 have small, well-shaped ankles
and wrists. Carriage 1t is absolutely
necessary 70 be able 20 wnlk grace
fully, a by 10 means general accom-
plishment. Features-should be we'll
shaped. OF course. and a round face
with no prominent bony structure is
best. Eyes-Yery light blue or gray
eyes are an almost unsurmountable
barrier TO success on the screen. Dark
eyes should be widely separated. Com
plexion--StranCely enough, good
complexion is an ssse> Teeth--lt is
vitally essential 20 have good teeth.
Hair-The color Is not 20 important 70
success Red and black both photo.
graph black Blond hair is best for
ingenues. u Is taken for granted
that the profile and full face is good.
A bad profile is hopeless.
"Personality-That's the biggest
asset Of all. Intelligence. personality.
intelligence. That is our continual
cry.
Nov" Miss Fernandez continued,
amy one who meets all these specih-
cations is practically sure Of securing
a test before a motion picture camera.
The camera is the hnsl Judge. But,
with very few exceptions. the two
Thousand and odd men and women !
have seen in elk months for Goldwyn
didn't come anywhere near up 10 speci-
hcstions
ITO sum up. think il is safe 70 take
IL for granted that you won't get a
camera test. much less chance in the
movies. II your eyes are light gray or
blue. II your ankles and wrists are
thick. II you haven't q good carriage,
Il you aren't really slim, if you are too
Itan. If you haven't good teeth, II you
haven't good features. II you haven't
personality. Failure to meet any one
Of these requirements is an almost Ger
tain barrier.
"And in the last place, twenty-five is
( Just about the age desd-line."
And there you are.