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Do you have what the movies want? Read this article — and learn how to test yourself!
By RALPH FOSTER
ability and determine whether or not his chances of success are great enough to warrant trying for a screen test and movie contract?"
"Those with genuine ambition can do it," he persisted. "Persons of normal intelligence are capable of judging their own ability and chances of success in the entertainment field, as they are in any other field — clerking, writing, law or what-not. Once they have looked over what they have to sell, and are convinced that they are fitted for the movies, we want to see them. If we want what they have to sell, we'll buy — and, believe me, we are genuinely grateful to everyone who comes in, whether we buy or not."
"You say they can examine themselves," I reminded him, "but I want to know exactly how they can do it. What questions must they ask themselves? What kind of yardstick can they use to measure their own ability?"
"I'll give you a yardstick," was Serlin's answer to that. "We'll make it possible for everyone genuinely interested to take a screen test in his own home!"
Then the huddle. Pencil in hand, one of his assistants helping him, Serlin took time out to make the set of screen test questions you see at the end of this article.
Finally, he looked up from his task. "It wasn't as easy as I thought it would be," he admitted, "and I'd like to caution you that, before anyone takes this
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test, he should be familiar with the way an applicant is greeted here. What we have done," Mr. Serlin explained, "is to put on paper the same questions we ask when an individual calls in person and is interviewed by a talent scout. For anyone to answer these questions intelligently, he or she should get a little behind-the-scenes picture of what goes on when we interview an applicant, a better understanding of the qualities we are seeking."
• All right, to get the whole picture, let's suppose that you, the reader, have funds to support yourself in New York for a period of six months, and you have accepted Mr. Serlin's invitation. Just what happens when you walk into his office?
An alert secretary will ask the reason for your call and, learning it, will usher you into the presence of one of Mr. Serlin's assistants, perhaps Mr. Boris Kaplan, first assistant talent scout. If Mr. Kaplan sees you, you will find yourself engaged in a conversation as general as one that you might conduct with your best friend. But all the time you are chatting, Mr. Kaplan's experi [Continued on page 72)
Eleanors Whitney, though only eighteen, passed the talent test and became a sensation in her first dancing role
If you arz in this
bracket, you are
exceptional
The passing mark Average
If you arz in this bracket, you have failed the first test
100
90
80 75 70
60 50 40 30 20 10
47