The New Movie Magazine (Jan-Sep 1935)

SCOUTING for New Stars New Movie brings you information straight from the men who know. Here you iearn what those talent scouts look for, from DARRYL F. ZANUCK, Producer, and VicePresident of Twentieth Century Pictures Clark Gable, winner of the 1935 Motion Picture Academy Award, has perseverance as well as personality. HOLLYWOOD must have new stars — and Hollywood, acutely conscious of its need, is constantly combing the earth to find them. Every major studio spends a small fortune each year to maintain its staff of "talent scouts," men who are trained to seek and recognize those qualities which set certain personalities apart as likely material for stardom. Year by year, since the arrival of "talkies," scouting has become more intense and the need for new stars greater — yet, ironically, with each successive year, it has become more difficult to find personalities which offer definite promise of developing into first class stars. The reason for this dearth of material is, I believe, that too many of the screen's younger players — as well as the majority of the screen's would-be players — are trying to ape the already established stars. By so doing, they inevitably destroy the most important of those qualities which, properly developed, might raise them to stardom. JUST what are the qualities which Hollywood values most highly in a new prospect — just which qualities would I consider of paramount importance if I were a talent scout? I have been asked that question, in one form or another, at least a thousand times. Every producer, in a sense, is a talent Personality determines whether Helen Hayes shall be merely a fine artist, or a great star. Does Hollywood want "copies" of Mary Pickford and Fredric March? No, no, no! scout, for it is up to him to make the final decision on each new prospect unearthed by his scouts. Furthermore, he is the final judge who must determine from time to time whether or not his contract players have earned promotion to stardom. If I were starting out to scout for new stars, I should list the qualifications of each new prospect under these headings: 1. Personality. 2. Talent. 3. Character. 4. Intelligence. 5. Appearance. 6. Determination. 7. Training. 8. Adaptability. 9. Age. 10. Background. BEFORE attempting to evaluate those qualities, I want to state that only one of them definitely determines the applicant's chances for stardom. Personality is all-important. It is a composite quality, which includes and is influenced by all of the other nine on my list. In the career of a capable actor personality is the magic ingredient which determines whether he shall continue to be merely a fine craftsman or become a great star. Personality is more than the sum total of my other determining qualifications. It also is individuality! And I underscore that statement because not one would-be star in a thousand seems to grasp the fact that individuality is an absolute prerequisite to the "personality" which they claim! It is no wonder that producers decry the growing tendency of young players to ape established stars. That imitation is robbing the picture business of its life blood. Knowing that we must find new stars, we are spending millions on the search — and what is the usual, disappointing result? A steady flow of girls whose appearance, voice and mannerisms have been carefully tailored to resemble Garbo's ... or Crawford's ... or Shearer's ... or Harlow's. A steady stream of boys who have tried to make themselves carbon copies of Gable . . . or March . . .or Cagney. It can't be done! Personality is the expression of one's innate qualities. It is the result of the cultivation and development of one's true self. There is no such thing as a synthetic personality. The imitation of others is the very opposite of the expression of individuality. Were I a talent scout, I should immediately eliminate from consideration anyone who was not natural— no matter how superlative that person's other qualifications might be. Hollywood does not want "another Garbo" or "another Pickford." Hollywood knows from bitter experience that Mr. and Mrs. Public will not accept carbon copies. We want new personalities, as individual as Garbo and Pickford, who will have as (Please turn to page 66) The New Movie Magazine, August, 1935