Examiner (Launceston, Tas. : 1900 - 1954), Friday 18 September 1936, page 9


BUSH SCENE FAKED Reproduced in Studio When Mr. Ken G. Hall realised he would be handling 24 animals as well as birds and insects in the bush scenes of "Orphan of the Wilderness," he decided instead of going to the bush for these sequences, he would transfer the bush to the Cinesound studio. He preferred 12 kangaroos running loose on the set, or an eagle sitting on an arc light, to a frantic chase through the Burragorang Valley, whenever his animal actors showed signs of temperament and a desire for freedom. After Mr. J. Alan Kenyon, art direc-tor, and other studio executives had searched Burragorang Valley for a suitable setting, a photograph was taken of a typical bush pool, and from this photograph the set was construct-ed. Under Mr. Kenyon's direction 200 gums were brought from Bulli and the mountains. Tree ferns, shrubs, and bullrushes also came from Bulll, while smaller bush plants were supplied from a property near Willoughby, which was specially cleared for this purpose. For the undulating ground old car-pets and bags were built up from the concrete floor and covered with five tons of tan bark. A waterfall fell into the fern-fringed, pebbled pool, which was made of canvas. Perfect in every detail, with its rocks, fallen branches, and water plants, this pool was the delight of the kangaroos, who immediately hopped into the clear, cold water, and refused to leave it. The moon that shone through the

gums, and made a perfect background for the owl, as he watched the tiny joey dashing through the trees, was supplied by a projected background. Lighting was the next problem, as the trees made the set extremely dark, but this was solved by Cameraman George Heath using 70 huge incandescent lights.The The set, when completed, was 180ft. by 70ft. - a triumph in detail and de-sign.