Fire-walkers’ Stones
p. 157 · Read in the full issue
Who Will Know
The Difference!
Fire-walkers’ Stones For a Film Studio
ONE of the most unusual cargoes ever to leave the Pacific Islands —namely, 16 drums of “firewalk ing stones”—was shipped from Suva to Los Angeles on the liner Monterey on November 22.
A Cinerama unit of the Dudley Pictures Corporation was in Fiji a few months ago, and it shot a quantity of film showing Fijian fire walkers in action. But when the film was tested in USA, it was found that the shots of the actual fire walking had been taken from only one angle, and that the picture was distorted and unsatisfactory.
It was decided that the stone walking part must be re-photo graphed.
As it was not possible to take Mahomet to the mountain, the mountain must be taken to Mahomet.
In other words, it was requested that sufficient of the stones actually used in firewalking be shipped to the studios to line a fire-pit there.
Presumably, a certain number of feet will be chosen, and dyed; and they will go into the pit, and imitate the actions of the firewalkers’ feet in the spoiled film, while the thing is re-filmed.
It is not indicated that any heat will be applied to the stones in the studio. Heat effects will be obtained through the use of steam. It may be expected, however, that plenty of heat will be generated by the Fijian fire-walkers, if ever they see the film, which is unlikely as there are only about 20 Cinerama theatres in the world.
The shipment of stones was arranged, for the studios, by the Director of the Fiji Visitors’ Bureau, Mr. R. A. Hewlett. Mr. Hewlett has •an enviable local reputation as a humourist. t The Papua-New Guinea Admin istration in mid-December ordered evacuation of Man a m Island, Madang, because of severe volcanic activity. There are 4,000 natives on Manam.