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Every week Back Stage publishes hundreds of notices -- casting notices, entertainment-industry job notices, and calls for submissions to talent contests and film festivals. Back Stage is the premier resource for actors, dancers, singers, comedians, and all performing artists -- plus those talented individuals working behind-the-scenes, including writers and crew -- looking for quality opportunities. BackStage.com's casting database includes all of the notices from the popular weekly Back Stage publications, plus hundreds of additional items.
WEST COAST:
Below are a few highlights from this week's West Coast notices, compiled by West Coast Casting Editor Cassie Carpenter:
Continue reading "West Coast Casting Highlights - 8/25/09" »
So we all have our childhood crushes. More than one friend has confessed to owning a Shaun Cassidy nightshirt or putting a poster of Donny Osmond on their wall. Being the weird little freak I was, my obsessions weren't with non-threatening boy singers cut from a wholesome cloth. No, I had childhood crushes like Jeffrey Combs.
If that name doesn't sound familiar, clearly you haven't seen such low-budget, high-camp classics as "Castle Freak," "Re-animator," and that film's two sequels. Your loss. Combs is delicious in every one of them. Combs' speciality is playing sniveling, weaselly characters--which is why he would have made a great Wormtongue in "Lord of the Rings," which he was originally cast in. To this day, I'm not sure what happened that caused Brad Dourif to end up in the role, as it would have reunited Combs with his "Frighteners" director Peter Jackson.
Justin Theroux has signed on as the villain in the comedic film Your Highness.
The movie's plot centers on two princes, one the heroic heir to the throne (James Franco) and the other a conceited buffoon (Danny McBride). Theroux will play the evil wizard Leezar, who uses his magic to kidnap Franco's fiancée (Zoo Deschanel).
Natalie Portman also stars in the film, which is currently shooting in Ireland.
-- Brooks Sherman
"Set in second century Britain, the movie follows the story of young centurion Marcus Aquila (played by Tatum) who arrives from Rome to solve the mystery of the unexplained disappearance of the entire Ninth Legion in the mountains of Scotland and to restore the reputation of his father, the commander of the Ninth."
The film is currently shooting on location in Hungary before moving to Scotland.
-- Brooks Sherman
The Hollywood Fringe has announced a new festival in Southern California, the very first annual Hollywood Fringe Festival, featuring underground and emerging artists. The 11-day event this summer will host an estimated 100 artistic companies, local, national, and international. The Hollywood Fringe's mission statement is "to host an environment for bold and experimental works; to champion underground art and artists; to vitalize the arts industry in Los Angeles; and to promote and enrich the Hollywood neighborhood."
"The arts in the United States are in crisis," said Ben Hill, the event's executive director and founder, in a written statement. "To survive this crisis, all artists must band together, cast aside ego and ambition, and work as a community. The celebration and cultivation of art is necessary for the well being of our civilization. I believe the arts in Los Angeles and the world have their greatest days on the horizon."
The first Fringe Festival opened in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1947, ultimately growing into the largest arts festival in the world. Fringe Festivals have since sprung up in dozens of cities across Europe and North America. Most are open, using lotteries, first-come-first-serve, and find-your-own venue systems instead of a formal selection process or jury. This programming format helps foster the work of more obscure companies and projects, especially works from young visionaries who need to build up an industry network and production experience. The events also give a financial and cultural boost to their hosting communities.
Dates: June 17-June 27, 2010
Number of performances: 500 (projected)
Location: Hollywood, CA
Email: [email protected]
--Anna Bengel
The Weinstein brothers are back in business after this weekend’s open of “Inglourious Basterds” took the number one spot grossing $37.6 million, thanks to Quentin, women, and Brad. Tarantino’s war flick not only pulls the Weinstein’s out of their recent struggles, but also shines the light of success on a “cheap, inventive marketing campaign.” On the other hand, the film cost almost $70 million to make, and when compared to “Pulp Fiction,” which cost only $9 million to create and grossed over $200 world wide, cheap promoting seems more of an obligation than a decision.
In an age where Broadway has shown audiences a naked Harry Potter in a horse barn and an entire cast talking about particular awakenings that sometimes occur in the spring, it seems ironic to hear that a scene in the classic musical “Bye Bye Birdie” won’t make it to the stage. According to The New York Daily News, Gina Gershon, who stars as Rose in the show’s revival, will not be crashing the Shriners banquet by way of the flirtatious dance scene that has been depicted on stages for nearly half a century.
Stephen Moyer and Lily Collins have been cast in Priest, a post-apocalyptic horror thriller about a warrior priest who defies the church to hunt down a band of vampires who have kidnapped his niece. Moyer will take a break from starring as a vampire in the HBO series True Blood to play the mortal brother of the protagonist (Paul Bettnay), and Collins (of 90210 fame) will play the niece.
Also starring in the film are Cam Gigandet and Maggie Q (as a sheriff and warrior priestess, respectively), and Karl Urban, who will play the evil leader of the bloodsuckers.
-- Brooks Sherman