"Promised Land" will shoot in Pittsburgh and Los Angeles.
AB Media Publishing, LLC
The Matt Damon starring vehicle "Promised Land" is holding an open casting call for extras in the Pittsburgh area. The casting director also needs volunteers to help out at the open casting call, which is expected to have a large turnout. Filming will take place in Apollo, Avonmore and other surrounding areas in Pennsylvania from late April to early June, 2012. Email submissions are also being accepted for people who can not attend the open casting call. This casting director loves casting people who are new to the business, so there is no concern about not having any acting experience.
"Promised Land" is a tale of ethics and political arguments over the controversial practice known as "fracking" or "hydraulic fracturing" - a drilling process for extracting natural gas from shale rock. The process involves pumping a mixture of water, sand and chemicals into a well to fracture rock and thereby release natural gas. Proponents of fracking insist that the practice can create new income and jobs for suffering communities, but critics declare that the chemicals injected into the wells for drilling may taint nearby drinking water and cause cancer.
Two-time Academy Award nominated filmmaker Gus Van Sant is directing "Promised Land" from a screenplay written by Matt Damon and John Krasinski, based on a draft by Dave Eggers. Van Sant's Best Director Oscar nods came for his 1997 film "Good Will Hunting" and his 2008 film "Milk," both of which were also nominated for Best Picture. He will next be directing an untitled film produced by and starring Taylor Lautner.
"Promised Land" is being produced by Focus Features, which is a subsidiary of Universal Pictures. Focus is the art house films division of NBCUniversal, and acts as both a producer and distributor for its own films. Also backing the project is Gramercy Productions, LLC which has an office at Universal Studios in Hollywood, and another on Alpha Drive in Pittsburgh. Chris Moore, Matt Damon, and John Krasinski will oversee daily production duties.
Open Casting Casting Call Details
The casting director is seeking all ages and types including children, teens, adults, and seniors to work as general background extras. Here are some additional specific needs:
• Male piano player - don't need to be an expert.
• Great character faces.
• People with farmer looks.
• Baseball and basketball players.
• Cheerleaders.
• Waitresses and restaurant patrons.
• People attending a big town hall meeting.
• Upscale men and women with formal wear.
It is recommended that you download the following registration form, fill it out, attach a recent color snapshot, and bring it with you to the open call:
"Promised Land" Extras Registration Form
Where:
Tiger Gym & Fitness
(the old Apollo High School)
400 North 2nd Street
Apollo, PA 15613
Click Here for directions.
When:
Saturday April 21, 2012
11:00am to 4:00pm
If you are located in the greater Pittsburgh or surrounding areas and can not attend the open casting call, you can still be considered by submitting a recent color snapshot, height, weight, all clothing sizes, and contact information to the following:
promisedlandextras@gmail.com
Put "Promised Land Extras" in the subject line.
Upscale men and women are needed for the first day of shooting on Monday April 23, 2012. If you are located in the greater Pittsburgh or surrounding areas and would like to be considered, submit ASAP via email. Please include your height and weight and phone number and e-mail a recent color snapshot photo to:
promisedlandextras@gmail.com
Put "Upscale 23rd" in the subject line.
Open Casting Call Volunteers
Casting director Joan Philo needs volunteers to help with the casting call on Saturday, April 21st. If you are available, send Joan an e-mail ASAP to promisedlandextras@gmail.com and put "Volunteer" in the subject line. In the body of the e-mail let Joan know why you would like to volunteer and send her a picture so she can see your smiling face!
For any Los Angeles filming, minors and foreign talent must be legally eligible to work in the state of California and in the United States.
The 2012 Los Angeles Actors Resource Guide eBook includes the following information and documents for adults, minors, and foreign talent who would like to work as an actor or extra on film and television productions in Los Angeles and the United States:
• USA Child Actor Work Permit Requirements
• California Child Actor Permit Application
• California Minors Summary Chart
• Child Actor Coogan Trust Deposit Instructions
• California Division of Labor Standards Offices
• Immigration Work Permit Information
• Non-Immigrant Visa Application
In addition to the following Los Angeles Actors Resources:
• Audition Tips
• How To Make an Audition Video
• Los Angeles Casting Directors List
• Los Angeles Extras Casting Directors List
• Los Angeles Talent Agents List
• General Talent Agent Information
• Los Angeles Acting Classes List
• Acting Classes for Young Actors in Los Angeles
• Los Angeles Headshot Photographers List
• Sample Actors Resume
• Sample Beginning Actors Resume
• Sample Cover Letters
• Entertainment Industry Terminology
• Miscellaneous Los Angeles Resources
• Actors Unions
• PDF Users Guides
The 2012 Los Angeles Actors Resource Guide eBook is available here.
Principal Actor Casting
See the post titled Headshot and Resume Information regarding how to submit for acting roles.
Submit photos and resumes by mail only.
No phone calls or personal drop-offs.
Los Angeles:
Francine Maisler & Associates
10202 W Washington Blvd.
Building 3200
Culver City, CA 90232
Extras Casting
Pittsburgh:
Joan Philo Casting
c/o Gramercy Productions LLC
260 Alpha Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15238
promisedlandextras@gmail.com
Crew Members
Pittsburgh:
Experienced film crew members in Pittsburgh can send a resume to the following:
promiselandpgh@gmail.com
Put "Promised Land Crew" in the subject line.
Production Companies:
Do NOT send photos and resumes to the production companies, as they will most likely end up being thrown away. They do not cast the films, rather they hire casting directors who sort through the thousands of submissions.
Focus Features
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608
Participant Media
331 Foothill Road
3rd Floor
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Gramercy Productions LLC
260 Alpha Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15238
Producers:
Chris Moore
Matt Damon
John Krasinski
Director:
Gus Van Sant
Starring:
Matt Damon
John Krasinski
Frances McDormand
Rosemarie DeWitt
Hal Holbrook
Scoot McNairy
Sara Lindsey
Story:
Damon plays a businessman whose entire perspective on life is thrown into disarray after moving into a small town. The story centers around the practice and dangers of hydraulic fracturing — the controversial practice of pumping a mixture of sand, water and chemicals into a well to break up rock and help extract natural gas. Krasinski will star as a rival corporate executive, and Frances McDormand plays a character who prefers to follow the rules as opposed to breaking protocol. Rosemarie DeWitt is a schoolteacher caught between Damon's and Krasinski's character and Hal Holbrook will play an engineer who lives in the town and opposes a corporate takeover being led by Damon.
