"La Vida Robot" will shoot in New Mexico beginning October, 2013.
AB Media Publishing, LLC
Pantelion Films and Circle of Confusion are in pre-production on the true-story feature film "La Vida Robot" based on four undocumented Mexican American high school students who form a robotics club and defeat MIT in the National Underwater Robotics Competition at UC Santa Barbara. The casting director has announced two open casting calls seeking two male Latino actors between 14 and 20 years of age. The actors will be portraying high schoolers. Film crew and production staff are also needed, and resumes are being accepted at the email listed below. Shooting will take place in New Mexico beginning October, 2013.
"La Vida Robot" tells the story of four Latino high school students - Lorenzo Santillan, Cristian Arcega, Luis Aranda, and Oscar Vazquez - who were from the mean streets of Phoenix. The boys were undocumented immigrant high-schoolers that belonged to a 92 percent Latino school district with a per capita income of approximately $9,000. They ended up taking part in a national underwater robot-building competition at the University of California Santa Barbara, where they were pitted against well respected universities. The boys ended up beating the highly touted MIT University, and won the entire Competition.
Starring in "La Vida Robot" is ALMA Award winner George Lopez playing the role of Dr. Allan Cameron, the computer science teacher who sponsored Carl Hayden High's robotics program. Lopez has received several honors for his work and contributions to the Latino community, and Time Magazine recognized him as one of "The 25 Most Influential Hispanics in America". Harvard University honored his artistic work and charitable endeavors with its "Artist of the Year and Humanitarian Award". Also starring in "La Vida Robot" is two-time Golden Globe Award winner Jamie Lee Curtis in an unspecified role.
Primetime Emmy Award nominee Sean McNamara will direct "La Vida Robot" from an adapted screenplay written by UCLA Extension 2010 Screenplay Competition winner Elissa Matsueda. McNamara has been very busy since directing the 2011 TriStar Pictures feature film "Soul Surfer". He has directed five films and a video. He is currently directing the feature film "Field of Lost Shoes" and is set to direct the Paramount Pictures film "True Spirit", and the football themed film "The Hail Mary". McNamara is also a long time Disney Channel television series director. Independent Spirit Awards nominee Ben Odell will produce "La Vida Robot" for Pantelion Films, where he serves as head of production. David Alpert will produce for the production company Cirlce of Confusion. Rick Jacobs and Leslie Small will also produce.
"La Visa Robot" Open Casting Call Details
Casting director JC Cantu, one of the minds behind "Spy Kids" and "Machete", is holding open auditions for the upcoming feature film La Vida Robot starring George Lopez and Jamie Lee Curtis. The following SPEAKING ROLES are available, to play high school students:
[LATINO MALE #1] 14 - 20 years of age. Huge "gentle giant" type with football players build. He's sweet on the inside, but his looks intimidate.
[LATINO MALE #2] 14 - 20 years of age. The "smartest kid in school" type. Very skinny, short, and nerdy.
Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Where:
Pharr San Juan Alamo High School
805 W Ridge Road
San Juan, TX 78577
Click here for directions.
The casting call will be in the PSJA High School Theater
When:
Saturday September 14, 2013 - 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Sunday September 15, 2013 - 12:00pm to 5:00pm
For additional information or to get the audition sides, email lavidarobot@gmail.com
You can read more about the real-life high school students that this film is based on and see a photo of them at the following website:
http://www.fnal.gov/pub/today/archive/archive_2006/today06-03-20.html
Those attending the open call would also be wise to read the following Wired Magazine article that details the true story that this film is based on (the article is 5 pages long, be sure to read the entire article):
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.04/robot.html
All talent including minors and foreign actors must and be legally eligible to work in New Mexico and the United States.
The 2013 New Mexico Actors Resource Guide eBook comes with free quarterly updates and 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 the State of New Mexico and the United States:
• New Mexico Work Permit Requirements
• New Mexico Child Employment Entertainment Law Sheet
• New Mexico Child Labor Laws Brochure
• New Mexico Child Performer Pre-Authorization Certificate
• New Mexico Child Extras Pre-Authorization Certificate
• New Mexico Minor Trust Deduction Guidelines
• USA Child Actor Work Permit Requirements
• Immigration Work Permit Information
• Non-Immigrant Visa Application
In addition to the following New Mexico Actors Resources:
• New Mexico Casting Directors List
• New Mexico Extras Casting Directors List
• New Mexico Talent Agents List
• General Talent Agent Information
• New Mexico Acting Classes and Schools List
• Summer Performing Arts Camps
• New Mexico Headshot Photographers List
• Audition Tips
• How To Make an Audition Video
• Sample Actors Resume
• Sample Beginning Actors Resume
• Sample Cover Letters
• Entertainment Industry Terminology
• Miscellaneous New Mexico Actors Resources
• PDF Users Guides
The 2013 Actors Resource Guide eBooks are available here.
Principal Actor Casting
See the post titled Headshot and Resume Information regarding how to submit to casting directors for acting roles.
No phone calls or personal drop-offs.
JC Cantu
Rising Phoenix Casting
350 S Beverly Dr
Ste 200
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
NOTE:
I highly recommend that your 8x10 color headshot and resume along with the cover letter be sent in a 9 x 12 Clear Full Face Window Envelope with the photo visible in the window.
Click Here to purchase 9 x 12 Clear Full Face Window Envelopes.
The casting directors address should be written in all capital letters on the solid side of the envelope, with the name of the project you are submitting for written directly above the casting directors name. If the role that you are submitting for is available, it should also be written above the casting directors name.
Example:
"Project Name"
"Role of _______"
CASTING DIRECTOR NAME
CASTING DIRECTOR ADDRESS
CASTING DIRECTOR CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE
Extras Casting
New Mexico
TBA
Film Crew and Production Staff
New Mexico:
Experienced film crew members and production staff located in New Mexico can email resumes to:
lavidarobotresumes@gmail.com
In the subject line of your email, please indicate that it is a Crew resume or Production Staff resume and the department you are seeking to work in. For example, "Crew – Camera Department" or "Production - Production Assistant".
ABSOLUTELY NO ACTOR OR EXTRAS SUBMISSIONS TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS, THEY WILL BE DISCARDED.
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.
Pantelion Films
2700 Colorado Avenue
Suite 100
Santa Monica 90404
Circle of Confusion
8548 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
Brookwell-McNamara
Raleigh Studios
1600 Rosecrans Blvd.
Building 7
4th Floor
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Producers: Ben Odell, David Alpert, Rick Jacobs, Leslie Small
Writer: Elissa Matsueda
Director: Sean McNamara
Starring:
George Lopez
Jamie Lee Curtis
Story:
La Vida Robot centers on a group of Latino high school students who compete in the National Underwater Robotics competition despite the fact that they are undocumented.
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