02/11/08

PUBLIC ENEMIES

PUBLIC ENEMIES

Public Enemies, starring Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and directed by Michael Mann is coming to Chicago and Wisconsin! A stellar cast and a brilliant director -- Welcome back!  

Written by Ronan Bennett (screenplay), Ann Biderman (screenplay), Bryan Burrough (book) and Michael Mann (screenplay).

Buckle up, we’re due for an amazing ride!

 Are you ready? Here we go…

… Public Enemies is a “period” feature film, circa early 1930s. You know what this means period hair styles and wardrobe fittings – guys please keep your hair long – do not cut it!! Women will need to have period hair styles – Everyone that will be cast will need to attend a wardrobe fitting. The fitting usually takes a few hours – you’ll be fit in an outfit and also be looked at by the hair department. Haircuts will most likely happen at the wardrobe fitting. The fitting usually happens a week or so before your day on set.

I am looking for a core group of extras (non-speaking roles) that will be able to work many days. So let me know if this might be you!  I’m also searching for people that might be available for one or two days. These are paid extras positions. Rate TBD.

Being that this is a period film we need to find people that are able to fit into the period wardrobe. There are size requirements!

MEN need to be 6’1” and under and WOMEN 5’8” and under (no larger than a size 12), all ages (including children) in order to be considered.

*KIDS: I only consider casting kids that have current work permits on file with Joan Philo Casting. Casting children goes down fast. I mean super fast. They might call me the night before a shoot and ask for a child of a certain age. I run to my kids’ files and pull any child that has a work permit. Don’t miss out because your child doesn’t have a work permit! (I know that getting a work permit takes effort and I appreciate that this is done in the hopes of getting cast, thank you!)

We start shooting in mid-March and shoot through June 2008. I will be holding open casting calls soon! Stay tuned.

We will be shooting in Chicago and on location in Wisconsin (various towns). We will have open casting calls in Chicago for our Chicago extras and in Wisconsin for our Wisconsin extras. All casting calls TBD.

Who are the types of people I cast to be extras? Nice people. People that act professionally on set. People that I meet who are courteous and pay attention at casting calls. It takes a patient, attentive, nice, punctual, respectful person to do well on a film set. I know because I’ve met many. MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE who work as extras.

All I ever hear from every film I’ve ever cast is how nice the extras are. This is huge! Seriously, you guys should be proud. I know I am. A prepared and wonderful person working as an extra makes for a great experience for all—from the wardrobe department to the locations department—from the Assistant Directors, to the actors. The crew notices!

You can be a person that has never been on a film set in their life and be an extra. One day, regular person, next day… oh, my gosh, on a movie set!!

It can be a wonderful, life-changing experience. It can also be incredibly boring. Mind-numbingly boring as you sit in the holding area (an area where the extras hang out while waiting to go to set). There are some sets where you might be in holding for hours and hours before you get out on set. Heck, back in the day when I was doing extra work, I sat in the holding area for two entire days and I never even got out on set.

You know what I did? I made friends for life in those two days. There were 400 of us. Waiting. Sitting. Hanging. I said hello to the person on my right, and I said hello to the person on my left. And then I laughed my head off for two straight days—see, life is what you make it. Make a friend, or be miserable. Your choice. But sometimes, you’re constantly on set with very little time in the holding area. You never know! That’s the beauty and magic of filmmaking!

The secret to being a successful working extra: Have a great attitude and be prepared! Bring a book for those times you are hanging in the holding area. Bring some snacks. Aside from the delicious lunch served about halfway through the day, don’t count on being fed at other times. I never did. You need to take care of yourself. Be smart. Bring a few drinks (um, not that kind). If you are working outside and it’s hot and sunny, wear sunscreen! If it’s freezing, layer what you can under your outfits. Bring hand and feet warmers. Are you starting to get it?

A normal film day lasts 12 hours and sometimes even hours longer. You need to be available the entire day/night. There’s no cutting out early, ever! (kids under 16 work fewer hours). If you are cast on a shoot you need to prepare yourself that you will never know when your day will be over. No one knows.

Never ask on set, or at a wardrobe fitting, when you can go home – this is quite the uncomfortable question and will make you look ill-prepared (you want to be in the know – a rock star!) Please don’t ask. You’ll get some not-so-nice looks. Believe it or not, everything gets back to me. Instantly. Something happens on set with an extra and, RING, RING (Joan’s cell phone) “Hello Joan, why the bleepity-bleep did you send us __________(insert name here).”       

***Things change constantly on films. This is so important to know. If you are cast for a particular shoot date, this date might change many times before you actually find yourself on set. Flexibility is key!

I’d like to give a “shout out” to all the fantastic extras I know—avert your eyes to the above as you already know all this and do fabulously well on set.

Working as a film extra is a challenge when shoot dates change – I realize that you guys go to great lengths to take off work, get babysitters, switch your lives around to be out on our sets. It’s appreciated. Thank you!

Can’t wait to see everyone. You guys rock!

We will be making calls to cast extras anytime from now until the end of June.

Joan and the chain gang.

P.S. Beautiful Clare, with the amazing casting associate “eye”, says “hi, can’t wait!” Kat Tastic is excited to take your calls. Amanda says “hey”. Bryan and MJ, well, they’re the bomb!

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