Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Casting Call for Umbrella Man


[from Craigslist]


Don't miss your chance at being a featured extra in THE UMBRELLA MAN, a feature film shooting in Pittsburgh until October 26th!! Please send a headshot, contact info, and your availability to um.extras@gmail.com for more details! All extras will be entered into a raffle for the chance to win Apple's New iPad, an Amazon Kindle Fire & Apple TV!
  • Compensation: Chance to win an iPad, Kindle Fire & Apple TV!
  • Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
  • Please, no phone calls about this job!
  • Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.


So, say, you're an extra. Why in the world would you want to work for free on a movie? The first three years I did extra work, I ignored all calls for volunteer work. Shouldn't I be paid?

Generally, yes, you should.

However...

I went to the stadium shoot for The Dark Knight Rises, which called for volunteers. About 11,000 volunteers showed up. Even though I got heat exhaustion late in the day, I had a wonderful time and learned a lot about large scale movie-making. I didn't win anything and the food wasn't so hot, but that was OK. It was only one day. (Ironically, while I was in the stadium, I was called to work for pay the next day...and I had to turn it down because I was too busy working on another project to do a second day of movie work. Oh well...)

Last spring, I worked two days on Monongehala. That was ultra-ultra low-budget, and I had the chance to help run errands and carry equipment. The second day, I was more of a PA than an extra while I watched tables and guarded food while the crew was in another area shooting. Fun time.

So, if you have the time and some group making a movie on the cheap in Pittsburgh is making a movie (like, say, The Umbrella Man folks), you might consider donating a day of your time. If you really hate volunteering for a movie, don't do it, but if you don't, it's a worthwhile experience.

The Pittsburgh Film Office has a list of all kinds of projects, both volunteer and for pay.


Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Pittsburgh Film Office: Major Motion Picture Looking for Extras


Feature film being directed by an Academy Award nominated filmmaker is scheduled to shoot in the Pittsburgh area in November and December. 

The casting department is seeking men and women over the age of 18 interested in taking part as extras (background artists) in the film, who would portray characters such as police officers, wrestling world people (coaches, trainers, refs, wrestlers, etc.), business men and women, politicos, photographers, owners of cars from 1975-1998, general background wrestling match spectators amongst many other characters. 

OPEN CASTING CALL
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13th

Double Tree Hotel Pittsburgh-Green Tree
500 Mansfield Ave
Pittsburgh PA 15205

9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m.

Please bring along a recent photo or snapshot, and a pen. These are paying positions. Must be 18 and over.

If you can't go to the casting call, send questions, headshots and resumes to: wrestlingextras@gmail.com.