Want to be in a real Hollywood movie? Here*s your chance.
Producers will hold a casting call for a feature film from 10a.m. *
noon this Saturday, October 19, at the Tulare County Library Main
branch, located at 200 W. Oak Street in Visalia. The casting call will
be held upstairs in the library*s *blue room.*
Written by Andrew Rothschild, directed by Andy Landen, and produced by
Ashleigh Phillips, Giles Andrew and Jessica Latham, the movie “Sequoia
National Park” tells the story of 21-year-old Reilly MacGrady. She*s
like any other teenager, an angelic face obscured by various failed
attempts at severity: a nose ring, dyed black hair, heavy eyeliner.
She also has the requisite teenage contempt for her parents, though in
this case, not entirely misguided. Left unsupported in the face of
cancer, Reilly takes control and decides to take her own life in Sequoia
National Park, Reilly*s favorite place in the world and the place of
her last happy memory. On the way, she meets a boy, Ogden, who disrupts
her plan and her conviction to not stick around. Meanwhile, her
dysfunctional family races against the clock to reach her in time.
*Sequoia (the movie) is painfully funny and honest,* said Latham,
who will be in Visalia to hold a casting call for several acting roles
in the film and to finalize some last minute film locations details.
*It*s a story about life and love and how the very relationships
that tear us apart might also be the only thing that can save us.*
Director Andy Landen said the scenic beauty of Sequoia and Kings Canyon
National Parks and the Sierra Nevada mountains made shooting this film
on location in Tulare County the logical creative choice.
*Not only is Sequoia National Park a gorgeous setting cinematically,
the park has an ethereal, magical feel to it,* Landen said. *There
is an energy *a pulse amongst those giant trees. I can see why our
protagonist Reilly ultimately finds her salvation in Sequoia.*
Landen was born in a small town in the Canadian province of Ontario and
completed an MFA in directing at the University of Southern
California*s Film School. While at film school, he won the
prestigious Coca-Cola Filmmakers Award, which saw his short shown in
over 30,000 movie theaters in the US. Landen loves to create visually
stunning, character driven films that blend drama with humor and speak
to the truth about life and beauty that can be found in all of its
awkward, sad and happy moments.
The film *Sequoia National Park* has already found a lot of local
support from the Tulare County Film Commission.
*We are interested in this production for several reasons,* said
Eric Coyne, Tulare County Film Commissioner. *While still considered a
fairly low-budget production, a significant amount of that money will be
spent here locally on lodging, meals and other supplies.
*This film also specifically calls out where it takes place, and
showcases Sequoia National Park, the community of Three Rivers, rural
Tulare County and Visalia.*
Currently the film is in its final stages of pre-production, and is
looking for a number of key essentials:
– 30-40 local actors, males and females between the ages of 18 to
70 from all walks of life, willing to be in the film and act as extras.
Producers plan to hold casting “auditions” from 10 a.m. * noon on
Saturday, October 20 at the Tulare County Library Main branch, located
at 200 W. Oak Street in Visalia. The casting call will be held upstairs
in the library*s *blue room.*
People interested in auditioning, but who either can*t come to this
Saturday*s casting call or don*t want to wait until then, can submit
a digital head shot and their resume by email to:
sequoiaextras@gmail.com
*The producers say they will consider people who are not formally
trained as actors to appear as extras in the film,* Coyne said.
*Just email a good picture of yourself, with name, address and
phone number, and a brief statement about why you want to be in the film
and why you think they should consider you for a role. This is a good
opportunity, because while extras will not be paid for appearing, I
understand they will be credited in the film. That doesn*t always
happen.*