BY BELINDA BREMNER
Negotiations have concluded! And while we have much to celebrate, the fat lady hasn’t sung yet. Let’s cross our fingers for Saturday’s meeting. But even after the ink dries on those fair new contracts, much will happen. Even though this is "over," it won’t be over by a long shot. Congratulations to all of the brave, honorable, talented and committed actors (non-union, pre-union, union), agents, casting directors please who didn’t give up five minutes before the miracle. We have all of us sacrificed so much to save our business and never think for a minute that the enemy is just the JPC and its minions. But more importantly, remember that you are not alone. They are alone with their greed and rationalizations. But you, we, are not alone.
There are so many that deserve special acknowledgment for their tireless efforts. One in particular that stands out is Paula Anglin. Anglin–alongside her pastor, congregation, family and neighbors–collected thousands of signatures from well-wishing civilians and sent them to advertisers hoping they might see the error of their ways. And to our families who have stood by and gone without. To all the children, such as young master Gee who has suffered two seasons of McDonalds depravation and Claire Simon’s daughter who knows now why she won’t be bringing in that bar of Ivory requested for the Social Studies project.
There are so many stories. They will be told.
And now, to now.
The doctor(s) will be in. "ER" is making a follow-up visit come the end of the month. As ever, the valiant Jane Alderman will be in charge of casting the triage.
And it looks as though we have us a moving picture. Tenner Paskal will be casting for Road To Perdition, the Tom Hanks gangster flick directed by Sam Mendes. They also just finished casting for Rain, a Scorsese project.
By the first of the month Chicago Casting Center will be opening its doors at 777 North Green, Chicago, 60622. Tina O’Brien and Janet Louer will be taking submissions for their casting projects in television, film and Broadway. Even before the plaster dries, they are busy with projects. They cast for the indy Stray Dogs and the Sony feature New Guy as well as a Dreamworks pilot.
Jaz Casting is working on the indy Backwoods. Now, last issue I promised you the casting for their recent pharmaceutical industrial project. Well, as ever, in this business there is many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip. Seems it was all systems go and all brilliantly cast and then the FDA yanked the drug. Bummer.
And Claire Simon is casting for upcoming episodes of the new Joan Cusack show as well as an interim agreement commercial (don’t we love them) for Oddlots Furniture. Locals Lance Barbor and Jed Resnick are being looked at for "The Downer Channel."
The Illinois Film Office confirms that things look good for the February 2001 start on Dreamworks Road To Perdition. Universal’s Dragonfly is set for November 6 with Kevin Costner and the Muhammad Ali story is due in February. There is second unit shooting on Matrix II due here later next year and we are keeping digits crossed that we get Press Your Luck, the Bill Murray-Mandalay project. On the indy scene we’ve hosted Dreamcatcher, Design, Stray Dogs, Up Michigan and The Flutest.
Catching up with Baker Rowley brings word that Christian Anderson has a recurring spot as a sports announcer for Fox Net Sports. Other bookings went to Annaliese and Andrea Messmer, Bernard Mixon, Shirley Walls, Shirley Whitmore, Dorothy Clay, Victory Vann, Sally Kaob, Kwefi Dunlop, Kahea Summers, Owen Yen, Marcus Gentry and Marty Couch. They are especially proud of the fact that of the over two hundred babies seen nationwide for a Huggies ad, two of the four picked were from their agency.
Lily’s announces the "Lucky Seven" for November. They are Coulton Pouncy, Clark Hamson, Nicole Tsingos, Callie Braithewaite, Jennifer Hisser, Charles Young and Perry Williams. Booked on a "true non-union commercial" were Kalvin Catlin, Charles Young, Rudy Misurec, Kellie Halihan, Azzi Marshall, Rachel Hebert, Glenn Fahlstrom, Lorne Solomon, Lorne Solomon and Joanne Panczyk. Industrials went to Joy Shih and Perry Williams. Dana Richards booked a voice-over.
On another note, working as an intern in a casting director’s or agent’s office gives invaluable training. There’s no education like it. If you are reliable and eager and have the time, you might give your favorite office a shout. They will be grateful for the extra hands.
Remember to hang on, hang tough. You are not alone. If you are doing the right thing, you know it. Don’t give up or in. There’s no reason to.
Peace.