BY BELINDA BREMNER
Sequels, prequels, and remakes marked the primary trends of the industry this past year. This just goes to show that there truly is nothing new under the sun: Old movies get remade, old television shows get reworked as movies and movies get recycled into television shows. And when in doubt–and actually coming up with a new idea seems too risky–why, just take an existing pound or two of pap and pabulum and top or tail with a prequel or sequel and sit back and rake in the bucks. No one ever went broke underestimating…You know the rest.
Commercial producers still seem enamoured with celebrity voices and the idea of using "real people." And yes, the calls, at least at the end of the year, are for younger and younger actors. Pretty soon the breakdowns will be for newborns, premies, fetuses and zygotes.
On an encouraging note, reports show that there is an increase in work for minority actors. (Well, yes, there really was only one direction in which to go.) Calls are also increasing for Asian, American Indian and East Indian actors. And about time, too.
On the film front, the only film action is a week or so of Red, White and Blonde (yes, the sequel to Legally Blonde) and a week or so of Surviving Christmas in January.
Jane Alderman Casting will be doing the casting for Red, White, and Blonde.
Claire Simon Casting is conducting searches for the new Superman movie, Birth (for New Line with Nicole Kidman), The Series of Unfortunate Events and Ugly Americans.
And Tenner Pascal Rudnicke booked Paul Sass, Sandra Delgado, Jason Uizza, and Shana Goodsell for Sears. The amazing Lisa Lewis, along with Lorn Brown and Cedric Young, was booked for ESPN. Other casting included a spot for Bud Lite and a search for The Polar Express.
Lily’s reports that clients Lee Fuller, Cory Blount, Barbara Sultan, Rie Sato, Eliza Shin, Abby Strauss, Alma Butler, Audrey Allen, Richard Sullivan, Mark Forest, Barmali Das, Patrick O’Brien, Kate McDermott, Elizabeth Arceneau and Mitsuko Olsen booked industrials. Commercials went to Heidi Drennan, Spencer Michelson, Tara Jordan, Vima, Melissa Riemer, Lucy Bianchi, Liz Warton and Jordan Allen. Marvinetta Woodley, Steve Scholz, Jose Solis, Ruthie Greenspan, Anne Gallagher, and Cheryl Hamada all booked voice-overs.
And what lovelier way to close out the year than by welcoming gorgeous brand new Madilyn Rose Maucieri, born to Tina O’Brien and husband Dave Maucieri ("a great daddy") on Nov. 13. Welcome to the world!
And to all a goodnight. Peace.