BY BELINDA BREMNER
Having not seen or read anyone else’s thoughts on the fact that this
venerable journal has celebrated its 10th year, let me risk being redundant
and say, "Oh-My-God has it really been that long since..."
Since just about every casting director was one’s own age and most of them were named Jane. Since there were, what, six agencies–all were union franchised and most were legit.
Since audition reels referred only to voice tapes and they were reel-to-reel or cassette. And they were five, three and a half and three minutes long.
Since there were three or four television series shooting here simultaneously. Since there was one. Since there was any. Ditto movies.
Since those who rode public transportation always had to make sure they had both plenty of tokens as well as time and patience.
Since filo-faxes.
Since only doctors had pagers and no one had a cell phone. Since only the really successful actors had cell phones or could afford them. Since they rang.
Since Palm was an expensive restaurant that ad execs could go to for lunch. Since actors made rounds.
Since size six was considered really skinny and people asked if you were feeling okay and taking regular nourishment.
That was then, not much is now. A bit quiet, 10 years on. But some folks are stirring.
There’s limited scouting over at the Illinois Film Office and the projects that are scouting are doing so for summer. HBO has been about and "Mind of the Married Man" is now scheduled for June. The Cabrini Green project is history since Anna Deveare Smith has directed her considerable talents elsewhere. And the Bonnie Hunt film is a non-starter since she’s taken a pilot instead.
Tenner Paskal, since our fair ladies returned from London, is working on lots of commercials.
Chicago Casting Center is scouting for ABC pilots "The Oath" and "Eight Simple Rules." They cast Lauren Patten in a spot for Kelloggs.
Lots and lots of pilots at Claire Simon Casting. They include: "Hidden Hills," "Mr. Sterling," "Legally Blonde," "Class of ’06," "Zero Effect" and "The Rerun Show." They were booking spots for Steak 'n Shake and Express Med (any connection between the two I leave up to you). And for "The Twilight Zone" they booked: Adam Tanguay, Doug James, Maria Stevens, Martin Hughes, Peggy Roeder, Peter deFaria, Richard Henzel, Roderick Peeples, Turk Muller and Tim Kazurinsky.
On the agent front, Dan Deely will be leaving Arlene Wilson effective April 12. His duties will be assumed by Anna Oliveira.
The Emilia Lorence agency reports that clients Lezlie Rice (what a find!), Brian Delker, Martin Halacy, Torrence Murphy, Joe Fumo, Aaron Christiansen and Kirsten Mose all booked commercials. Clients April Baker and Michael Groh booked industrials.
And Lily’s had commercial bookings for clients: Daniel Shelly, Christopher Carrier, Amanda Pajer, Andrew Ritter, Benjamin Zarbock, Mia Park, Roddy Chiong, Joslyn Housley, Laura O’Connell, the fabulous Jenna Ford Jackson, Lee Fuller, Allison Hart, Tom Buttel, Ashton Dahl, Jason Tucker, PJ Alvarez, Jen Savarirayan, Kevin Adair, Brandon Hickey, Noelle Hardy, Matt Dunaway, Max McStephen Solomon, Phil Tang, James Randle, Dylan Christie, Anisa Harvey-Vasquez, Laura Stigler, Samuel Colletti, Matthew and Anna Sandri, Kisha Knazze, Lori Galandak, Bill Belongia, Tim Gittings, Grace Dunaway, Robert Max Padula and Cheryl Padula. Industrials went to Elaine Wong, Carlos Bendfeldt, Cesar Jamie, Ana Maria Alvarez and Charin Alvarez. And Lisa Stran and Madelyn Patton booked voice-overs.
Peace.