4-29-05
BY BELINDA BREMNER
As is obvious from the last couple of columns, things seem to be picking up. So, what do actors need to book some of this great work coming in? That's right, kiddies, HEADSHOTS. Just so happens the AFTRA/SAG Conservatory is once again offering members their whizbang headshot workshop Saturday, April 30 with such luminaries as Brad Baskin, Aaron Gang, Sara Levinson and Suzanne Plunkett. Great opportunity, great photographers, great prices. Call Christine at the office to schedule. The number is 312/573-8081. Be the first kid on your block.
And SAG/AFTRA continues to hold their Casting Access workshops. Casting Director Sharon King will be the guest on Tuesday, May 17 at the KMRC. The submission deadline is Friday, May 6. This is open to SAG/AFTRA members only. More information can be found in the Activator newsletter or at the websites: www.aftra.org and www.sag.org. Jane Alderman is on deck for June 9, followed by TPR and Claire Simon.
Never too early to plan for summer fun. Here's a tip or two. Plan to catch the famous (or infamous) Famous Brothers on June 19 at the Lakeshore Theatre (Broadway and Belmont) at 7:30 p.m. Two for one tickets are available says Famous Brother Will Clinger (who recently shot a scene in Stranger Than Fiction with Peggy Roeder and Will Ferrell) if folks mention the Brothers' home town of Monkey's Crevice, West Virginia.
And pick up and pop in your beach bag the new novel by Goodman Theatre director of education and community programs Stacey Ballis. It's called Sleeping Over and follows her first best seller, Inappropriate Men. The perfect book to go with that jug of wine beneath a tree.
Former Shirley Hamilton agent Monica Campbell is launching her own agency. It will be a little while before the doors open, but Iris Talent will be located on W. Washington. Watch the column for news and details.
Remember, never pay anything to sign with an agency. Check everything out with the unions. Be informed. No agency can guarantee you work. If what they are telling you sounds too good to be true, it no doubt is. Be smart.
Sadly, nothing can prevent human frailty. A recent incident of an agent herself auditioning for a spot, in direct competition with her clients, boggles the mind and buggers the imagination. What could the girl have been thinking? Possibly something quite other than the reasons she gave when caught red handed, or red faced. She has learned what she should have known (and, one might argue, did know) that agents are not talent. Well, she'll have plenty of opportunity to be talent now that she is no longer an agent.
Jane Alderman cast Antoine Mackay and Christina Anthony in episode 20 of "ER."
The joint is jumpin' over at Tenner Paskal Rudnicke. Recent commercial casting includeS spots for Eddie Z's and Taco Bell. Congratulations to wonderful veteran Chicago actors Renee Mathews and Bernie Landis, who booked a Nexium campaign. TPR also just got the assignment to cast the Jennifer Aniston, Vince Vaughn film The Break Up, which will be shooting here soon. They are working on the pilots, "Everyone Hates Chris" and "South Beach." They are also casting for You Are Going To Prison, and the John Malkovich project Drunk Boat. They are conducting searches for Walker and Martian Child. And, drum roll please, here's the casting for Stranger Than Fiction: Ricky Adams, Peggy Roeder, Christian Stolte, TJ Jagodowski, Guy Massey, Andy Rothenberg, Rengin Altay, Cheryl Graeff, Bruce Jarchow, Cheryl Lynn Bruce, Tonray Ho, Keith Kupferer, Danny McCarthy, Tab Baker, Ora Jones, Brad Smith, Tim Simons, Nadirah Bost, John Watson, Sr., Eli Goodman, Lindsay Doran, Jordan Keller, William Dick, Peter Groez, Danny Rhodes, Larry Neuman, Jr., Helen Young, Sandra Marquez, Lacy Coll, Will Clinger, Albert Samuels, Frank Caeti, Ricardo Gutierrez, Lucinda Kemp, Jordan Teplitz, Bradley Mott, Chet Dubowski, Maurice Lemon, Laurie Larson, Aaron "Skippa" Hixon, Bryan Kelly, Celeste Pechous, Ray Kurut, Whitney Sneed, Jarrett Sleeper, David Pompeii, Sia Moody, Linara Washington and Kevin Haug.
The news from Claire Simon Casting is they conducted a search for Sony Pictures for the film Gridiron Gang, a search for the NBC "Filmore Middle" project, and for "Endurance 4" for HBO. Stacey Magerkurth was tested for the NBC pilot "Untitled Paula Pell Project." They are currently casting for Inherit the Wind at Indiana Repertory, Having Our Say, Rembrandts Gift, and Our Town for Madison Repertory. For Milwaukee Rep they are casting for A Month in the Country and they are also casting the Asian tour of Sound of Music. Recent commercial booking were for Sears, Kitchen Aid and Dreyer Medical Clinic.