"Friday Night Lights", the movie - Local Casting Call

There is local casting call for paid extras for the movie "Friday Night Lights" scheduled for Saturday, January 24, 2004, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the following location:

MCM Elegante Hotel
5200 E. University
Odessa, Texas 79762

This is according to a report on KMID channel 3. They say to bring a photo, and they are looking for all ages and all races. If applicants can't make it to that casting call then they can send a photo and contact information to the following:

Friday Night Lights
Attn: Extra Casting
1091 E. 51st Street
Austin, Texas 78723

Break a leg!

Update 1/19/04: The Odessa American has more:

Extras casting director Toni Cobb Brock said “several thousand” area residents of all ages and races will be needed to fill Ratliff Stadium when Odessa shooting begins in March.

Although Brock did not know exactly how many locals will be in the film, she said “thousands” will be hired to be extras and fill non-speaking roles. She added that she hopes to tap the local bands, coaches, teachers and cheerleaders for the film. “What I want is the actual people,” she said.

Looks like they will be needing a lot of extras!

Update 1/21/04: The Odessa American reports that the movie producers and the Ector County Independent School District have reached an agreement which will involve a payment of $45,000 or more to be split between the Education Foundation and the ECISD in exchange for the movie producers use of Ratliff Stadium, Permian and Odessa High School logos, and football game film. And, there's this:

Superintendent Roy Benavides said officials talked with representatives of the film about the way they planned to portray Odessa before they began negotiations. Benavides said although he has no way of knowing what the film will look like, he said he was encouraged by the way director Peter Berg described his vision for the film. "He used the word 'epic,'" Benavides said. "He used the words 'spirit of the community.'"

Update - 1/25/04: Thousands of people showed up to apply for parts as extras at the casting call held in Odessa Saturday. From the Odesa American:

Although the call was only for non-speaking parts, Toni Cobb Brock, casting director, said more than 3,000 people showed up for the six-hour call at the MCM Eleganté Hotel.

I was a little surprised," she said "I thought we'd possibly get up in the thousands, but not quite that many. I am so pleased."

People from all over the Permian Basin piled into the hotel early Saturday morning to wait for the conference room doors to open so they could turn in a head shot and a short biography about themselves.

"Man, it's like sharks in a feeding frenzy in there," said Patrick Jones, a 1988 graduate of Midland High School. "It went by much quicker than I thought, though."
...

Brock said the casting call Saturday was because "several thousand" area residents are needed to fill Ratliff Stadium in March when the crew comes to Odessa to shoot.

Now that's showbiz! I hope everyone who wants in the movie gets in. However, if there are large crowd scenes it might take a magnifying glass to pick out familiar faces. But, future stars and starlets, you've got to start somewhere!

[Note: To see all of the items at this weblog about the making of this movie click on the category "Friday Night Lights"].

Comments

[Allen]

And ask them how badly they're going to make us West Texans look.

[George]

Every movie needs a villain, and I'm hopeful that the villain in "Friday Night Lights" won't be the region or West Texans in general. But Allen, your point is taken. And I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it turns out.

[Trey Brown]

Roy Benevides is a [description deleted]. Any word from him gives me no solace and only serves to make me white with anger and disgust.

[Beth]

Any word on when Billy Bob Thornton will arrive in town?

[slade]

I have heard they are going to shoot part of the movie in Austin. Has anybody else heard this? If you have please email me at [email protected], because I am interested in an extra position. I was recently an extra in the Johnny Knoxville new movie "The Ringer", and absolutely loved the experience. So now I'm hoping to get another part.

[Erika Wilson]

hi, I hope that you pick me to be in the movie as well I have already been an extra in the movie "Haven". I want to be an actress and I hope this is just one step for me.

THanks Erika Wilson

[Jay Pena]

I hope you have room for one more extra!

[walt dixon]

Any info. on open casting call in Houston?

[Hope R.]

Hello, remember me...I'm going to be a STAR!

[George]

Walt,

I think that if they were going to have a casting call in Houston they might have already had it. But, check the Texas Film Commission website:
http://www.governor.state.tx.us/divisions/film/hotline
and click "Casting Calls" for info about other films planned in Texas. It currently shows one planned for filming in Houston. Good luck.

George

[George]

Hope R. -

Congratulations! Please keep us posted!

A lot of people really want to know what's going on.

George

[Antivirus_man]

I liked your site, you are very interesting to write. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!