Greetings!
Just a quick fly-by here. The wrap party for “Paranoid Park” was last weekend; it was really fun to see all the kids and meet their parents, reconnect with the crew, and celebrate our hard work. Can’t wait to see how the film turns out! Sounds like the shoot went exceptionally well, so everyone’s excited to see the results.
We’re starting on a new feature film for Lakeshore Entertainment, “Untraceable”” starring Diane Lane. Have got several other independent films underway and the usual slew of commercial clients. It’s a conveyer belt!
I shot down to LA last week to do some casting down there and got to drop in on a few casting directors I know and catch up with friends. Had to cut my trip short, though, when I heard the wrap party was moved to Saturday: After 14 weeks on Paranoid Park, I wasn’t going to miss that, so I flew back early to attend!
Oh, and we’ve finally entered the digital age and got our new website up and running. It’s mainly geared towards clients, but kinda fun to check out. I hope I don’t get an onslaught of emails from actors in Romania and Venezuela, wanting us to cast them in our next Lottery commercial….it doesn’t really work like that, guys! If you’re not local, it’s not likely we can use you. 
Later,
Lana
Love the new site!
And next time you are in LA let me buy you a cuppa joe… Although it won’t be as good as you get up in Portland. I used to visit Portland once a year in November to hang with a friend or two and drink all the coffee and beer I could manage in three days.
Your website looks great Lana! Keep up the good work.
)
So if I’m a local teen, junior out at Aloha High School and have a pretty strong background acting wise, how do I sign up with you guys.
Thanks for the feedback, Jonathan and Audrey!
Anonymous: We’re not a talent agency, so you can’t “sign up” with us, but if you have a headshot and resume, you can always send it for our files. Our address is on our website at http://www.slateplease.com.
It’s about time you got a website. Looks great. Welcome to the innernetverse
Thanks, Trash!
Lana
Hi again Lana, ya know I keep a bot on your blog waiting to hear what you have to say next. I am gaining some useful tips from you.
I know you said that if one is not local… however, you personally have a list of creds that make it seem like you live on the Tarmac at the local Airport. HaHa. You have cast stuff from Portland for NY DC Philly etc. Well, since I live on the “right” coast, I can audition and book for the stuff that you do here; at least until I get that Call; then I will be only a few steps from your doors.
Glad you got your site up and running, easy, minimal and the SWF does not eat up all your bandwith!! Very Cool.
Wil take you up on sending my stuff to you at slateplease. BTW Blue is probably my fav color.
Be well… see you on the set.
I am glad that the movie was a success and many teens got the chance to participate. However, I am disappointed in how Extras Only called many teenagers and told them they were “one of a few hundred hand-selected” teens out of the 3,000 who auditioned who were submitted to the production for the movie. The message made it sound like if these “hand-selected” teens called right away and said they were fully available, they had the job. They were asked to keep 4 shoot dates fully open and not to worry if they didn’t hear from them until the day before the shoot.
My son and friends did just that, and they were prompt with calling back, but they never got a call back to shoot the high school scene. It was an extreme disappointment! My husband thought the Extras Only recording sounded like some kind of scam, even though I tried to convince him otherwise. Now, I am not so sure. I know what you are going to say, “That’s show business. etc., but if you listen to the hotline number the teens were given, it sounded as if they were pretty much cast if they called back to confirm they were available.
Anyway, good luck to all the cast! I hope the movie turns out well.
Hi J Emerson,
Just make sure your local casting directors have your materials. If I swing through town, I’d be contacting them to help cast.
Cheers!
Lana
Anonymous,
I’m sorry you had that experience. The extras company may not have known that production wasn’t going to use everyone who confirmed their availability, and I’m sure once they turned the files over, they had no idea who was ultimately selected.
That being said, they probably should have made it more clear that nothing was for sure until the teens received a firm booking from production.
We don’t do extras casting ourselves, but I imagine it would be difficult to call and release from avail all those who weren’t chosen. It’s hard enough to find time to call those who are! But if it had been made clearer from the beginning that it wasn’t a sure deal, perhaps the teens would have been more prepared for the let-down.
I’m sure there will be more opportunities for them in the future, if they keep their eyes peeled!
Lana
BTW, J Emerson: We don’t accept emailed headshots and resumes, only hard copies by post. FYI.
Thanks!
Lana