Prospective extras attended a casting session Nov. 4 for the movie Go With Me, starring Sir Anthony Hopkins, Ray Liotta and Julia Stiles.

(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)

EXTRAS ASKED IF THEY CAN GROW A BEARD FOR SIR ANTHONY HOPKINS FILM

ENDERBY - Some locals would grow a beard—or shave one off—for the chance to act in the film Go With Me, starring Oscar-winning actor Sir Anthony Hopkins.

Facial hair was just one topic on a list of questions movie staff asked over 100 prospective extras at a casting session Tuesday evening. Residents from all over the Okanagan with a range of acting experiences showed up to the session after hearing about a search for local extras. Trevor Burylo, from Armstrong, said he couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

“I thought it would be a cool life experience to try it out,” he said. “I’m curious to see how movies are made and what it feels like to be an extra.”

The casting department put out a call for tough-looking extras, mill workers and town folk over the age of 30 for the movie. The dark thriller, which also stars Ray Liotta and Julia Stiles, will be filmed exclusively in the North Okanagan over the next two months. To get the right look for the film, extras were asked a number of questions.

“She asked me how quickly I can grow a beard,” Burylo said. “I said well, I can grow it in a couple weeks or so.”

Those hoping for a spot in the movie were also asked if they own a hard hat, work pants and a safety vest. The film is based off a best-selling novel about a young woman who returns to her hometown and is harassed by an ex-cop turned crime-lord. The town folk turn on her, and the sheriff advises her to get out of town, but instead she turns to an ex-logger, played by Hopkins, to help her fight back against her sociopathic stalker.

Brothers Braden and Taylor Matejka were asked if they would consider shaving to get a part. For the chance to be in a film with Anthony Hopkins, the answer was yes. Casting staff said Braden might work as a body double in a driving scene so the main actor doesn’t have to do it, and was told to expect a call on Friday.

Applicants didn’t have to read lines or speak in length about their acting experience—they merely had to answer a few questions, fill out a form with their information, and get a headshot taken by the casting crew. If selected, extras were told they’d be paid for the work, but would need to be available on short notice.

The call attracted professional actors from across the region, but many locals attended solely out of curiosity about the big Hollywood film coming to their small town. Raymond Lavoie and his wife wanted to see what the casting call was all about.

“We’re movie buffs,” Lavoie said. “We love him (Hopkins) to pieces. I’ve seen all his movies. We certainly didn’t come hoping to get a part, but I guess you never know."

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

News from © iNFOnews, 2014