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Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Report on: “DIVERGENT” -- getting URGENT (to start FILMING in Chicago)!...



2013, 02-12:

Report on:  DIVERGENT --  getting URGENT (to start FILMING in Chicago)!...


      Chicago has been “a-buzz” with news that a book called “DIVERGENT would be made into a FILM to be shot there this April thru July, directed by NEIL BURGER (who previously helmed the films THE ILLUSIONIST [2006], his self-written THE LUCKY ONES [2008], & Bradley Cooper in LIMITLESS [2011;  a Review of that can be found at =  http://voice-of-film.blogspot.com/2011/03/review-of-film-limitless.html ]…)…

   Here’s some “BACKGROUND”, “FOREground” & “FUTURE-ground” on the story:

  On May 3, 2011, a hardcover book called “DIVERGENT” was released, authored by a woman named VERONICA ROTH, who’d lived most of her life in Chicago (where the book was “set”)…  The “tagline” of the book was “One choice can TRANSFORM you.”… 

  Ms. Roth posted the following [-- with emphasis added by me --] about her story (as seen in her web blog at http://www.veronicarothbooks.blogspot.se/ ):

  In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—  

...  CANDOR ( = the HONEST )...    


 
...  ABNEGATION ( = the SELFLESS )...

               














...  DAUNTLESS ( = the BRAVE )...




...  AMITY ( = the PEACEFUL )...



...  And ERUDITE ( = the INTELLIGENT )…



“ ... On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the REST of their lives. For Beatrice [Prior], the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is— she can't have both. So she makes a choice that SURPRISES everyone, including herself
 
” …  During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself TRIS and struggles to determine who her FRIENDS really are. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean DEATH

“ …  And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her SAVE those she loves… or it might DESTROY her… ”

  Ms. Roth also wrote THIS on her blog site:

“ …  Hi. I wrote DIVERGENT and [as released in 2012, the 2nd book entitled] INSURGENT (Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins). I'm in the process of writing the as-yet-untitled third book in the [trilogy] series (which will be released sometime in Fall 2013)…

  Filming for the Divergent movie will be happening in the spring-- in Chicago! I am beyond happy that this worked out. I love Chicago. I've lived here for most of my life, and the city was obviously a huge inspiration for the books. I can't really express how cool it is that the city represented in the movie will be the actual city that I love… 

“ …  They’re also reporting that this could create something like 1,000 local jobs and put some money into the Chicago economy, which makes me extra happy.”

  In time, it was confirmed that the lead role of “TRIS” would be played by SHAILENE WOODLEY, a beautiful 21-year-old actress (pictured below) who was nominated for a Golden Globe [as Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture] for her role as George Clooney’s oldest daughter in the 2011 film THE DESCENDANTS” (a REVIEW of which can be found at this link http://voice-of-film.blogspot.com/2011/11/review-of-film-descendants-info-on-what.html )...


  Ms Roth made these comments about the situation [again, with emphasis by me]:

“ …  Tris does not look like an action hero-- she looks like a slight person with youthful, delicate features, someone who shocks you with how strong and capable she becomes…


“ …  To me, that is exactly the look SHAILENE has, exactly the look I've always had in my mind. From what I've seen, I'm confident she will be able to capture Tris's particular mixture of vulnerability and strength, and that surprising moment when a seemingly unremarkable girl from Abnegation transforms into a powerful yet flawed young woman… “


...  It's been stated that KATE WINSLET has been confirmed for some as-yet-undetailed major role in the movie (tho it's been rumored it might be as Natalie Prior, mother of Tris & Caleb)...
 

...  Kate had massive fame in 1997's mega-blockbuster "TITANIC"...  She was seen as April Wheeler in 2008's "REVOLUTIONARY ROAD" (a mini review of which can be seen at = http://voice-of-film.blogspot.com/2011/02/review-of-film-revolutionary-road.html )...


...  And, she was Dr. Erin Mears in 2011's "CONTAGION" (a review of which can be seen at = http://voice-of-film.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-of-film-contagion-with-matt.html  )...   



  As I write this, it’s rumored that LUKE KLEINTANK may play the role of Tris’ exceptionally intelligent older brother CALEB who at one point is in the ERUDITE faction…


  Luke started acting at age 5, & has been in 17 episodes of THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS as Noah Newman in 2010-11, 7 episodes of “GOSSIP GIRL as Elliot Leichter in 2010-11, in 8 episodes of NO ORDINARY FAMILYas Chris Minor in 2011, & currently in 6 BONES episodes as Finn Abernathy in 2011-13


...  At this point, I haven’t seen anything “concrete” about the casting of another main book character called TOBIAS "FOUR" EATON – a tall originally-“ABNEGATION” person 2 years older than Tris who has deep blue eyes, short dark hair, & who’s important because he becomes her instructor + (here’s a ”shock”:) LOVE interest…


  Speaking of “gossip”, that & current “NEWS” can be seen about the subject of “DIVERGENT” at the website of:  http://www.divergentfans.com/ … 


...  On that website, First Jumper reported in late January (as seen at http://www.divergentfans.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=casting+rumor ) that a You Tube video had been seen wherein CHANDLER MASSEY had auditioned for the "DIVERGENT" role of blonde-haired WILL (who's a good friend of Tris)...


...  Chandler was born 09-10-90 in Atlanta.  After doing numerous Drama Club roles in high school there, he started college at UCLA...


...  While in Los Angeles, he performed in various TV roles (including "ONE TREE HILL" in 2009), & was promptly hired to play the role of Will Horton in more than 350 episodes of NBC's soap opera "DAYS OF OUR LIVES" from 2010 into 2013...



...  Playing that character garnered him a 2011 EMMY nomination as Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series...  While he didn't win that, he DID win that same category in 2012...

...  He played the role of Farrell Gambles in the 2012 film "16-LOVE", & portrays Angelo in "JESUS IN COWBOY BOOTS" scheduled for a 2013 release...

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        As time went on, ATMOSPHERE CASTING ( https://www.facebook.com/AtmosphereCasting?fref=ts ) was assigned as the operation that would be in charge of handling EXTRAS casting for the “DIVERGENT” movie being filmed around the Chicago area…

  Due to the crush of interest & attendant questions, ATMOSPHERE found it necessary to state the following in part when eventually announcing a planned February 11 open “CASTING CALL” for the film (with the emphasis below being mine):

“ …  We do not make the rules. We are employees of this production. If they say ILLINOIS residents only [can be hired as extras]’, then we can only use IL residents…  [They have come to this State in part because of  tax CREDITS the State offers productions for hiring its residents.]…

“ …  Do WE as a casting company WANT to exclude anyone? NO we don't...it limits our choices and excludes [some] people that we like working with....but guess what...we have no choice.

 “ …  Also you really all should be aware of the content of this film. There are MULTITUDES of webpages out there devoted to the book series this is based on. If you are really interested in working on this...be a little pro-active and research WHAT this project is. It[’]s set in the future, in a decimated, limited resource society. Everyone that works as an extra will have to be dressed in COSTUME. Dressing all the extras in costumes again limits our casting choices, because the people we cast have to fit the clothes… ”
           
“ ...  Primarily we are looking for NEW people at the CASTING CALL…

“ …  If you're registered and haven't worked recently or only worked sporadically or we haven't personally met you...it would be in your best interest to attend so that we can see you in person

“ …  If you have worked with us a lot and we know who you are, we probably already have you in mind for something if it fits. You do not need to attend…

“ …  If you specifically fit one of the categories that we are looking for, you should ATTEND the CASTING CALL, regardless of whether we know you or not… ”

“ …  I will say this for now [on 01-16-13] though, the majority of the extras in this film will be between 18-24, thin, athletic, mixed ethnicity but mostly Caucasian… ”

“ ...  We are looking for ALL TYPES, ALL AGES (16+ only), ALL ETHNICITY in addition to the specific things we listed [below as to the Categories]...
     
“ ...  The open call will be held [on] Saturday, February 9, 2013 from 10:00AM to 3:00PM at CINESPACE – Chicago Film Studios.

CINESPACE - Chicago Film Studios
2602 W. 16TH Street, 2nd Floor
Chicago, IL 60608

Atmosphere Casting will be LOOKING for the following:

● People with a “ruralfarm hand look
● People with military, weapons or martial arts training
● People with stunt and/or stage combat training
● People with a “hippie” or Bohemian look. Longer hair preferred (both men and women)
● People with visible tattoos and/or piercings
● Ages 16 and up, all ethnicities

“ Plenty of free parking [is] located in the lot across the street from CINESPACE – Chicago Film Studios.

 “ While photos will be taken of everyone who attends the open casting call, participants are asked to also bring a candid photo of themselves, approximately 4x6 in size, and be sure to legibly print their name, phone number and email address on the back it.

“ Only
ILLINOIS residents are eligible to participate in the open casting call. Please bring your Illinois issued driver's license or state ID. School IDs are not sufficient. This will be checked before entering the casting call… ”

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  A number of people I know --  some of whom have WORKED for ATMOSPHERE in the past – decided to attend  the Casting Call, in part so they would be less likely to possibly be “OVERLOOKED” in the expected crush of their seeing a bunch of “NEW” faces…

  Because of the very strong online interest shown in the Casting Call, I & others expected they’d open up the Casting Call EARLY (& probably also stay somewhat later than listed) to try to effectively handle the throng of likely attendees

  Here’s my REPORT on the Casting Call:

  After some recent snow, the February 11th day dawned partly SUNNY & without precipitation…  But, it was very COLD, around 28o F., & periodically windy… 

  I’d “planned ahead”, being bundled in some thermal clothes (which turned out to be very WISE, as some people— like the man directly ahead of me in line — didn’t even wear any CAP to cover their soon-frozen ears & the like)…

...  I went there with my longtime friend ED BUCHALO.  He’s been doing “Background” (extra) acting since the TV show “EARLY EDITION” which filmed in Chicago from 1996-2000 (& he acted as a stand-in for Tim Kazurinski in that)…

  Plus, he worked on the films “ROAD TO PERDITION” in 2001, Altman’s THE COMPANYin 2002, “OCEANS 12in 2004, THE DARK KNIGHTwhich filmed in 2008, & “TRANSFORMERS 3in 2009…  He also worked with me in CONTAGIONfilmed in 2010, + on the Indian feature film “DHOOM 3” filmed in the Chicago area last summer…



  Ed (seen in the middle of the photo below, looking at the camera) & I arrived for the day’s Casting Call around 8:52 am, & found there were already 100+ people in line (as you can see in the PHOTO above) for the 10 am start of the sign-up & PHOTO-TAKING...    


  People busied themselves by talking and “networking” as they stood in line… (Below, you can see the people AHEAD of us in the line…)


  But, as we later found out (after getting increasingly COLD as we stood in line), they unexpectedly did NOT open up significantly early, not letting any attendees INSIDE the main structure until 9:55 am...  (Below, you can see the people BEHIND us in the line…)


  Security let us inside the CineSpace building in groups of like 25 at a time…  As Atmosphere had “cautioned”, there was a man at the entrance to the 2nd floor large room who wouldn’t allow you to enter the room until you showed some STATE-issued I.D. from
Illinois


  Two ladies sat at a table just inside the door, & handed everyone a packet of PAPERS:  a numbered Registration” form, which they said needed to be used to “match-up” with the numbered PHOTOS they’d be taking of everyone…  And, some info about the upcoming “DIVERGENTproduction, with helpful background-acting terminology, etc….



  Atmosphere had done a fine job of “PREPARING” for the attendees:  one small section was set-off for people with some “MILITARY” background, plus a large “main” area…

  Both areas had a number of TABLES, with pens to help people fill-out the Registration forms…  At times, Atmosphere’s JON KINNAS (seen at the center of the photos, including over the right shoulder of a man in the top one below) gave some general “EXPLANATIONS” to people about how to complete the forms & where to “line-up” afterwards & all…  



  One small line for those who’d completed the Registration form was for people with a “military” background (which they were especially interested in having due to the nature of the story), & a much larger line for “everyone ELSE”…



  The line moved forward quickly, as 3 ladies were set up at a table at the head of the line to GATHER the Registration forms…  Altho one sign said “Female”, that lady helped ANY gender that came up next in line, as long as she was free…


  As some still worked to fill-out their forms at tables (as seen below), the ladies very efficiently not only took the completed Registration forms, but  they also stapled together any SUPPORTING additional documentation an attendee provided (such as personal PHOTOS brought in, any expanded Registration info, etc.)…


  We were then directed to the rear of the room where PHOTOS were being shot...



...  Two young men (including BILLY SURGES, seen below on the right) were taking special PHOTOS to go with the Registration forms that had been turned-in…
 
 
 …  They had a white board they filled-in with the NUMBERS assigned to each attendee when they entered, which they had each person HOLD-UP beside them as they planned for the PHOTOS they wanted to take…


  The guys seemed to work to sort of “MATCH” people to an “idea” they’d gotten of “where” a person might “FIT-IN” to certain elements (roles) they knew the production was “LOOKING” for in some way:


 …  With me, they wanted separate shots both with & without wearing eyeglasses.  The sort of curly-haired young man working with me asked for poses of me both smiling & (for some reason or “character”) with my putting on what he requested as a "DOWNTRODDEN" / sad look (possibly seeing me as a "RURAL person"?...)...  Thus, there was a total of 4 photos taken of me (& seemingly everyone)…

  My friend ED was registered as # 130 for their photos.  He was asked to pose with & without his thin glasses, & the photographer said he sort of looked like he could be a "SCIENTIST" with them...  (I don't know if they were searching for certain "looks" for character "groups"... )

...  After the photos were taken, before leaving the building, we went down to the Rest Room area…  There, I chanced to meet a lady who immediately said she’d recognized me from working together on a bitterly cold October 7, 2012 overnite film-shoot for the Indian film "DHOOM 3" at NAVY PIER...

  The world of doingBackground” film work can be sort of a “”COMMUNITY”:  Near the Restrooms, I also was greeted by my friend LISA WUNDER...  We’d worked together on that same Navy Pier shoot, plus on September 5th for
CHICAGO FIRE” episode 5 (”Hanging On’), and on September 27 for the indie film “WARREN” (where we & other acting friends had a fine time together)…

  She related how she was one of the 1st people who’d been in line waiting for like 2 hours to get in!...  As she put it, it was FREEZING COLD!!”, and My hands are still freezing and my feet barely warming up... ”  

  Lisa told me that, once inside, she’d told them how she had a “military” background  they were “looking” for--  but, they’d DECLINED to put her in the “military” line or to give her any of the “coloredSTARS which seemingly designated such people on the Registration forms… She commented, I think they were looking for under 30 …for this type of--role…

  At one point, Lisa kindly accepted my request to pose for a PHOTO of her & Ed (as shown below)…  


...  When I told her what kind of special “candid” PHOTOS the hired guys had taken of me inside, she said, she ALSO had been asked to use a “DOWNTRODDEN” / sad“ type pose-- again, with no explanation from the photographer of “why”!...

  Since I was about to go back outside into the cold, I put on my cold-air face mask to get ready to leave the place and walked towards the front door on the entrance level to the building…

  Once there, I was immediately "recognized" & greeted by my co-actor friend FRANK GAGLIARDO, who was waiting at the bottom of the stairs on the first floor, prepared to go upstairs to the Registration area…

  Frank has been a periodic “background” actor since way back in 1992.  We’ve worked together on the indie “CTRL + LIFE + DELETE” (on June 4), various segments of “DHOOM 3” (including October 24 at the Shedd Aquarium), “THE ONION: DR. GOOD” episodes (Nov. 5), & “CHICAGO FIRE” Episode 17 “Better To Lie” (Feb. 11)…

  I also was greeted by OTHER acting friends who were there WITH Frank:  OTIS BREWER III, Niko D'AnTe Miller, & CLAY REEVES (all of whom worked with me on the afore-mentioned “WARREN indie film, + they were in various segments of “DHOOM 3”)...

(…  In addition, I also worked with OTIS on “The MOB DOCTOR” episode 8 “Game Changerson October 19, + in “THE ONION: DR. GOOD” episodes on November 5)…

  I shot a PHOTO of the group (shown below) of the actor friends in the lower hallway at the Casting Call, namely, (left-to-right below), of Frank, Otis, Niko & Clay…


  In the hallway, they talked about how COLD it had been waiting in line for like 1.25 hours or so.  When asked, I told what they could “expect” at the upstairs Registration, including how unusually EFFICIENT & smoothly things had gone there…

  Later, Frank reported he’d been Photo # 296 in the Registration process--  & how things had indeed gone efficiently & all…  He said, they were not interested in the fact he --  quite some time back --  had had a MILITARY background…

  They’d also done a series of PHOTOS of him, tho things were “UNCLEAR” re what they were trying to “GET” with them by the “poses” they’d requested…

...  About a 1/2 hour after Ed & I had LEFT the Casting Call, I was called by COOKIE SANTUCCI who was still outside in the Casting Call line...  (We’d worked together on December 4th in the Warm & Deadepisode 13 of CHICAGO FIRE”…)


  Cookie reported that she'd had to wait like 1.5 hours to get inside the Casting Call, & eventually was given a photo Registration number like 960...  She agreed, it was a capably–run process once upstairs--  tho she also couldn’t understand the “WHY” of the specific PHOTOS that were taken of her, as the “choice” of poses seemed very “arbitrary” to our “outside” view…

  Late that nite, I got a call from my friend SHARON KLABER.  She said, she'd arrived at the Casting Call shortly before the 3 pm scheduled "CUT-OFF" time--  & they initially tried to STOP her & others in her group from going upstairs to the Registration area!...  


...  Like others there in line, she complained that she'd arrived BEFORE the "stop time” listed, plus had taken a CAB to get there!  After that complaint by her & others, they finally allowed her & her "group" to go upstairs & SIGN-UP (with her being photo Registration # 1469)!...



...  She reported to me that one of the ladies at the Registration table for some reason put 2 colored STARS on her form...  

...  When she got to the Photo-taking section, she was asked to pose as a "poor tired FARMER" & then as a "drunk HIPPIE", including poses with her SCARVES on, and eyeglasses both on and off...  She also was asked if she'd be willing to dye her hair, & asked to please NOT CUT her hair at this point...
 
  ATMOSPHERE CASTING (which ran the Casting Call) eventually reported that, tho they’d expected & hoped for like 1200 people, there were more than 1500 people who’d showed-up at the Casting Call (which means they handled like 300 per hour re filling-out forms & having new PHOTOS taken)...  

  There’s a lot of “disagreements” & “RUMORS” being bandied about re the Call for the “DIVERGENT” film (which is seemingly called “DVR Productions”):

  A bunch of differing opinions can be read on-line about what it “means” to have received --  or NOT received – a certain colored “STAR” on their Registration form, what the photos taken “MEAN” or are likely to mean, etc…

  In chapter 3 of Veronica Roth’s “DIVERGENT” book, it says, “The truth has a way of CHANGING people’s plans…”

  I’m reminded of a comment posted on the divergentfans.com web-site by a lady named “Savanna”.  She related that: I was given a red star at the casting call [a star color which some people said was supposedly a ‘sign’ of being scheduled for a “COMBAT” role in the film,] but I clearly indicated I didn't have any [military] TRAINING

“ …  For my picture they asked for an "adorable" pose in addition to a regular one[,] so I think it had to do something with [my being scheduled for the] Amity [faction]…” 

  I’d offer the “tip” that it’s TOO EARLY in the process to be very “sure” about much of ANYTHING:  Let’s hope that ALL get some worthwhile WORK out of the Casting process…  

  But, at this stage, the photo-takers and “STAR-givers” & the like are not the people who’ll be making FINAL DECISIONS about specific CASTING choices & actions!…

  You’re free to “dream” & “suppose” about the upcoming filming--  but, best to be PATIENT & WAIT for more concreteSPECIFICS” about what’s wanted & planned…  And, be prepared for regular (& likely last-minute) “CHANGES” here & there!...   

  It’s quite possible I’ll be offering some “UPDATES” in the future about the process proceeding re the filming of DIVERGENT”…

  And then, possibly, there may even be coverage on the filming of the SECOND book in the series, “INSURGENT(whose tagline is “One choice can DESTROY you…)”…


  Be “PREPARED” for almost anything, Folks!...


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