As the father of a guitar-playing 12-year-old boy who probably wouldn't mind being in a real movie with a real movie star -- not to mention Will from the in-retrospect-wildly-underrated Land of the Lost remake and Rico from Hot Rod, because kids today -- the email that just dropped in the inbox interests me greatly.
Says the missive, Austin-based casting agent Vicky Boone -- formerly of the Dallas Theater Center and the Dallas Shakespeare Festival -- is coming to Dallas on October 3 to audition kiddos for a sizable part in the next film from the director of Observe and Report and co-creator of HBO's Eastbound & Down, Jody Hill. The movie stars Everest and Sicario's Josh Brolin and Eastbound's Danny McBride and comes with a curious title: Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter. But for now, at least, its plot has been kept under wraps. In fact, maybe the title's changed? The email from Boone says that for now, it's just "The Untitled Jody Hill Project."
Two things are certain: Boone's looking for someone to play Brolin's son Jaden, and it's a significant part (since, per her heads-up, it's a "father-son story"). Here's how they describe the role of Jaden: a "quirky kid who considers himself to be pretty cool, but there is definitely an awkward 12 year old boy quality that is hard to miss. Forced to go on a trip with his father, Jaden would rather be anywhere but." (Which seems like the plot of the movie, actually ...)
McBride co-wrote the film, which is being exec-produced by Richardson High School's own David Gordon Green, maker of art-house fare and stoner buddy pics. Scott Rudin, who's made a few movies you might have heard of, is producing.
The good news: Your son has to be between 11 and 13 -- though 12 is ideal. Boone says they're "open to all different types of looks and body types." But "out of shape kids are a plus," says her note. Another plus: the ability to play guitar. Now, for the good news: "We're very open to kids that have no acting experience." Except, says here, a Southern accent is "a must." And I don't think the casting call means kids should bring a copy of the Tom Petty record with 'em.
The casting call will take place Saturday from noon-5 p.m. at Brown Lane Studios on Regal Row off Stemmons. She says you don't need an appointment, but expect a long wait: "Kids will be seen on a first-come, first-seen basis."
If your kid's selected, be warned: "The film shoots in Asheville, North Carolina, from late October through late December 2015." So, ya know, school? But at least they'll be working: "If cast, compensation will be on the scale of professional actors."
