Extras Casting Call: The Assassination of Jesse James

Originally published in the Edmonton Journal, July 19, 2005
NOTE: Extras casting location information at the bottom of the article.

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Old-school extras needed for Pitt's local scenes

RICK McCONNELL
Journal Culture Writer
EDMONTON

Wanted: Hundreds of men, women and children who dream of seeing themselves on the silver screen in a big-budget Hollywood film.

Reward: $9 an hour — and perhaps the chance to see Brad Pitt, up close and in person.

Be on the lookout for an open casting call being held Sunday in Edmonton to hire extras for a movie about the life and death of outlaw Jesse James. Shooting is scheduled to start Aug. 29 and wrap up by December, with scenes filmed in or around Edmonton and Calgary, and perhaps Winnipeg and Montreal.

Few details have been released about the movie, based on the Ron Hansen novel The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.

What is certain is Brad Pitt will play Jesse James, and hundreds of extras will be needed to help recreate the town of St. Joseph, Mo., where the train and bankrobber was murdered in 1882, and Creede, Colo., the mining camp where Robert Ford was assassinated a decade later.

At least 600 men, women and children are needed for non-speaking roles, says Louise Mackiewicz of The Casting Line Canada Inc., who has done casting work on several films, including Open Range, Shanghai Noon and Mystery, Alaska.

Since the Jesse James movie is set in the 1880s and 1890s, men with "great character looks, especially facial hair," and women with long hair will be particularly prized, Mackiewicz says.

It's not known yet exactly when the Edmonton filming will be done, or even where.

"We will be in the Edmonton area for a three-week period," Mackiewicz says. "Some of our biggest scenes may require upwards of 350 people for one day."

It's thought some scenes will be shot at Fort Edmonton Park, where 1885 Street has buildings that would fit the time period.

The town of Creede, high in the mountains west of Denver, may be harder to recreate.

"They're looking at building a town on Fortress Mountain in K-Country," Mackiewicz says.

The movie is being directed by Andrew Dominik and produced by Pitt's company. Plan B Films, in conjunction with Scott Free Productions, owned by directors Ridley and Tony Scott.

There are more than a dozen speaking parts. Principal casting is being handled out of Calgary by Deb Green Casting. Green was in Vancouver this week looking for actors, including someone to play Robert Ford.

Edmonton's open casting call will be held Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Ramada Inn and Conference Centre at 11834 Kingsway Ave.

rmcconnell@theiournal.canwest.com