Casting company seeks extras for Gerard Butler film

Gerard Butler is coming to Savannah, and is seeking his next up-and-coming local hopeful star to stand beside him and his cast as they shoot their new movie.

Or, perhaps they’re just seeking a theatrical production fan looking to see the inner workings of a movie set. Whichever dream people are looking to chase, the opportunity is here.

“I think that the opportunity to be on a movie set is always a good thing because you get to see how people work together,” said Bill Marinella of Bill Marinella Casting, Inc. “When you’re sitting in holding and when you’re on set, just before they say ‘Rolling,’ you get to see how every department is communicating, and that’s very important.”

Marinella’s casting company is looking for stand-ins to portray police officers in a film set in modern-day and also seeking “Breaking Bad-character types” to cast as “paranoids” in the film.

The production is an action-driven show with some really, really interesting characters, Marinella said.

“Even the extras, even the background performers are part of the genetic makeup of the whole show,” Marinella said.

For the stand-ins, interested persons must have two weeks of complete availability. The pay is $175 for 12 hours, plus $40 for taking the COVID-19 test before the work date of May 15.

For the “paranoids,” the job is a four-day call and the pay is $96 for eight hours, plus overtime and $40 for the testing before May 24.

“We’re also paying more than most productions,” Marinella said. “I think it’s a great experience for people to try at least one time.”

Once applicants are in the system, all they have to do is upload their photos, Marinella said. Their measurements remain in the system and only require updates every six months.

“These shows are now migrating to Savannah,” Marinella said. “The word that I’m hearing is that the backdrop of Savannah, people are kind of liking that small town city feel.”

The casting for each production is different, especially in costume which yields the need for all different types of people for the roles.

Through his work in the film industry, Marinella said he’s gone through four eras in one year.

“I went through the Korean War; I went through WWII; I went through the Civil Rights and now modern day,” Marinella said. “Every year has a different waistline. I get to tell people, ‘You get to dress like your grandfather.’ It’s fun to get people involved.”

His casting company is looking for all varieties of people.

“We don’t have enough young people, and we don’t have enough people with lots of wardrobe options like we might in a more metropolitan area,” he said. “Even if they have a day job or a flexible schedule or are unemployed, we just want them to apply.”

Marinella also noted the Savannah College of Art and Design had been incredibly accommodating in letting their students come out and perform as extras. He said the experience can be incredibly informing for students.

“I know at least 20 people that started as an extra that are now teamsters, that are now craft service people, set medics and producers and actors,” Marinella said. “Personally, me, put them on set for the very first time and they are now working on a daily basis as a teamster, a captain — it’s really an incredible way to get a feel for the business.”

Bill Marinella Casting, Inc. casts for shows all over the country. He said he is constantly looking for people to work on production sets. To submit for stand ins, visit kaast.app/bmc/2021-chase-stand-in-open-call; to submit for paranoids, visit kaast.app/bmc/5-24-2021and to be entered into the KAAST database, visit kaast.app/signup. Visit billmarinellacasting.com for information.