A casting call has gone out seeking various types to work on the upcoming movie adaptation of the play “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” for Netflix. Set to star are Academy Award winner Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman. According to Variety, Denzel Washington is producing with Todd Black and Dany Wolf. Constanza Romero is executive producing. George C. Wolfe (“Lackawanna Blues”) will direct from a script by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, based on the award-winning play by August Wilson. Academy Award winner Ann Roth is the costume designer and Branford Marsalis has been signed as the composer.
The story centers on Ma Rainey, the pioneering “Queen of the Blues,” during the time she is making a record in a studio in Chicago in 1927 with tensions boiling between her, her white agent and producer and her bandmates. The play won the 1985 New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best American Play.
Filming will take place starting in early July and go into August in the Pittsburgh area. The casting director is currently seeking local diverse talent to work on the feature film as paid background extras, standins and possible featured talent:
- General Extras – Seeking African-American Men Ages 18+ with classic natural hair styles and haircuts. Women who are dress sizes 0-6 are preferred. Men who are Suit sizes 38-44. No ear gauges or facial piercings. No facial/neck tattoos. Needed to work on Monday, July 29th in the East Hills area of Pittsburgh so you must have a car to get to set. It will be an EARLY morning call-time and last for 12-14 hours so must have ENTIRE day free with no appointments or conflicts. Pays $10 per hour for the first 8 hours and time and half after that! You also must be available for a brief wardrobe fitting. Hair is very important on this film. Must be willing to have hair or facial hair cut or trimmed, if needed to fit the time period. Please put “JULY 29” in the email subject line.
- Female Standin– Seeking African American female – Ages 30-58. Dark complexion. Height 5’6-5’7.5. Ideally a size 6-8. Put “STANDIN 1” in the subject line when submitting.
- Male Standin – Seeking African American Male – Ages 30s-early 50s. 6’1-6’2.5. Dark complexion. Put “STANDIN 3” in the subject line when submitting.
- Male Standin– Seeking African American Male – Ages 60s-Early 80s. 5’11-6’0.5. Dark complexion. Put “STANDIN 4” in the subject line when submitting.
- Male Standin – Seeking African American Male – Ages 30s-50s. 5’7-5’8.5. Dark complexion. Put “STANDIN 5” in the subject line when submitting.
- Male Standin – African American Male – Ages 18-30. 5’6-5’7.5. Put “STANDIN 9” in the subject line when submitting.
If interested in submitting to work on his project please email a CURRENT photo to mosserextras@gmail.com so that we can see how your hair and facial hair look at the moment. INCLUDE YOUR NAME, PHONE NUMBER, LOCATION AND AGE AS WELL AS THE REQUESTED SIZES BELOW.
*No hats, sunglasses or filters. Please put “JULY 12” as the subject line. **Must be fully available Morning through late evening every day, typical 12-14 hour shoot days
FOR MEN:
-Height
-Weight
-Suit jacket size:
-Neck size:
-Shirt sleeve:
-Waist:
-Inseam:
-Shoe
FOR WOMEN:
-Height
-Weight
-Dress size:
-Bust & Cup:
-Waist:
-Hips:
-Shoe:
To those submitting for standin positions it is important to note that you must have AMAZING availability between July 8-August 16 (weekdays only). Rate is $168/12, time and a half after that. Typical 12-14 hour days. Must have a car to get to set.
Source: Nancy Mosser Casting (Pittsburgh)