A national casting search is currently underway for the upcoming Netflix feature film ‘The Half Of It‘. The story follows a woman named Ellie Chu who feels isolated and friendless in her remote, backwater town of Squahamish, where she makes some much-needed extra cash penning homework papers for her fellow high school students. But when Ellie reluctantly agrees to play Cyrano for lovelorn footballer Paul, who has fallen hard for Aster, daughter of the school’s deacon, it becomes an unexpected journey of discovery for all three, who form a complicated triangle of friendship as they come to terms with their own unexpected feelings about love.
The Half of It was featured on the 2018 Black List, and is scheduled to start production in April 2019. Alice Wu is not only the writer for the feature, but the director and a producer as well. Anthony Bregman (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Foxcatcher), Mary Jane Skalski (The Station Agent, The Visitor), and Blair Breard (Wanted, The Drop) are also producing Netflix has made it clear that they want fresh faces for this project and are looking to cast the following three lead roles.
ELLIE – 17, female, Chinese-American. American-born but must speak Mandarin in a few scenes. Serious, funny, extremely bright, a deep thinker. Endearingly awkward, with a certain coltish appeal. Quick with wry banter. Bonus if she can sing and play the piano and/or guitar. (LEAD)
PAUL – 17, male, Caucasian. Tall, rugged, working-class meathead with a deeply honest quality. Third-string running back for his high school football team. Paul may not be great with words, but he’s a surprisingly sensitive and insightful individual once you get past his doltish exterior. (LEAD)
ASTER – 17, female, Mexican-American or Latina. That girl in class who manages to be both smart and popular and beautiful – and yet no one begrudges her for it, mostly because she is also so incredibly kind. Playfully charming, artistic, struggling to make sense of what life holds in store for her. Bonus if a confident singer. (LEAD)
Filming will take place in New York between April and June 2019.
Those who are interested in submitting for the above roles must send in your submissions at the official casting website https://www.castittalent.com/The_Half_of_It_2019
**Submission Deadline: March 1st, 2019 (6:00pm PST)
Source: Cast It Talent