When the cameras start rolling in September for the new series, Wayward Pines, a lot of locals will be put to work.
Dozens of extras will be needed each day of shooting, depending on the scenes being shot. To gather up enough diverse faces, shapes and ages, the production company held a casting call on Saturday afternoon in Harrison Hot Springs.
Hundreds of people waited in line throughout the four hour casting session, from the very young, to the elderly. And all had different reasons for wanting to take part in the filming.
Nial Harrison-Morry, 22, is a fourth year UFV theatre student. And while he's had plenty of experience on stage, he's hoping to add film work to his acting resume.
He head about the opportunity through the UFV Theatre Student Association Facebook page, and knew he had to give it a shot.
"I'm a student, so I'm hoping to earn money, but I'm interested in getting some film experience," he said.
Then there was Sheena Menzies, from Harrison Hot Springs. While she hasn't been involved in any sort of acting since she was in school, her adult daughter is involved in film. Menzies read the advertisement in the newspaper that morning, and decided to head down for the casting call.
Those hoping for their chance of extra work only had to fill out a short form detailing their size and shape, look, and ability to bring their own wardrobes.
They were then photographed, some in groups but mostly individually.
The protocol was nothing new to Rodney Harris, from Harrison Hot Springs.
Harris is an entertainer, and did extra work for 21 Jump Street, a television show shot in Vancouver with Johnny Depp.
Katie Schram is a local youth hoping to earn some screen experience. She's already been involved with the Chilliwack School of Performing Arts and loves musical theatre. She was photographed with her mom, Rebecca Schram.
"We're here for the experience of it," Rebecca said. "Katie really wanted to do it and I thought oh, why not?"
Ernst Hepnar was also in line. His son is a greens man in the movie industry, taking care of outdoor sets. When Hepnar called his son to tell him about the casting call for the Agassiz-shot TV show, his son urged him to go for it.
But it won't be the first time Hepnar was on film.
"In Austria when I was a kid, some American movies were shot there at that time," he said. "Vienna was occupied by the Americans. I spoke English fluently and that helped."
For those who do get the call back to be an extra, the instructions were handed out for wardrobe at the casting call. And it seems they won't just be sitting around in the background. Extras are required to bring a minimum of three full outfit changes each day to the set, including changes for accessories, hats, jackets and footwear.
The story line takes place in the fall in a mid-west small town, and all extra wardrobes are to be in autumnal earth tones.
Filming for Wayward Pines begins in September and runs sporadically through to February.
Featured in the dramatic series will be Matt Dillon and Carla Gugino.
news@ahobserver.com