Hundreds of native teens lined the hallways and stairwells of Pauls Motor Inn this morning at a casting call for a film rumoured to be New Moon, the sequel to last years blockbuster Twilight.
Its an as-of-yet untitled major motion picture, said Bim Narine, an associate at Vancouvers Aikins/Cossey Casting. I cant confirm anything.
The New Moon rumours started a few weeks back when it was announced the film would be shot around Vancouver from mid-March to May. A Craigslist ad for the open casting calls, also in Vancouver, Kelowna and Calgary, featured similar language to that used by the films casting director, Rene Haynes, in U.S. casting calls seeking any Native American teens and young adults.
At this mornings Victoria casting call, hopefuls were told they needed to be 100 per cent First Nations/Aboriginal or would be turned away, and were asked about their ethnic backgrounds in brief, taped auditions.
Were not asking them to show their status cards, but they have to be aboriginal, said Narine, citing authenticity and a particular look as criteria for the minor speaking roles. Narine said the film will be shot in various locations, including Vancouver, Oregon and possibly a First Nations reserve.
New Moon, based on the book by Twilight series author Stephenie Meyer, is largely set on the La Push reservation of the Quiluete people in northern Washington. The storyline includes a group of young natives who are also shape-shifting werewolves.
The open casting call brought aboriginal youth from all over the Island to audition, most of them young women whod heard about it through the media.
Kayla Frank, 15, has read all the Twilight books and came all the way from Port Alberni to audition.
I really loved the books and the movie, said Frank, who is from the Ahousat First Nation.
Thirteen-year-old Chelsey Williams, who is Haida and Coast Salish, said one of her teachers at Bayside Middle School in Brentwood Bay suggested she try out for a part. She came with her mom, Connie Williams, who has read all four of the Twilight books.
I think [Meyer] did a good job of depicting First Nations, Connie Williams said. She must have done her research because the way the youth respect their elders and listen to them, and how everything centres around the family, its very true.
While Chelsey is still working to catch up to her mom in reading the books, she said her main motivation in auditioning for the film is to see Edward Cullen, the hunky vampire lead played by Brit Robert Pattinson.
What? I thought you liked Jacob, her mother said, referring to the films native heartthrob, Jacob Black, played by Taylor Lautner. Well, Im for Jacob, Williams added.
Jenn George, 24, drove to Victoria from Duncan with her brother Josiah George, 17, to audition at the insistence of family and friends.
Its cool because we dont get a lot of opportunities like this for First Nations actors, especially here, said Jenn George, who studied acting and works in radio. We have Adam Beach, our token Hollywood star, but we need more.