STOCKBRIDGE — A local production company is looking to cast an 11-12 year old boy for a leading role, as well as several male adult roles, for a short film to be shot in the Berkshires. The film is based on the Carson McCullers’ short story, “A Tree. A Rock. A Cloud.” and is being directed by award-winning actor and director, Karen Allen. Filming will take place over 6 days in late May and June in southern Berkshire County.
The film, which will be Allen’s film directorial debut, is based on one of her favorite short stories.
“I came across this story when I was in my early 20s,” she said. “As a young actor I was drawn to Carson McCullers as a playwright and novelist at first, and then began to read everything she’d written that I could get my hands on. ‘A Tree, A Rock, A Cloud’ always loomed large for me among her many short stories. It is a quiet, subtle, mysterious story. It sneaks up on you and has stayed indelibly etched in my imagination all these years.”
Already cast in the film are Jeff DeMunn (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, TV’s The Walking Dead, and many others) and James McMenamin (Orange is the New Black). Allen is hoping to cast the lead part of the young boy and several male adult roles locally. Allen is looking for a 11-12 year old boy who is a good listener, quiet and thoughtful. Previous professional acting experience is not necessary. The other adult roles include two male soldiers, ages 20-30 and mill workers, ages 30-55. The film takes place in a 1947 cafe?.
Most of the production crew will be made up of Berkshire talent, as well. Director of photography for the film is Richard Sands, one of the producers is BFMC Executive Director Diane Pearlman and the assistant director is feature film and television AD, Amy Lynn. Allen’s dear friend and Academy Award nominee, Kristi Zea, is the production designer. Brian Long, of Rattlestick Playwrights Theater in NYC, is the other producer on the project.
The open casting call will be held on Friday, March 11 (young boy 4-6 p.m./adults 6-8 p.m.) and Saturday, March 12 (young boy 10 a.m. – 4 p.m./adults 3-6 p.m.). Callbacks for the young boy only will be on Sunday, March 13 from 12-4 p.m. All auditions will take place at Berkshire Theater Group’s Unicorn Theater on 6 East Street in Stockbridge by appointment.
To schedule an audition, please send a picture (adults also include a resume if you have one) to: [email protected] Or call 413.528.4223. Anyone auditioning should read the story prior to the casting session: www.atreearockacloudthefilm.com/about.html
Allen is extremely excited about shooting her first film project here.
“I intend to stay very close and true to the story Carson McCullers wrote and to illuminate in the film the characters she has so beautifully drawn in the pages of this story,” she said. “The Berkshires is the perfect place to make this happen.”
For more information about the production, go to: http://www.atreearockacloudthefilm.com
