Atlas Entertainment and Annapurna Pictures are set to begin shooting a major feature film in Boston, MA and New York City for Columbia Pictures. Casting directors in Los Angeles and New York are casting the film’s supporting roles. Smaller speaking roles are being cast in Boston and New York, where shooting will take place from March 18, 2013 through May 19, 2013. The project is currently using the working title of “Untitled David O. Russell Project”. Extras will be cast throughout production. Experienced film crew and production staff in Boston can also email resumes to the production office.
“Untitled David O. Russell Project” tells the true story behind the FBI’s 1980 “Arab Scam” sting, which went by the operational name Abscam. After FBI agent Jimmy Boyle busts con artist Melvin Weinberg and his mistress Maxine Gardner, the two embark on the first major operation to trap corrupt public officials. Angelo Joseph Errichetti is at the center of the story of politicians indicted. The sting was executed using FBI agents posing as two fictitious sheiks seeking to bribe local, state and federal officials and eventually netted the convictions of seven members of Congress.
Melvin Weinberg’s wife Marie accused her husband of taking $45,000 in payoffs from an Abscam defendant and giving away expensive suits and furniture to FBI agents. Marie said that she had her husband’s secret diary detailing the allegations, which she described as her “insurance policy,” hidden somewhere very safe. Also believed missing are dozens of tape recordings that Weinberg made secretly of his conversations with FBI agents. On January 28, 1982 Ms. Weinberg was found dead of apparent suicide, however her attorney Michael Dennis flatly refused to call Marie’s death a suicide and stated, “I don’t believe for one moment that she would take her own life”. Dennis also represented Florida Rep. Richard Kelly, a convicted Abscam defendant.
Starring in “Untitled David O. Russell Project” is Academy Award nominee Bradley Cooper as FBI Agent Jimmy Boyle; two-time Academy Award nominee Jeremy Renner plays the role of Camden Mayor and eventual New Jersey State Senator Angelo Errichetti; Academy Award winner Christian Bale plays the con artist Melvin Weinberg, who was busted and then hired by the FBI; four-time Academy Award nominee Amy Adams portrays Weinberg’s mistress and partner in crime, Maxine “Max” Gardner. Academy Award minner Jennifer Lawrence has joined the cast, re-teaming with “Silver Linings Playbook” director David O. Russell and co-star Bradley Cooper, playing Melvin Weinberg’s wife Marie Weinberg. Following this film, David O. Russell will direct Jennifer Lawrence in “The Ends of the Earth”.
Three-time Academy Award nominee David O. Russell is directing from a screenplay written by Eric Singer. Russell recently directed the film “Silver Linings Playbook” starring Bradley Cooper alongside the beautiful and amazing Jennifer Lawrence. That film was nominated for eight Academy Awards with one win by Lawrence in the category of Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role. Russell is also set to direct another true story political corruption film about Rhode Island mayor, Buddy Cianci, who built a reputation for eliminating corruption for over two decades, then went to jail for racketeering. Writer Eric Singer is currently scripting the feature film “Splinter Cell” based on the Tom Clancy video game.
Academy Award nominee Jonathan Gordon will executive produce. Gordon’s Oscar nomination is from serving as producer on “Silver Linings Playbook,” in the category of Best Motion Picture of the Year. He has served as producer on three films, and this will be his 14th feature film serving as executive producer. Academy Award nominee Megan Ellison and Ted Schipper will oversee production for Annapurna Pictures. Ellison’s Oscar nod came for producing “Zero Dark Thirty” with Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal. Charles Roven and Richard Suckle will produce for Atlas Entertainment.
Minors and foreign talent must be legally eligible to work in New York, Boston, and in the United States.
The 2013 Boston Actors Resource Guide eBook comes with free quarterly updates and includes the following information and documents for adults, minors, and foreign talent who would like to work as an actor or extra on film and television productions in the State of Massachusetts and the United States:
• Child Labor Laws in Massachusetts
• Massachusetts Application for Waiver of Child Labor Restrictions
• Massachusetts Child Entertainment Contract Application
• Massachusetts Child Entertainment Contract Approval Instructions
• Massachusetts Probate and Family Court Locations
• Massachusetts Child Labor Complainant Form
• Massachusetts Teen Work Permit Application
• USA Child Actor Work Permit Requirements
• USA Immigration Work Permits and Visas
• Non-Immigrant Visa Application
In addition to the following Boston Actors Resources:
• Audition Tips
• How To Make an Audition Video
• Boston Casting Directors List
• Boston Extras Casting Directors List
• General Talent Agent Information
• Boston Talent Agents List
• Boston Acting Coaches, Classes, and Schools List
• Summer Performing Arts Camps
• Boston Headshot Photographers List
• Boston Headshot Duplication Photo Labs
• Miscellaneous Boston Actors Resources
• Actors Unions and Organizations
• Sample Actors Resume
• Sample Beginning Actors Resume
• Sample Cover Letters
• Entertainment Industry Terminology
• PDF Users Guides
The 2013 Boston and New York Actors Resource Guide eBooks are available here.
Principal Actor Casting
See the post titled Headshot and Resume Information regarding how to submit for acting roles.
Submit photos and resumes by mail only.
No phone calls or personal drop-offs.
Los Angeles:
Lindsay Graham
Mary Vernieu
13375 Beach Avenue
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
New York:
Jessica Kelly
Suzanne Smith Crowley
55 Chrystie Street
Suite 501
New York, NY 10002
Boston:
Angela Peri, CSA
Boston Casting
129 Braintree Street
Boston, MA 02134
Extras Casting
The production is casting people who have 1970s attire, such as bell bottoms, vests, flower shirts, afros, side burns, mustaches, long hair, mini dresses/skirts, platform shoes, etc. Also 1960s -1970s cars, trucks, or motorcycles. When submitting or registering, please let the casting directors know what type of 1970’s clothes, props, and/or vehicles that you have.
Boston:
Angela Peri, CSA
Boston Casting
129 Braintree Street
Boston, MA 02134
Talent Registration Form
New York:
Grant Wilfley
Casting
123 West 18th Street
8th floor
New York, NY 10011
Film Crew and Production Staff
Boston:
Experienced film crew members and production staff in the Boston area can submit resumes to the following:
ABSOLUTELY NO ACTOR OR EXTRAS SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THIS EMAIL ADDRESS.
Production Companies:
Do NOT send photos and resumes to the production companies, as they will most likely end up being thrown away. They do not cast the films, rather they hire casting directors who sort through the thousands of submissions.
White Dog Productions, LLC
70 Fargo Street
Suite 809
Boston, MA 02210
Atlas Entertainment
9200 W. Sunset Blvd.
10th Floor
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Annapurna Pictures
10777 Ashton Avenue
Suite 102
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Columbia Pictures
10202 W. Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
Executive Producer:
Jon Gordon
Producers:
Charles Roven
Richard Suckle
Ted Schipper
Megan Ellison
Director:
David O. Russell
Starring:
Christian Bale – Melvin Weinberg
Jennifer Lawrence – Marie Weinberg
Bradley Cooper – Jimmy Boyle
Amy Adams – Maxine “Max” Gardner
Jeremy Renner – Senator Angelo Errichetti
Story:
Based on the true story of notorious financial con artist Melvin Weinberg (Christian Bale) and his mistress/partner in crime Maxine Gardner (Amy Adams), who were forced to work with intense and ambitious FBI agent Jimmy Boyle (Bradley Cooper) to turn the tables on other con artists, mobsters and politicians. When cocky con man Weinberg is caught by FBI Agent Boyle’s unit, he agrees to become an informant and help with several other white collar busts. Together, Mel and Jimmy carry out the 1980 Abscam sting operation, which used a fake Arab sheik and a host of other cunning tricks. Set in seedy New York City, this fast paced drama is the unbelievable and hilarious true story of the operation that helped root out corruption in Congress and severely crippled organized crime. Jennifer Lawrence plays Melvin Weinberg’s wife Marie Weinberg. Jeremy Renner plays Senator Angelo Errichetti, who was charged with arranging for undercover agents to meet with several politicians who would end up accepting bribes to help use their influence on behalf of individuals posing as the Arab investors, with Errichetti taking his share of the bribes.