"Kill The Messenger" will film in Atlanta July/August, 2013.
AB Media Publishing, LLC
Bluegrass Films and Harlan Films in association with Nick Wechsler Productions and The Combine are getting set to begin shooting the Focus Features true-story drama feature film "Kill The Messenger", which is based on Pulitzer prize-winning investigative journalist Gary Webb's series of articles. The principal actor casting directors are busy auditioning talent for many speaking roles, and now the extras casting director has issued a large casting call for all types of people interested in working on the film as fully paid background performers. Filming will take place beginning mid-July in Atlanta, GA.
"Kill The Messenger" centers on investigative reporter Gary Webb, who made a splash with his brilliant reporting on the clandestine CIA-backed Nicaraguan contra rebellion, which was funded by massive amounts of crack cocaine flooding into this country. Though the story was true, the CIA effectively discredited Webb and his reporting, ultimately silencing Webb, who "committed suicide" with two bullets to the head, only a few years before the CIA quietly released their own admission of their complicity.
Starring in "Kill The Messenger" is two-time Academy Award nominee Jeremy Renner playing the lead role of Gary Webb. Renner has starred in such hit films as "The Hurt Locker" for which he earned an Oscar nod, "The Avengers," "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol," "The Bourne Legacy," and "Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters". He recently wrapped filming on "American Hustle" starring alongside Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro. Also starring in Messenger is two-time Independent Spirit Awards nominee Rosemarie DeWitt portraying Gary Webb's wife Sue. Spanish actress Paz Vega has joined the cast playing Coral Baca, the girlfriend of wealthy drug dealer Raffie Cornejo.
Golden Globe Award winning filmmaker Michael Cuesta will direct from an adapted screenplay written by Peter Landesman based on Gary Webb's series of articles written for the San Jose Mercury News, and Nick Schou's novel. Cuesta's previous feature film directorial credits are "L.I.E.," "Twelve and Holding," "Tell Tale," and "Roadie". He is also an accomplished television series director. Producing "Kill The Messenger" is BAFTA Award nominee Nick Wechsler, Scott Stuber, and Naomi Despres. Don Handfield will executive produce under the banner of "The Combine", a production company that he partners with Michael Cuesta. Michael Bederman will also exec produce.
All talent must and be legally eligible to work in Atlanta, GA and the United States.
The 2013 Atlanta 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 Georgia and the United States:
• Georgia Child Labor Entertainment Employment Information Sheet
• Georgia Child Labor Summary Sheet
• Georgia Employment Certificate Guide for Minors Under 18
• USA Child Actor Work Permit Requirements
• Immigration Work Permit Information
• Non-Immigrant Visa Application
In addition to the following Atlanta Actors Resources:
• Atlanta Casting Directors List
• Atlanta Extras Casting Directors List
• Atlanta Talent Agents List
• General Talent Agent Information
• Atlanta Acting Classes and Schools List
• Atlanta Actors Unions and Professional Organizations
• Summer Performing Arts Camps
• Atlanta Headshot Photographers List
• Audition Tips
• How To Make an Audition Video
• Sample Actors Resume
• Sample Beginning Actors Resume
• Sample Cover Letters
• Entertainment Industry Terminology
• PDF Users Guides
The 2013 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.
New York/Los Angeles:
Avy Kaufman
180 Varick Street
16th Floor
New York, NY 10014
Extras Casting
Atlanta:
Jamie Lynn Catrett
Jennifer Rose Locke
CL Casting
1525 Whitfield Street
Smyrna, GA 30080
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.
Harlan Films, LLC
3110 Maple Drive NE
Suite 300
Atlanta GA 30305
Bluegrass Films
100 Universal City Plaza
Bungalow 4171
Universal City, CA 91608
The Combine
1660 Euclid Street
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Artina Films
1416 North La Brea Avenue
Building B, Suite 115
Los Angeles, CA 90028
Nick Wechsler Productions
1437 7th Street
Suite 250
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Focus Features
100 Universal City Plaza
Building 9128
Universal City, CA 91608
Executive Producers:
Don Handfield
Peter Landesman
Producers:
Scott Stuber
Naomi Despres
Nick Wechsler
Director:
Michael Cuesta
Starring:
Jeremy Renner - Gary Webb
Rosemarie DeWitt - Sue Webb
Paz Vega - Coral Baca
Story:
The true story of investigative reporter Gary Webb, who made a splash with his reporting on the clandestine CIA-backed Nicaraguan contra rebellion, which was funded by massive amounts of crack cocaine flooding into this country.
