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Toronto often stands in for New York or Chicago in Hollywood movies. No such problem this time for Edmonton and its massive mall.
Globe
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Thousands flood West Edmonton Mall for movie extras call
SHANNON MONTGOMERY
Canadian Press
EDMONTON — Thousands of people shunned the Easter bunny and signs of spring Saturday to wait for hours in a shopping mall decorated with garlands, sparkling red lights and fir trees for the chance to be one of 5,000 extras in the movie “Christmas in Wonderland.â€
The movie is set to start filming at West Edmonton Mall later this month.
“It's a movie about a dad and his kids that go to the mall to do their Christmas shopping and the kids end up finding some money, counterfeit money, and a lot of the movie is a sort of a chase with the bad guys,†explained Kris Rurka, casting director for the extras.
Mr. Rurka said they were hoping to select all 5,000 extras needed for the Christmas caper by the end of the day. Those chosen may end up swimming at the mall's water park or skating along its rink — and all will have to lug along their winter jackets, scarves and gaudy Christmas sweaters.
Mr. Rurka said the movie's bad guys will be played by former “Saturday Night Live†actor Chris Kattan, and Preston Lacy of the “Jackass†movies.
He said the movie's other stars would be announced later, although it's been reported actors Leslie Nielsen and Ray Liotta may also star.
Canadian-born James Orr of “Three Men and a Babyâ€' film fame is slated to direct.
Unlike some movies filmed in Canada, in which cities and their attractions are used as stand-ins for American locations, the movie's sprawling Edmonton attraction will play itself.
“The mall is playing West Edmonton Mall . . . it's about a family that moves up from L.A.,†said Mr. Rurka.
Mila Gossain, 16, joined the line mid-morning. She said she was willing to wait for as long as it took for a shot at the silver screen.
“I just love acting, and things like that, and this is an opportunity, it's like once in a lifetime,†she said.
She said the movie will draw attention to the city and the mall, which bills itself as the world's largest entertainment and shopping centre with more than 800 stores and services.
“Now people are going to see how Edmonton is, and the mall, and it's going to bring more people here,†said Ms. Gossain.
The casting call solved the mystery of why the mega-mall didn't change its decorations with the changing of the holiday seasons.
Mark Holik, the mall's director of security ad special projects, said people had inquired, wondering why Christmas decorations were still up long after Santa left.
“Some people thought that perhaps we forgot to take the decorations down,†Mr. Holik said. “Some people thought it was just the labour shortage in Alberta, and we couldn't get anybody to take them down.
“Some people went as far as calling and volunteering to help us take them down.â€
Three-year-old Kiana Towpich, auditioning with her mom and 7-year-old sister, Chantal, seemed a little confused by the decorations as she watched a portable DVD player while waiting in line.
“Somebody has to put them down because it's not Christmas,†she said.
But the little girl, whose mother says is always the centre of attention, was completely sure why she's ready to be a movie star.
“Because I sing so much,†she said.
Asked the same question, her sister answered: “I want to be in the movie because I want to make people happy.â€
Once they reached the front of the line, potential extras had to fill out a form and have their picture snapped.
On his way out, Gerald Schiller, 53, said he's interested in even a tiny part in the movie.
“You're going to live forever. You're going to be there, on that moving picture, 100 years from now, and people are going to be watching it,†he said.
“It's just to have a little touch of immortality, a little touch of fun, a little touch of showmanship.â€
But he said he was willing to take on more if the casting directors come knocking.
“You've got a better chance of winning the lotto, but a lot of famous actors started out orking as an extra, just as we're doing right now,†he said with a laugh.
Globe
Link to article
Thousands flood West Edmonton Mall for movie extras call
SHANNON MONTGOMERY
Canadian Press
EDMONTON — Thousands of people shunned the Easter bunny and signs of spring Saturday to wait for hours in a shopping mall decorated with garlands, sparkling red lights and fir trees for the chance to be one of 5,000 extras in the movie “Christmas in Wonderland.â€
The movie is set to start filming at West Edmonton Mall later this month.
“It's a movie about a dad and his kids that go to the mall to do their Christmas shopping and the kids end up finding some money, counterfeit money, and a lot of the movie is a sort of a chase with the bad guys,†explained Kris Rurka, casting director for the extras.
Mr. Rurka said they were hoping to select all 5,000 extras needed for the Christmas caper by the end of the day. Those chosen may end up swimming at the mall's water park or skating along its rink — and all will have to lug along their winter jackets, scarves and gaudy Christmas sweaters.
Mr. Rurka said the movie's bad guys will be played by former “Saturday Night Live†actor Chris Kattan, and Preston Lacy of the “Jackass†movies.
He said the movie's other stars would be announced later, although it's been reported actors Leslie Nielsen and Ray Liotta may also star.
Canadian-born James Orr of “Three Men and a Babyâ€' film fame is slated to direct.
Unlike some movies filmed in Canada, in which cities and their attractions are used as stand-ins for American locations, the movie's sprawling Edmonton attraction will play itself.
“The mall is playing West Edmonton Mall . . . it's about a family that moves up from L.A.,†said Mr. Rurka.
Mila Gossain, 16, joined the line mid-morning. She said she was willing to wait for as long as it took for a shot at the silver screen.
“I just love acting, and things like that, and this is an opportunity, it's like once in a lifetime,†she said.
She said the movie will draw attention to the city and the mall, which bills itself as the world's largest entertainment and shopping centre with more than 800 stores and services.
“Now people are going to see how Edmonton is, and the mall, and it's going to bring more people here,†said Ms. Gossain.
The casting call solved the mystery of why the mega-mall didn't change its decorations with the changing of the holiday seasons.
Mark Holik, the mall's director of security ad special projects, said people had inquired, wondering why Christmas decorations were still up long after Santa left.
“Some people thought that perhaps we forgot to take the decorations down,†Mr. Holik said. “Some people thought it was just the labour shortage in Alberta, and we couldn't get anybody to take them down.
“Some people went as far as calling and volunteering to help us take them down.â€
Three-year-old Kiana Towpich, auditioning with her mom and 7-year-old sister, Chantal, seemed a little confused by the decorations as she watched a portable DVD player while waiting in line.
“Somebody has to put them down because it's not Christmas,†she said.
But the little girl, whose mother says is always the centre of attention, was completely sure why she's ready to be a movie star.
“Because I sing so much,†she said.
Asked the same question, her sister answered: “I want to be in the movie because I want to make people happy.â€
Once they reached the front of the line, potential extras had to fill out a form and have their picture snapped.
On his way out, Gerald Schiller, 53, said he's interested in even a tiny part in the movie.
“You're going to live forever. You're going to be there, on that moving picture, 100 years from now, and people are going to be watching it,†he said.
“It's just to have a little touch of immortality, a little touch of fun, a little touch of showmanship.â€
But he said he was willing to take on more if the casting directors come knocking.
“You've got a better chance of winning the lotto, but a lot of famous actors started out orking as an extra, just as we're doing right now,†he said with a laugh.