Come As You Are to CW's Casting Call

By Amber Lester Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Colonial Williamsburg is putting out the casting call for extras, but this time, no breeches are necessary.

CW will be filming scenes set in modern times for its newest film in the Electronic Field Trips series, “Bill of Rights,” next Tuesday. The foundation is looking for about 240 extras to appear as an audience from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Lane Auditorium in the Bruton Heights Education Center.

The film explores what the United States would have been like if the “Bill of Rights” was never drafted. “The slant we took is set in an alternate reality where the Bill of Rights was never written,” says Steve Koernig, an associate producer for CW productions. “There is a glorious leader everyone is enchanted with.”

The scene filmed on April 20 will take place on the fictional “National Registration Day,” a day when all citizens must register with the government. Extras will play audience members listening intently to the words of a totalitarian leader.

Extras can wear modern-day clothes, and CW hopes to have an audience full of people of all ages and backgrounds. Extras should wear muted, dark colors in solid fabrics – no patterns or bright colors.

People interested in participating can contact Koernig at skoernig@cwf.org. As of Monday afternoon, between 50 to 100 volunteers had already signed up. Participants will not be paid and will be asked to sign release forms. They will, however, be invited to a screening of the film when it is completed. It will air as part of the series on Nov. 18.

The Electronic Field Trips are a series of films focusing on history, government and culture in America. Schools across the country pay to view the field trips, which are shown in live national broadcasts at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. one Thursday each month. Classes can watch the field trips from October to April on participating PBS stations and cable channels.

Williamsburg residents and visitors can also view the films at the Bruton Heights Education Center one Thursday a month.