UK: Auditions for the world's first user-generated movie take place on Internet website MySpace

MySpace, the UK's biggest social network, has launched a nation-wide talent search for stars for its first movie, 'Faintheart'. As the next stage in the 1 million (GBP) MyMovie MashUp project - the world's first fully user-generated feature film, being made in partnership with Fim4 and Vertigo Films - MySpace is hoping to uncover new acting talent in the way new artists and musicians have been discovered on the site. This is an audition with a difference: every single person in this room is giving it their best shot in front of a computer screen. This first 'screen test' will decide whether or not they will be invited back to meet the casting director and audition in front of him. The film they are auditioning for is called 'Faintheart' and all auditions take place via Internet website MySpace at www.myspace.com/mymoviemashup. All people have to do is upload a video of themselves acting out one of the roles from the film, from big kid and movie lead Richard to comic fanatic Daredevil. Eight parts are available all outlined on the film's MySpace profile. According to the film's casting director MySpace has provided an entirely new method of casting that will give professional and amateur actors an unprecedented level of access to the industry. Video auditions must be uploaded to the site by September 10th and the best entries for leading or speaking roles, will be shortlisted and called back for an in-person casting session from September 17th-21st. Those selected for the roles will be announced at the end of September. The film will begin principal photography in early October and the film is currently scheduled for release in October 2008. 23-year-old Nichola Fynn from Essex, is a trained actress and decided to give the MySpace movie a go. Whilst the auditioning process is user-friendly and easily done, Fynn comments that the process is very unnatural, "I found it quite unnatural because I wasn't sure...because I'm quite a naturalistic actress, I like everything to look really natural so with the Viking thing on my head as well, I did try to look quite normal but when I pressed record I just hoped that I look my best and did my best but I couldn't really tell." Fellow actor, 25 year-old Simon Nuckley from Bexley, agrees, "When you're doing an audition you're doing it to somebody else and it's like you're doing it to yourself, which is a little bit confusing and it's like there's no nerves but you actually want to be focussed so you want to actually get it the best as possible." All of this however doesn't dampen the optimistic mood of MySpace editors who believe they have found an innovative way of film-making that will help make someone's acting career: "There's a really strong existing film community on MySpace in the UK who are sharing their ideas and creativity. This was just a way to take that, harness that creativity and use it in the filmmaking process", says Head of MySpace's Europe Entertainment James Fabricant, adding, "We're really hoping that we're gonna uncover some major new talent in this way and really make someone's acting career." Over the next few weeks, a casting bus will tour 10 major cities in the UK, offering people the opportunity to come on board and audition via video cameras and laptops on the bus. The winners will begin work with director Vito Rocco (himself selected by the MySpace community) and writer David Lemon on Faintheart, a hilarious romantic comedy about the lives of a group of people who re-enact Viking battles as a hobby.

ITN Source | August 23, 2007

Tags:. .career. .biggest. .actors. .access. .creativity