- Title: GERMANY: Men queue in hope of winning small role in George Clooney film
- Date: 26th January 2013
- Summary: POTSDAM, GERMANY (JANUARY 26, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ENTRANCE TO BABELSBERG STUDIOS SIGN SHOWING DIRECTIONS TO CASTING/ PEOPLE WALKING BY CLOSE OF SIGN VARIOUS OF MEN QUEUING FOR CASTING LEGS OF MEN WAITING IN LINE FOR CASTING (SOUNDBITE) (German) CASTING PARTICIPANT RONALD KOEHLER, SAYING: "I have waited long enough. Now I thought, for something the military must have been good for. And so I am going there today. Moreover George Clooney is clearly an interesting person. I think of him as a professional. Let's see how he will be doing as a producer. Otherwise I know him only from movies and adverts, not more. He makes a good impression." (SOUNDBITE) (German) CASTING PARTICIPANT, LARA WEISS, SAYING (asked about casting only for men): "I think, more men. But we thought, we will try out anyway, it won't cause any harm." (SOUNDBITE) (German) CASTING PARTICIPANT, MATTHIAS SCHRADER, SAYING (asked about having to cut his hair for the role): "I don't assume the haircut will take place today, but only when the it (film production) starts. And no, it doesn't bother me.") (SOUNDBITE) (German) CASTING PARTICIPANT, FLORIAN HUFE, SAYING: "I find it thrilling to be part of a film. And I don't know if I will be seen then. But I really like it, we will see, I am very interested." MORE OF PEOPLE QUEUING FOR CASTING (SOUNDBITE) (German) SPOKESPERSON OF BABELSBERG STUDIOS, EIKE WOLF, SAYING: "Firstly we are glad about the big international productions choosing Germany and Babelsberg as their production location. I believe, we have earned that with our studios here, with our employees and our offers, which we deliver to international producers. If that is a trend now, I don't know, there are many production countries, many big films are being shot in England, Eastern Europe is very strong at the moment as a production site. But we try to stand pour ground there and to further position us well in the future." SIGN READING: "THE MONUMENTS MEN" (SOUNDBITE) (German) SPOKESPERSON OF BABELSBERG STUDIOS, EIKE WOLF, SAYING: "We are glad about working together with George Clooney, who in this case is producer as well as leading actor and director. We had great directors here in the past such as Quentin Tarantino, Roman Polanski and Stephen Daldry. This for sure is also an aspect, why they choose us as production partners in this case. And we are happy to work together with him on this project." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE QUEUING FOR CASTING SESSION
- Embargoed: 10th February 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Germany
- Country: Germany
- Reuters ID: LVAD3MRRHVA69XQ56RQVA0PMWXYJ
- Story Text: To be part of a George Clooney film, even in the shortest of roles - that seems to be the dream of many German men. Thousands of them of all ages turned up at the Babelsberg studios on Saturday (January 26) for a casting session for the Hollywood stars' latest film project: "The Monument Men", which he is not only the main actor of, but also the producer and director.
The film production will start in spring at the film studios in Potsdam. "The Monuments Men" is set in World War II and the casting agency therefore was looking for men between 18 and 50 which could fit into that time. Tattoos and died hair were taboo, blond hair and military knowledge in demand.
Ronald Koehler came to Potsdam in the hope his military training could lead him to a role in Clooney's film.
"I have waited long enough. Now I thought, for something the military must have been good for. And so I am going there today. Moreover George Clooney is clearly an interesting person. I think of him as a professional. Let's see how he will be doing as a producer. Otherwise I know him only from movies and adverts, not more. He makes a good impression," said Koehler.
Even though the casting call was aimed at slim men between 18 to 55, also some women tried their luck. "We thought, we will try out anyway, it won't cause any harm," said Lara Weiss.
The men lucky enough to get a part in the film, will have to live with a short "back and sides" haircut during the production time, which didn't stop long-haired Matthias Schrader from queuing in front of the casting tent. "I don't assume the haircut will take place today, but only when the it (film production) starts. And no, it doesn't bother me," he said.
It is not the first big film production for Babelsberg studios. "Firstly we are glad about the big international productions choosing Germany and Babelsberg as their production location. I believe, we have earned that with our studios here, with our employees and our offers, which we deliver to international producers. If that is a trend now, I don't know, there are many production countries, many big films are being shot in England, Eastern Europe is very strong at the moment as a production site. But we try to stand pour ground there and to further position us well in the future," said Babelsberg studios spokesperson Eike Wolf, adding that the studios were glad to be able to work together with the smart Hollywood star. "We are glad about working together with George Clooney, who in this case is producer as well as leading actor and director. We had great directors here in the past such as Quentin Tarantino, Roman Polanski and Stephen Daldry," he said.
Clooney was not present at the casting session. But the outlook to appear with him in a film in the near future, was incentive enough. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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