Casting Director Fired After Seeking Actors with That 'Inbreeding' Look - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 02-28-2008, 10:57 PM

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23355333/

A couple days ago a casting notice went out for Shelter -- a Julianne Moore/Jonathan Rhys Meyers thriller about to start filming in Pittsburgh -- It included a call for people to play West Virginia hillbillies. Specifically, they wanted "unusual body shapes, even physical abnormalities as long as there is normal mobility. Unusual facial features.... We are also looking for a ... girl with an other-worldly look to her. Could be an albino or something along those lines.... 'Regular-looking' children should not attend this open call."

The Pittsburgh-based casting director responsible for this, Donna Belajac, has now been fired -- not because of the casting notice, but because of the uproar that followed her comments quoted in a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review story on Tuesday: "Some of these 'holler' people -- because they are insular and clannish, and they don't leave their area -- there is literally inbreeding, and the people there often have a different kind of look. That's what we're trying to get."
She added that "it's not meant to be a generalization about everyone in West Virginia," but that didn't stop people -- including West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd -- from becoming outraged. The paper's follow-up story on Wednesday included Byrd's declaration that "this casting call reflects the insensitivity and stupidity of a sheltered film industry."

Ireneparalegal · 02-29-2008, 12:53 AM

Pitooey · 02-29-2008, 01:41 AM

That's so stupid. Anybody could dress up and make believe. Heck I could've applied. Hiccup. (Only fooling)

If they had to fire her they just had to she was insensitive.

Dean Winchester · 02-29-2008, 04:05 AM

well, it was supposed to be a movie about inbred characters, not meant to be high art

02-28-2008, 10:57 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Casting Director Fired After Seeking Actors with That 'Inbreeding' Look http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23355333/ A couple days ago a casting notice went out for Shelter -- a Julianne Moore/Jonathan Rhys Meyers thriller about to start filming in Pittsburgh -- It included a call for people to play West Virginia hillbillies. Specifically, they wanted "unusual body shapes, even physical abnormalities as long as there is normal mobility. Unusual facial features.... We are also looking for a ... girl with an other-worldly look to her. Could be an albino or something along those lines.... 'Regular-looking' children should not attend this open call." The Pittsburgh-based casting director responsible for this, Donna Belajac, has now been fired -- not because of the casting notice, but because of the uproar that followed her comments quoted in a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review story on Tuesday: "Some of these 'holler' people -- because they are insular and clannish, and they don't leave their area -- there is literally inbreeding, and the people there often have a different kind of look. That's what we're trying to get." She added that "it's not meant to be a generalization about everyone in West Virginia," but that didn't stop people -- including West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd -- from becoming outraged. The paper's follow-up story on Wednesday included Byrd's declaration that "this casting call reflects the insensitivity and stupidity of a sheltered film industry."
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

02-29-2008, 12:53 AM	#2
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

02-29-2008, 01:41 AM	#3
Pitooey Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 15, 2001 Location: Rocking in Transylvania. Posts: 15,042	That's so stupid. Anybody could dress up and make believe. Heck I could've applied. Hiccup. (Only fooling) If they had to fire her they just had to she was insensitive.
	__________________ Pitooey... AKA JennyLee - I love the Monkees all over again! *SAY NO TO DRUGS* Jesus saves...

02-29-2008, 04:05 AM	#4
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	well, it was supposed to be a movie about inbred characters, not meant to be high art