HOW TO LAND A ROLE IN THE ROCK’S NEW T V SHOW In search of big personalities
QUEENSLANDERS are first in line to act alongside Dwayne ‘ The Rock’ Johnson in his new TV series bound for the Sunshine State.
Casting agents for the autobiographical NBC sitcom Young Rock, which will be filmed in southeast Queensland from October to February, are casting extras and small roles in the series, with a preference given to those based in the state. Casting calls shared online ask for Queensland-based NFL players – men aged 18 to 28 – who don’t need acting experience but have the “height and build of a professional NFL player”.
Australian casting agent Amanda Mitchell of Mitchell Casting is also looking for a male actor aged 13-18 to play a 15-year-old in the series, adding they must have “good comedic skill” and preferably a US accent.
The casting link has the project title “Young Rock Ep 101” and applications are open until September 19.
Similar advertisements ask for rugby players, also o aged 18-28, and professional wrestlers aged 20-55 who weigh at least t 110kg.
Hopefuls are asked to o send in their athletic ex- perience, height and current location, and are told there will be a “preference e to those based in Queens- land”.
It is likely a result of strict COVID-19 border restrictions and quarantine rules for those travelling into Queensland from interstate or overseas.
Sources on the production suggested scouts picked Queensland for the production over NSW and Victoria due to its relatively low COVID-19 infection rate.
Brisbane acting agent Craig Griffin of Max Talent Management, who is putting actors forward for roles in the series, said there had been a shift towards productions casting locally as a result of the pandemic and he expected more productions would move to Queensland.
“It’s incredible that it’s creating so much work for people on screen and behind the scenes,” he said.
A number of te teens from Paddi dington’s The A Australian Actin ing Academy w will also be appl plying for the te teen role, with fo founder Brendan d Glanville sa saying they rece cently had American dialect coac coaching “so they would be prepared if things moved to Queensland in particular because of COVID”.
Johnson is expected to arrive in Brisbane in October.
He previously filmed the action flick San Andreas on the Gold Coast and across southeast Queensland in 2014.
Earlier this year Johnson posted about the new series to Instagram, writing: “For the first time ever I’m bringing you along with me to experience my insanely unbelievable childhood, teenage years and adolescence … the good, the bad, the ugly but always funny”.
>>For details visit Mitchell Casting’s Facebook page or Starnow.