CBS News Transcript:
"Casting America"
July 1999
Location: Tampa, Florida


Reginald Roundtree
Ever dream of becoming an actor on the silver screen?
Well it may not be too late. You don't have to be a Brad Pitt
or a Julia Roberts to land a major role in a motion picture
or even as a model. As reporter Elaine Lucadano found out,
entertainment roles are out there for average Americans
with larger than life goals. That's tonight's Special
Assignment Report.

(Cut to series of black and white head shots. The photos are shown rapidly, one at a time, with the sound of a clicking photo camera in the background, as each one is replaced with another)

(Cut to Lew Carr, president of Casting America. He is shown directing in a studio)

Lew Carr
Action!

(A series of film scenes are shown as the reporter begins)

Elaine Lucadano
Most of us have stars in our eyes.
Dreams of fame, fortune, a big role in a feature film.

(Cut from movie scenes to Casting America's Tampa studio. On Camera are Jack Amos and Janell Leow, auditioning. Jack Amos is a bald, overweight actor. Janell, with long blonde hair, is a young actress, age 12.)

Elaine Lucadano
This is where it all starts for Jack Amos.
This day he's auditioning, here at Casting America,
a national talent network. He's doing a character
read for a new cartoon.

Jack Amos
Well I actually got the bug back in Junior High
when I first took my first drama class.

Elaine Lucadano
Jack, at 47, is just getting his acting career on track. He's given up the corporate world to pursue his dream world.

(Cut to Tampa Bay Devil Ray commercial. Jack is sitting in the stands with another actor.)

Jack Amos
(in the commercial)
He looks out of shape to me...

Elaine Lucadano
That's Jack playing a Devil Ray's fan in a commerical.

(Cut to Winn Dixie Commercial)

Elaine Lucadano
(continued)
He's in this Winn Dixie ad too

(Cut to stunt driving scene where several cars spin out, barely avoiding crashing )

Elaine Lucadano
(continued)
And here he's driving a stunt car for a scene in a motion
picture shot in the Bay area. No, the big speaking roles
usually do not come quickly.

(Cut to closeup of Jack Amos)
Jack Amos
I'm making a living at it and I love every minute
of it I'm living a dream. I'm doing what
I want to do, what I like to do, and what I need to do.

Elaine Lucadano
Do you miss your old job?

Jack Amos
Not one minute!!!

(Cut to Casting America Studio where Lew Carr is shown taking photos of Dominic Rondinelli, a 13 year old Downs Syndrome model and actor)

Lew Carr
Okay, Nick, you know the basics. Let me see a good smile...

Elaine Lucadano
Nick is also hoping to make a career in show biz.
He has Downs Syndrome and he is in demand as an actor and a
model.

(Cut to Kids R Us Store Ad showing Nick smiling with another child)

Elaine Lucadano
(continued)
His smiling face can be seen in this store ad.


(Cut to Lew Carr auditioning Janell Leow)

Lew Carr
Okay, Janell, you need to bring the energy up.

(Cut to close up of Janell going over her lines)

(Cut to close up of Lew Carr.)

Elaine Lucadano
Lew Carr, founder of Casting America, is always looking for
talent like Nick and Jack.

(Cut to wall showing the composites and head shots of hundreds of models and actors handled by Casting America)

Elaine Lucadano
(continued)
He has trained thousands of models and actors.

(Cut to Lew Carr -- medium shot)

Lew Carr
A person should be in this business because they have
a love for it, they want to have some fun. Let fame and fortune
take care of itself. If you are looking to be famous,
if you are looking to be rich, you will put too much pressure on yourself,
it's going to show in your work, and you're not going to do a good job.

(Cut to Lew at the computer showing the Casting America web site. Camera moves to the computer monitor as it shows different actors and models)

Elaine Lucadano
Lew says the key to success is persistence, patience.
You will likely start out as an extra and it is not glamorous.
A good attitude and work ethic will get you the next job.

(Cut to a shot of a Marker – Clapboard) – over the face of Elaine Lucadano. It is held by Jerry Alan, the president of the Florida Motion Picture and Television Association).

Jerry Alan
Scene Two, Take One!

(He claps the marker. Jerry removes the marker, revealing Elaine's face.)

Lew Carr
Action!

Elaine Lucadano
What might surprise you is that most of the acting jobs
out there are for people in their 30's, 40's, 50's, even older.
That's because there's a lot less competition out there
for people in those age groups.

(Cut to Helen Pugh, an attractive silver haired woman, closing the door to her car and walking into Casting America)

Elaine Lucadano
Were you surprised by all the roles out there for you?

Helen Pugh
Yes I was

Elaine Lucadano
Helen is a 68 year old great grandmother.
She took up modeling and acting just two years ago.
She has landed jobs in magazine ads, commercials and this small film...

(Cut to scene of Helen in a movie where she plays a pleasant ghost. She is shown with another actress to whom she speaks)

Actress
I wish you were here...

Helen Pugh
But I am dear...

(Continue showing the scene as Helen's ghost character fades out)

Helen Pugh
You have to want this very badly to be able to make a success of it.

Elaine Lucadano
She often travels many miles for auditions and
she knows how to smile in the face of rejection.

(Cut to medium shot of Helen)

Helen Pugh
I would love to land a good role in a major motion picture.
It would be the highlight of my life. And I hope I have that opportunity.

Elaine Lucadano
I think you're headed there Helen.

Helen Pugh
I hope so! I'm looking forward to it.

Elaine Lucadano
On Special Assignment, this is Elaine Lucadano.

(Cut back to Reginald Roundtree)

Reginald Roundtree
An extra can make anywhere from $50 to $200 per day. But commercials
are where the money is. Depending on your role you can make $900 to
$1500 per day plus years of residual payments. Casting America recently cast
over 1,000 actors in the new Al Pacino/Oliver Stone movie "Any Given Sunday"
due out next year. Their advice: make sure you are dealing with
a reputable talent agency, due your research and talk to former clients.