While SAG and the ATA continue to duke it out, the Skinny presses on. As always, the information below is meant to keep you on the inside track—it's your job to get behind the wheel and steer yourself to success. Just stay off the 405.
Sam I Am
The casting directors of Dr. Seuss' Cat in the Hat are seeking boys ages 10-13 to play the starring role of Conrad, opposite Mike Myers as "The Cat" and Dakota Fanning as Sally. The filmmakers behind How the Grinch Stole Christmas and A Beautiful Mind are looking for their next young star. Conrad is a mischievous, bright, wisecracking troublemaker. Auditions will be held on Sat., June 1, 1-4 p.m., at the Debbie Reynolds Studio.
5 Sisters Looking for 6th
Five Sisters Productions is offering internship opportunities with its company and with the distribution of its latest film, Manna From Heaven. The film stars Shirley Jones, Cloris Leachman, Wendie Malick, Shelley Duvall, Jill Eikenberry, and Austin Pendleton. The cast will be involved in promoting the film's distribution, which will be released using a creative grassroots marketing campaign going from city to city. Interns can work in the L.A. office, travel with the film, or work for a matter of weeks in their hometown on opening the film there. The internship is unpaid but may lead to paid work. Responsibilities include production company office work, publicity work, issuing press releases, and coordinating interviews with press and the film's stars. Send resumé, letter of interest, and three references to Five Sisters Productions, 171 Pier Ave., Ste. 207, Santa Monica, CA 90405 or visit www.fivesisters.com.
Urban Development
New Line Cinema-based Urban Entertainment has hired Helena Echegoyen as senior vp of Development. Echegoyen will be responsible for production, packaging, and development. Also joining the company is Patricia K. Jones as director of Development and Production.
Creative Titles
Creative Artists Agency has promoted six assistants to agents. Heather Berland is now a motion picture talent agent; Brian Manning is a music agent and is responsible for booking clubs west of the Mississippi; Christian Troy is an agent in the motion picture talent department; Bryan Geers is an agent in CAA's television division, helping to package television shows for broadcast, syndication, and cable networks; Jay Baker is a motion picture literary agent, and Mick Sullivan has been promoted to television agent.
Foxwoods Fights Back
Bad News, based on the novel by Donald E. Westlake, is set to start production in June. The film will be shot in New York and Lake Tahoe and tells the story of a Native-American woman and a bunch of small-time criminals who try to scam an Indian Casino. No actors are attached to star yet, but the casting director is Francine Maisler.
Runaway Productions Find Home
As a complement to another mega-studio scheduled to be constructed on the Ontario waterfront, plans were announced for a second film studio in Toronto, which will house the largest single soundstage in the world. At 85,000 square feet, the facility will also include production and post-production facilities, and is scheduled to be in operation in 2003.