Casting calls begin for 200 movie extras

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Carol Gaudry is hoping to cast 200 Aboriginal people from the three reserves that form the Blackfoot Confederacy in Alberta for the upcoming movie called 'Colter's Run'.

"My concept is simple, I'm trying to fill as many spots as possible as Blackfoot extras from the Peigan, Blood, and Siksika reserves. It's just out of respect," said Gaudry.

The movie could begin filming in July on the Stoney Reserve, in Morley. It tells the story of an explorer named Colter, who broke away from the Lewis and Clarke expedition. Colter lived with the Blackfoot and in real life, Colter married a Blackfoot woman and moved to Missouri with her.

The movie depicts a love triangle in which the death of Colter's Blackfoot lover's son results in Colter being hunted down by Blackfoot warriors.

The feature movie deals with the Blackfoot which is why Gaudry is concentrating on the three reserves. Gaudry also made casting calls in T'suu T'ina. Although the T'suu T'ina reserve are Sacree Indians, Gaudry is covering her interests in case her search in the three reserves doesn't work out.

Gaudry has been a casting director, in charge of finding Native talent, for seven years. She started while with the popular CBC drama, "North of 60". While she initially became involved with the night time drama as an extra, she found her interests and talents seemed more suited to casting. Gaudry is a Metis woman from Calgary and she found herself concerned about portraying an Aboriginal person in the weekly show.

Gaudry initially began working with Leslie Swan, but when Swan pulled out of "North of 60" two years ago, Gaudry was given the opportunity as casting director.

"Almost anything to do with natives, I've been contacted," she said.

Her film credits include, "Cool Running", "Wild America" and the yet to be released Burt Reynolds's film, "Mystery Alaska".

Gaudry's break came earlier this year when Carol Ballard, of Phoenix Pictures, from Hollywood, started looking for a casting director for "Colter's Run". After doing his research, he determined that anybody he hired to cast the native roles would have to contact Gaudry. So he went directly to Gaudry himself.

While no big name stars have been announced for "Colter's Run", Gaudry is in charge of finding four or five natives to play principle roles, along with close to 200 others, ranging from children to elders, as extras.

Since the end of April, Gaudry has been assessing the talents on the three Blackfoot confederacy reserves, as well as at the friendship center, in Calgary.

"There's quite a few that are workable,but if they would get the proper education behind the acting, they would go further," said Gaudry.

By that, Gaudry means going beyond a high school education to actually train in drama.

Response for the casting calls on the reserves has been slow. Gaudry attributes that to the first time a casting director has actually gone to the reserves. She also notes that elders seldom come out.

"We need elders to start getting involved in the film industry. They should be involved as far as overseeing and showing the young people that it could be a good thing," she said.

Gaudry is optimistic that "Colter's Run" can tell a good story. Speaking will be done mostly in Blackfoot with the use of English sub-titles.