12. 11. 09. - 16:00

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12. 11. 09. - 16:00

Hollywood extras casting stormed by thousands

By Thomas Hochwarter

Thousands attended castings for scenes to be shot in Salzburg for an upcoming Hollywood film starring Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise.

More than 2,000 people followed the call of agency Austrocast that were looking for 430 extras for "Knight and Day", a 20th Century Fox production that will come to the picturesque Austrian city between 19 and 24 November.

Film fans and acting hopefuls started to line up in the early morning hours yesterday (Weds) and on Tuesday in front of the city’s Congress Centre (Kongresshaus) to be assigned to play theatre audiences, police officers and FBI agents for 30 Euros per day in return.

Organisers, who at one point threatened to call off the casting as people had not stopped pushing, took attendants’ measurements but also asked whether they owned a smoking or a car – and teenagers whether they could stay away from school.

Austrocast spokesman Harry Reich cautioned that those who had been given the green light should curb their enthusiasm as their scenes could become a victim of the cutter.

"Knight and Day", which will hit cinemas next summer, is described as a romantic action thriller. Producers revealed Tom Cruise played a secret agent who fell in love with Cameron Diaz while travelling around the world to find a never-ending source of spiritual energy.

Salzburg has been chosen as a location for a wild chase through its city-centre streets and roofs, it has been announced.

Local tourism bosses appreciated the decision of 20th Century Fox to work in the city – and controversially decided to subsidy the project with 300,000 Euros.

Austrian Times

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