'Passionada'

Producers cast a wide net for movie extras

(Published on May 11, 2001)

By Robert Lovinger, Standard-Times staff writer

Photography by Jack Iddon, Standard-Times chief photographer

(click on each photo to view caption)

NEW BEDFORD -- "We have no idea what to expect," said Anne Mulhall, in charge of casting extras for a movie about to be shot here. Fearing that hundreds, perhaps thousands, will appear, the production team knew enough to move the site of its open casting call. From 5:30 to 9 tonight and 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow, the casting team for the movie "Passionada" will be looking for 500 people to serve as paid extras. The casting call will be at the city's Waterfront Visitor Center, on Fisherman's Wharf, near the foot of Union Street. The film company had planned to hold the event at its Purchase Street offices downtown.

Set in New Bedford, the movie concerns three generations of Portuguese women. It is said to be the first, full-length feature film shot in the city since "Down to the Sea in Ships" in 1922, and maybe the first about Portuguese immigrants.
The casting company, Collinge/Pickman of Boston, seeks men, women and children, but no one under 8 years old. The firm is especially looking for people who speak Portuguese. Would-be extras are asked to bring a recent photo that will not be returned. The whole process, including a brief interview, should take about five minutes, according to Ms. Mulhall, who owns her own company, LDI Casting of Warwick, R.I. (The five minutes doesn't include standing in what might be a very long line.)

Director Dan Ireland will take his cast and crew all over the city during the shoot, which is expected to begin May 17 and continue through June. Among numerous sites mentioned are the waterfront, the Seamen's Bethel, a textile mill, St. Luke's Hospital and the old New Bedford High School. The production is likely to require street closings and parking bans along with way. As with all movies, this film's title has been changing. Names floated in recent days include "Apaixonado" and "Passionata." Arthur Motta, the city's director of marketing and tourism, said the production team "is taken with what they've seen here. The cinematographer told me yesterday that beauty is in contrasts, and that New Bedford has remarkable contrasts. He said it's very photogenic." Mr. Motta, who began talks with the movie's principals in 1998, has said "Passionada" could do for New Bedford tourism what "The Perfect Storm" did for Gloucester. He suspects the company is looking for 500 extras in order to be able to create a festival scene. The filmmakers plan to shoot part of the Day of Portugal Festival next month, but probably will want to do set-up shots apart from the real festival, he said.
Director Ireland made "The Whole Wide World," starring Vincent D'Onofrio and Renee Zellweger, in 1996. He also has been a producer on the films "Twister," "Midnight Crossing" and "Paperhouse."
The production team has yet to announce the stars of the movie.

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