Renovation casting call draws actors to Yuma

Forty actors gathered at the Yuma Art Center Saturday to vie for a role in the horror movie Renovation, which is slated to begin filming in Yuma sometime later in the year.
 
As well as local talent, people came from as far away as Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Tucson. The actors, both amateur and professional, were asked to read lines from the movie's script for director Robert Gwinn, writer-producer Charles Pisaeno, casting director Gerry Giss and other key production players.
 
"We had some amazing talent that came in today, and I was really surprised," said Pisaeno adding it was exciting hearing the lines from his screenplay come to life. "We will evaluate those who have tried out, and we have some really tough decisions to make during the next few weeks. We'll decide who we can use out of this group and we'll see what we still have to look for."
 
Gwinn said the production team was excited by the potential actors.
 
"In my opinion, we still have a few parts to fill, but today was certainly a good start. We are pretty sure where we are going to put some of these actors. There were only a few people we could not use because they didn't meet our expectations. Part of the process of making a film is finding the right people for each role, and ultimately building an ensemble team out of a group of individuals."
 
The group of forty potential actors waited patiently in the hallway carefully studying their lines and waiting their turn to have a shot at the silver screen.
 
Mike Butler, who hails from Phoenix, said he wasn't feeling any anxiety about reading the part he had been assigned.
 
"I'm reading for the part of Sam today, and I'm seeing if I can go in there and nail it. I'm not nervous because after the first couple of bombs, it gets easier. After you screw up real bad you know what not to do."
 
Laura Bendele, of Yuma, said she wasn't nervous either.
 
"I've done this before. Last September I got a part in another film Robert Gwinn was directing called Chasing Croutons. I want to get the part because the movie sounds very interesting. If I get chosen for a part that dies, I hope it is a really cool way, like falling off of a building or something."
 
Richard Butz, also of Yuma, said he would like to do the movie's nude scene.
 
"I don't have a problem being naked for thousands of people."
 
Michael Allen is a professional actor from Phoenix and said acting is his life blood.
 
"This is what I do because it is fun and it feels natural when I'm in front of a camera. I'm going to try out for several different characters and hopefully I'll land a spot. If I have too, I'm totally ready to die in the movie."
 
Aaron Ginn-Forsberg, a professional actor from Phoenix, said he was impressed with the details of the script.
 
"I liked the pieces I read, and from the character descriptions, they seemed very rich. There is a lot of diversity in the character relationships. I'm curious and excited about this production."
 
Gwinn said the next step is to sit down with Pisaeno and decide which actor is right for each role.