Casting Call For Adam Sandler Movie Brings People Near And Far

MARBLEHEAD, MA — Pirates, witches, rock stars and a few ghouls descended on the Marblehead Senior Center Saturday. They all had the same goal, a little slice of stardom. Happy Madison, Adam Sandler's production company, held an open casting call Saturday for a film being shot this summer in Danvers and other North Shore locations. Producers said they are looking for actors, models and talent of all ages, and so, that's just what they got.

People from across the state and as far as Maine, New Hampshire and Connecticut made the trip out to Marblehead for the casting call.

Kevin Butler, of Milbury, came wearing a florescent Luna moth costume. He, like many others, said he's always wanted to be in one of Adam Sandler's movies.

"It's a bucket list item," he said as he walked into the community center.

Inside, officials told folks applying that filming would start in July and continue well into August and it wouldn't be unusual if folks were not called until two days before filming.

Although the movie has a Halloween focus, Casting Director Judy Bouley, who helped cast for films like "Contact" a "Perfect Storm" and "Polar Express" said they needed extras for scenes that didn't involve costumes.

Bouley said casting crew were on scene and processing people since 6:30 a.m. By 1:30 p.m., she estimated some 3,000 people had already come through, and she said she wouldn't be surprised if another 2,000 showed up.

Families showed up to fill out an application and take a photo together like Helene Lamontagne dressed as a cow with her small child dressed as a farmer. Others came just to support their children.

Tara Zink and her 5-year-old daughter Olivia drove up from Connecticut. At 10:45 a.m. the two were out some 30 minutes later. But this wasn't their first rodeo. Olivia won "World's Talented Miss Princess Ambassador," and has appeared in advertisements like Toys R Us.

"We started when she was a baby, at 6 months, and she likes the stage and loves to sing, so it's a lot of fun," said Zink, who was dressed like a mini Mary Poppins, complete with heels and umbrella and bag.

Then there were those who popped over on a whim.

Peter Monroe and Eduardo Tanner walked over from neighboring Salem in their regular clothes, which, it turns out, many confused as costumes.

"We just dress to impress," said Tanner.

"Even if we aren't called back, it was fun," said Monroe.

And that was largely the sentiment as folks old and young filtered in and out, many without acting experience, but some, like Al Cialella, acting guild members who came hoping to get cast in a background scene.

"I'm here because I'm an actor, and really, it's just great fun," said Cialella.

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Casting Call For Adam Sandler Movie Filming In Massachusetts

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).