The untitled Will Smith movie, scheduled to start shooting in Pittsburgh in October, is looking for men ages 18 to 30 with prior football experience to appear as extras. Anyone now in high school or playing for a college team cannot be considered due to eligibility issues.
An open call tryout will start at 9 a.m. Oct. 4 at Bethel Park High School, Practice Field One, 309 Church Road, Bethel Park (15102). Hopefuls must wear their own workout gear, bring grass football cleats and be available for rehearsal and filming dates that will fall between Oct. 20-31.
Hired extras will receive $250 for one rehearsal day and $400 for one day of filming. Email footballmovieextras@gmail.com for more information about the football tryouts or to preregister with Real Heaven Inc., which is handling the search.
Others, 18 and older, looking to fill extra roles such as former professional football players, Pittsburgh football fans, administrators, reporters and lawyers can visit movieextraspittsburgh.com, which also has more information about the football player search.
The drama about the timely topic of NFL players and head injuries is based on the October 2009 GQ story “Game Brain” by Jeanne Marie Laskas, a resident of Scenery Hill, Washington County.
The Oscar nominee will play Dr. Bennet Omalu, the first real-life pathologist to diagnose chronic traumatic encephalopathy in a professional football player. As he blows the whistle on player injuries, Dr. Omalu’s quest humanizes the price paid by professional athletes in impact sports — and the political, cultural and corporate interests that fuel the business of pro sports.
Online entertainment sites and trade publications report that Paul Reiser and “Belle” actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw will appear alongside Mr. Smith.
— Barbara Vancheri, PG movie editor
First Published: September 23, 2014, 4:00 a.m.