Actors/Extras/Casting

In order to cast my main character in the opening scene, it was vital that I develop him more deeply. I needed to reveal some of his ticks, his walk, his motives. This personality depicts how he will dress in the opening scene and how he reacts to the other actors/location. It would also help me direct who I casted. I also created a plan for the rest of the main scenes of the movie and since those scenes had more characters that were not included in the opening scene, I added them to this character list. By creating a celebrity cast list, I can better prepare for future aspirations with this movie. 

Characters:

ANATOL NOVIKOF: (INTJ - Architect) 17-18 year old Russian student. Bookish. Brilliant. Independent. Lanky. Quiet and introspective. Attractive in a dark-academia way. Wears round rimmed glasses and tweed suits. Holds a leather satchel around his shoulder. Anxious often, very private and keeps a journal. Is not very connected to the world around him on a local level, but sees the world through the philosophies in the books he reads and in the politics in the newspapers. Many of his family members acted against the soviet government or were suspected of it and were tortured in front of him (his backstory). He suffers from PTSD and has daytime visions of those incidents (ex- Soviet officers' attack dogs dragging his uncle, and when he was younger, his father was questioned and punched under a swinging light in a warehouse, Novikof (called by his last name) watched and was asked if he knew why his father was being hit. He stayed quiet). Becomes more sure of himself and his cause as the movie progresses, learns the art of spy-craft and takes it seriously, but doesn't necessarily get more loud about his views, but more confident and purposeful. Is always very careful. Asexual. 

VLADIMIR VETROV: (ESTP - Entrepreneur) A once KGB spy turned American spy, gave Reagan valuable information to stop a nuclear bomb that would have brought armageddon. 30's, reckless, likes women and parties. He has a unique way of gaining intelligence. When drunk, can be made to spill a bit of information. He is subject to great mood swings and has a mercurial relationship with his girlfriend (who he ends up murdering in his car). Becomes more anxious as the movie goes on because he's taking on a teenager. He ends of getting caught and shot in a Moscow prison. 

RONALD REAGAN - (ENFJ - Protagonist) The president of the United States. 

NOVIKOF'S UNCLE: (ENFP - Campaigner) Supportive of Novikof's passion for freedom and Western politics and hatred for the USSR. A bit too open about his views. Is tortured and dragged out of his home (he lives with Novikof and his parents) by soviet officers' attack dogs. 

NOVIKOF'S FATHER: (ISFJ - Defender) Is similar to Novikof's uncle, but tries to keep things more of a secret. Secretly supports Novikof, but would never say it (especially around Novikof's mother). 

NOVIKOF'S TEACHER: (ISTJ - Logistician) Strict, follows the orders of the USSR to the t, disapproves of Novikof (doesn't think he thinks "communist" enough). 

NOVIKOF'S MOTHER: (INFJ - Advocate) Quiet, frightened, always urging Novikof to burn his books and forget his ideas. 

LUDMILLA: (ESTJ - Executive) Vetrov's girlfriend. Completely ignorant to Vetrov's spying. Is annoyed when Vetrov seems anxious for "no reason." Gets jealous easy at Vetrov's love for parties, women, and alcohol. 

EXTRAS: Soviet guards, students in library, students/citizens walking on the street, students in Novikof's classroom, Soviet partygoers and their wives/mistresses. 

Celebrity Cast List:

ANATOL NOVIKOF - Eddie Redmayne

VLADIMIR VETROV - Danila Kozlovsky

NOVIKOF'S UNCLE - Kenneth Branagh

NOVIKOF'S FATHER - Sean Bean

NOVIKOF'S TEACHER - Leonardo DiCaprio

NOVIKOF'S MOTHER - Mary Steenburgen

LUDMILLA - Sophie Turner or Mila Jovovich

My Casting Work:

Casting Novikof:

Thought about using my brother as Novikof, but he is far too immature and giddy for acting under direction. I must also take into account the coronavirus and that some actors cannot being in certain situations because they live with people of high risk (ex-elderly or those with pre-existing conditions). 

I discussed the movie ideas with a friend, Lexi Schwartzburg, who attends drama at another school. She has many connections to drama students (as she is also the school's district representative in the Senior Thespians Competition). We drafted an email to Lexi's drama director asking for possible student volunteers. 

I DMed three individuals I deemed qualified for the main role as Novikof: Garrett Shanley, Alexander Denisov, and Luke DiLiddo. 

I sent Garrett Shanley:

"Hi! I saw that you took AICE media last year, and while I’m not in the class this year, I am taking the exam and making the opening scene. The film is set in early 80’s Soviet Russia. Filming will take only a day, and the character I would like to cast you as is a bookish, anti-Soviet teen-turned spy who partners with a famous Russian double agent. Odd request, I know, but would you be interested?"

I sent Alexander Denisov:

"Hi, I’m a senior at Coral Springs Charter School, and I'm filming a movie opening for my college-level film class. I know Lexi from Douglas Drama, and I asked her if anyone from Douglas Drama would be good. She showed me a picture of the troupe, and you fit the look of the character. The film is set in early 80’s Soviet Russia. Filming will take only a day, and the character I would like to cast you as is a bookish, anti-Soviet teen-turned spy who partners with a famous Russian double agent. Odd request, I know, but would you be interested?"

I sent Luke DiLiddo: 

"Hi, I’m a senior at Coral Springs Charter School, and I'm filming a movie opening for my college-level film class. I have some friends from NSB, and I saw you in Chicago. The film is set in early 80’s Soviet Russia. Filming will take only a day, and the character I would like to cast u as is a bookish, anti-Soviet teen-turned spy who partners with a famous Russian double agent. Odd request, I know, but would you be interested?"

Garrett looks like the best option as he messaged me back asking for the shot list and script. I sent him the shot list video and gave him more information about the character, the movie, and what he would be doing. 

Garrett Shanley is Novikof:

Casting Extras:

For the extras and guards in the opening scene, I turned to another local high school's talented drama department: Marjory Stoneman Douglas Drama. 

I had to go through a screening process as a volunteer in order to log onto their class Teams meeting. Here was the form for the school district I went through:

This was my scripted presentation:

"Hello all, 

I’m Savannah Cox, a senior at Coral Springs Charter School and an avid supporter of MSD’s drama. I’ve seen many of your shows, and you all are extremely talented. I’m filming an opening to the motion picture Novikof and I knew you all would be the perfect group to act in it. It’s a project for my college-level film class. The full movie takes place in the USSR (modern-day Russia) during the 1980’s, the height of the Cold War and Soviet communism. Armed guards. Attack dogs. Work camps. The like. A nobody teenager whose family has been ravaged by the government finds that he might be able to change this totalitarianism. He becomes a spy, carrying Soviet officer’s loose-lipped secrets to an experienced (historically-accurate) Russian double agent, who then takes the intelligence to Ronald Reagan, the US president. A lot of this is actual history.  

The opening scene, which is all I film for the project, takes place in a library. The Alvin Sherman library attached to NOVA is where I intend to shoot, and it is quite large-many stories- so social distancing should not be an issue, however I do not want masks in the shots. The opening scene will have extras as college students, as many as possible. One specific extra will be a young women walking a dog. If you have a dog and think you would fit this role, that would be helpful. The shooting will only take a day and will hopefully be in mid February.  

If you would like to see any of the film work I’ve done before it’s all on my YouTube Channel: Savannah Cox. 

I have experience making professional videos, and it is the kind of thing you can put on your college resume.  

Are there any questions?"

I logged onto the Teams meeting on Friday, 1/8/21 at 1:15pm. 

I received 3 texts from students asking to be extras, many with dogs, vying for the women with dog role. 

I also emailed 7 different drama directors for many schools in the area:

1. Coral Springs High School

2. Coral Springs Charter School

3. Westminster Academy

4. Taravella High School

5. South Broward High School

6. Coral Glades High School

7. Calvary Christian Academy

Their contacts are:

Calvary: mariave@ccaeagles.org

Taravella: lori.sessions@browardschools.com

Coral Springs High School: Krantz: barbara.krantz@browardschools.com

Coral Glades High School: Diana Focus: diana.focus@browardschools.com

Coral Springs Charter School: abutler@coralspringscharter.org

Coral Spears: carol.spears@browardschools.com

Westminster Academy: wilsonl@wa.edu

I wanted to have a murmur of Russian speech in the background of my opening scene. I got the Khaskin's (a Russian-speaking family) to record a variety of audio clips that I could edit for an authentic murmur in a Russian library. 

List of Extras

Isaiah Doldoron (Charter)

Allyse Doblmeier (Charter)

Marley Ackerman (Charter)

Jo (Charter)

Lexi Schwartzburg (MSD) (Will bring her well behaved, pitbull mutt dog for the match cut with the attack dog)

Joel Gamez (Charter)

Maya (MSD)

Hailey (MSD)

Andrea (MSD)

Ashley Buitrago (Calvary)

Diane Del Rio (Charter)

Soliel Escobar (Calvary Christian Academy)

Braylen Brooks (Charter)

Many of those who agreed to be extras left the group chat I made with all of them, but that is okay as I made sure to ask for a surplus of extras to compensate for people leaving. 

Those who showed up:

Isaiah Doldoron (Charter)

Marley Ackerman (Charter)

Lexi Schwartzburg (MSD) (Brought her well behaved, pitbull mutt dog for the match cut with the attack dog)

Joel Gamez (Charter)

Ashley Buitrago (Calvary) and her sister

Soliel Escobar (Calvary Christian Academy) (and her boyfriend)

Guard

I contacted my neighbor, Sargent Steve Davis about acting as the guard. He said that he sustained a debilitating hand injury and shouldn't move excessively, and since the role required running, he would have to ask someone else in his department. I followed up with him many times, but after about two weeks without reply, I went to my SRO (student resource officer). Officer Gasper told me he would ask Sargent Capplis, who is connected to community relations. Sargent Capplis told me he would be contacting his boss, who said that the officers cannot wear their uniforms during the shoot, but I said this was okay because I have a costume I want them to wear anyway. 

Just in case the officers could not fill the role, I asked my boyfriend to ask his dad to be the guard as his dad is tall, has a square jaw, and can look strict. He asked for more information, so I sent him the summary I had composed for all extra and other guard requests:

"Here is the basic summary for the film, which is entitled “Novikof” (the last name of the main character). 

The full movie takes place in the USSR (modern-day Russia) during the 1980’s, the height of the Cold War and Soviet communism. Armed guards. Attack dogs. Work camps. The like. A nobody teenager whose family has been ravaged by the government finds that he might be able to change this totalitarianism. He becomes a spy, carrying Soviet officer’s loose-lipped secrets to an experienced (historically-accurate) Russian double agent, who then takes the intelligence to Ronald Reagan, the US president. A lot of this is actual history." 

Then I sent him the movie posters and all of the shots he will be in. 

Other's Fan Casting on Pinterest:

While looking up "Novikof" of the web, I found someone in Russia who had made a collection of images of male models under the collection title "Novikof." It seemed like a fan cast from someone else in the world of my movie. This warmed my heart. I screenshotted some of the images that looked most like the character I picture:

These might impact my future casting choices.