Casting Call!

[Rachel-K]

Okay, one of our favorite threads to lighten the conversation!

You're in charge of casting the film of Under this Unbroken Sky. Who will play Maria? Anna? Theo?  And what actor can carry off playing Stefan?

This is always a fun thread, although I'm not sure we've used it for a novel with so much heartbreak! But, we're allowed to have fun with even the most serious novels, right?

[misslynn]

Casting Call-adults in European immigration would be young so....

Maria-Amy Adams

Anna-Cameron Diaz

Theo-Gerard Butler

Stefan-Mark Wahlberg

Children-I like Disney actress Emily Osment for Sophia

[babzilla41]

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rkubie wrote:

Okay, one of our favorite threads to lighten the conversation!

You're in charge of casting the film of Under this Unbroken Sky. Who will play Maria? Anna? Theo?  And what actor can carry off playing Stefan?

This is always a fun thread, although I'm not sure we've used it for a novel with so much heartbreak! But, we're allowed to have fun with even the most serious novels, right?

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Meryl Streep for Maria!

[Lil_Irish_Lass]

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misslynn wrote:

Casting Call-adults in European immigration would be young so....

Maria-Amy Adams

Anna-Cameron Diaz

Theo-Gerard Butler

Stefan-Mark Wahlberg

Children-I like Disney actress Emily Osment for Sophia

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Not bad, I can't think of anyone specific but I definitely see all of the characters as more salt of the earth than Hollywood attractive and think the casting should reflect that along with looking ethnically appropriate.

I see a cast very similar to the one in Fiddler on the Roof.

[booksJT]

Casting Call

Maria-Angelina Jolie

Anna-Kyra Sedgwick

Theo-Robert Redford

Stefan-Patrick Swayze

Kids I am not  sure. Daughters Dakota Fanning for Sophia,Miley Cyrus-Lesya older

[JaneM]

I was thinking of Juliette Binoche as Maria.  I saw her recently in a movie called Breaking & Entering as a Sarajevo mother, and although she's a little older than I would think of for Maria, I like her character.

I kind of think Cameron Diaz might be OK for Anna - with a dark wig.

I've also been thinking of Liev Schreiber as Teodor.  He was wonderful as a Russian Jew in Defiance.  Also in Defiance the second brother was played by Daniel Craig, and I can see him as Stefan - handsome.

Actually I think all the characters should be about 30 to 35 years old, but I don't know that many actors well in that age group!

Jane M.

Message Edited by JaneM on 08-24-2009 10:10 AM

[Melissa_W Moderator]

If this were to be made into a movie, I would hope the producers and casting directors look to the European cinema for the Ukranian characters.  A-list stars from the US would not look right, they are too polished.  Vincent Cassell (last seen in the US in Eastern Promises when he played the boss's son) would make a fantasic Stefan and he does do an excellent pompous sleazeball; Monica Bellucci would do well for Anna.  David Kross (The Reader) is getting a bit too old to play Myron but I kept picturing him in the role because Myron always seemed older than his actual age.  Liev Schreiber would probably do well as Teodor but a better choice would be either Jeroen Krabbe or Tchecky Karyo from about 15 years ago because he has the right "weariness" look about him.  Maria is harder to cast because she isn't conventionally pretty and needs to look Slavic rather than Western European; I keep thinking of Anakin Skywalker's mom, Shmi, played by Pernilla August.

[KathyS]

Okay, I've never played this game before on a First Look book....let's see, now....my mind is going back about a hundred years..They're either dead, or too old...don't yawn too much! LOL

I see Teodor as Gregory Peck - Tall, dark, quiet, thoughtful and brooding.

I see Stepan as Charlton Heston (although, I would have hated to see Moses as a bad guy!)

I see Maria as Ingrid Bergman - strong, speaks her mind, and sensitive.

I see Anna as Isabella Rossellini - superb ability.

Whoever is chosen for the adult female parts, I think they should be between 35 and 45.  The men could be older.

The first actress that stuck out in my mind, thinking about Maria...was also suggested, Meryl Streep.  She is one of those actresses who takes on the character, and the accent, without hesitation.  But, poor Meryl is now 60 years old...a little long in the tooth for these female parts, which is a shame.

[emmagrace]

This is a tough one for me to cast!  I'll give it my best shot!! I am going to try some actual Ukranian actors and actresses!

Anna -  Anna Kondratyeva

Maria - Milla Jovovich

Teodore - Oleg Sky

Stefan - Stephan Daviesratyera

[babzilla41]

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KathyS wrote:

Okay, I've never played this game before on a First Look book....let's see, now....my mind is going back about a hundred years..They're either dead, or too old...don't yawn too much! LOL

I see Teodor as Gregory Peck - Tall, dark, quiet, thoughtful and brooding.

I see Stepan as Charlton Heston (although, I would have hated to see Moses as a bad guy!)

I see Maria as Ingrid Bergman - strong, speaks her mind, and sensitive.

I see Anna as Isabella Rossellini - superb ability.

Whoever is chosen for the adult female parts, I think they should be between 35 and 45.  The men could be older.

The first actress that stuck out in my mind, thinking about Maria...was also suggested, Meryl Streep.  She is one of those actresses who takes on the character, and the accent, without hesitation.  But, poor Meryl is now 60 years old...a little long in the tooth for these female parts, which is a shame.

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The interesting thing about casting older actors is to remember that the characters should look older than their age - not only because they worked day and night in the harshest of conditions but because if you look back - even just 30 years ago - at someone's high school senior picture, that 18 year old student looks a lot older than the 18 year old students of today.  Even when looking at the photos Shandi posted, I wondered how old the women were and thought they were probably younger than they looked.

[KathyS]

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babzilla41 wrote:

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KathyS wrote:

Okay, I've never played this game before on a First Look book....let's see, now....my mind is going back about a hundred years..They're either dead, or too old...don't yawn too much! LOL

I see Teodor as Gregory Peck - Tall, dark, quiet, thoughtful and brooding.

I see Stepan as Charlton Heston (although, I would have hated to see Moses as a bad guy!)

I see Maria as Ingrid Bergman - strong, speaks her mind, and sensitive.

I see Anna as Isabella Rossellini - superb ability.

Whoever is chosen for the adult female parts, I think they should be between 35 and 45.  The men could be older.

The first actress that stuck out in my mind, thinking about Maria...was also suggested, Meryl Streep.  She is one of those actresses who takes on the character, and the accent, without hesitation.  But, poor Meryl is now 60 years old...a little long in the tooth for these female parts, which is a shame.

---

The interesting thing about casting older actors is to remember that the characters should look older than their age - not only because they worked day and night in the harshest of conditions but because if you look back - even just 30 years ago - at someone's high school senior picture, that 18 year old student looks a lot older than the 18 year old students of today.  Even when looking at the photos Shandi posted, I wondered how old the women were and thought they were probably younger than they looked.

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Bab, you are absolutely right!  I look back at my old high school pictures...black and white...Ugh!

I also think that sepia film/B&W old photos, as well.... does put on age to figures in a picture...as well as the hardships that wore these poor souls down...weather beaten, and haggard from sun up to sun down, working in all weather conditions.  I feel pampered!

So, what is it, then?  Do we vote for Meryl?!

[m3girl]

I just finished the book a few minutes ago and now I'm thinking about your question.  I think some of the ideas posted are interesting but Meryl Streep and Robert Redford are Too Old - unfortunately because they are of the right quality of actor I would want for this story.

I'm not sure if Amy Adams isn't too sweet and giggly to be Maria...I have only seen her in those types of roles - and she does them well.

I like Gerard Butler for Theo - I like him just about anywhere!!  But I also think he could play a rugged hard working man - with just that twinkle in his eye.

I'm thinking it would need actors that can look like Alberta farmers - and so many of the film actors today are just too beautiful and quite frankly not talented or trained well enough to pull off stuff like this....perhaps looking into the theaters for some solid well tr

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rkubie wrote:

Okay, one of our favorite threads to lighten the conversation!

You're in charge of casting the film of Under this Unbroken Sky. Who will play Maria? Anna? Theo?  And what actor can carry off playing Stefan?

This is always a fun thread, although I'm not sure we've used it for a novel with so much heartbreak! But, we're allowed to have fun with even the most serious novels, right?

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ained actors....and now I will get off my soapbox. 

[cocospals]

I don't think any high profile actor/actress can play any of these characters. I think an Eastern European cast would be appropriate. Someone of strong stock, not necessarily gorgeous but someone who fits the part. I am sorry but I cannot picture Amy Adams and Cameron Diaz playing these women.

[BDonnelly]

What does everyone think about Tom Cruise for Stefan?  A lot of us already don't like him!  If I think of any other great casts I'll post them as well.

[Deltadawn]

ok, my first thought for Teodore was Daniel Day Lewis. but I agree that Gerard Butler would be a great fit too - I too like him "just about anywhere," as you say, m3girl!

For Maria I was thinking Kate Winslet - someone mentioned Juliet Binoche - I think she would be GREAT.

Anna - some mentioned Cameron Diaz - I think she would do very well with the part.

Stephan - Matt Damon

I'm not sure about the kids....

[Wisteria-L]

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rkubie wrote:

Okay, one of our favorite threads to lighten the conversation!

You're in charge of casting the film of Under this Unbroken Sky. Who will play Maria? Anna? Theo?  And what actor can carry off playing Stefan?

This is always a fun thread, although I'm not sure we've used it for a novel with so much heartbreak! But, we're allowed to have fun with even the most serious novels, right?

---

Maria- Sandra Bullock

Anna- Kate Winslet

Theo- Kianu Reeves

Stefan-Johnny Depp

[misslynn]

Those are good choices. I think Patrick Swayze is very sick now though. I saw a picture and he didn't look good.

[Lil_Irish_Lass]

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cocospals wrote:
I don't think any high profile actor/actress can play any of these characters. I think an Eastern European cast would be appropriate. Someone of strong stock, not necessarily gorgeous but someone who fits the part. I am sorry but I cannot picture Amy Adams and Cameron Diaz playing these women.

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I couldn't agree more. None of the "Hollywood" set would be believable by any stretch of the imagination. The book is not just about any old poor family trying to farm the land... it's about a UKRAINIAN family and therefore the actors need to look at least Eastern European if not actually Ukrainian themselves.

[Lil_Irish_Lass]

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BDonnelly wrote:
What does everyone think about Tom Cruise for Stefan?  A lot of us already don't like him!  If I think of any other great casts I'll post them as well.

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Cruise was fine as a pretty boy pilot but could never be a believable military man... he's just not physically large enough to begin with, nor big enough of a personality to play a man like Stefan regardless of public opinion of him or not.

Stefan needs to be played by a large, intimidating man with a glimmer of a young Don Juan in him to see what Anna saw in the young man who asked her to dance who had promise of a great life yet who became a jerk.

[dhaupt]

I agree with the other posters saying that Hollywood actors wouldn't fit in this film. 

I see Eastern European actors as well, speaking the native tongue of the family and subtitles.

I see more an art film.