Casting Call! [ Edited ]

[JeniferKAllison]

All of these would not be able to be in the same movie because the timing/ages wouldn't work, but if you picture them the right age for the part and I think they'd be great!  

Maria:Greta Garbo (has the charm and love, as well as the not so classic beauty I picture in Maria) or Ingrid Bergman(has the charm and regal bearing I read in Maria)

Teodor: Gerard Butler (I agree, he's perfect for any role!) or Fredric March (I can't say why, I just picture him doing well in this role)

Anna: Joan Crawford (for her ability to be 'ugly' while being so very beautiful) or Jean Harlow (for the same reason)

Stefan:James Cagney (That legandary charm) 

Myron:Kurt Russel (was great a child actor)

Dania: Margaret O'Brien

Sofia: Judy Garland

Katya: Shirley Temple

Ivan: Brandon De Wilde 

Petro:Jackie Coogan

Lesya: Dakota Fanninng (I think this little girl has classic talent and could pull of the hope and heartbreak of Lesya perfectly)

Message Edited by JeniferKAllison on 08-25-2009 10:31 AM

[dclement04]

OK this is fun...i really had to think about this sooo my bids for actors/actresses go tooooo:

Stefan = Christian Bale (he could definately pull this one off!)

Maria = Meryl Streep ( i agree with someone else on this one) 

Anna = Rachel Adams

Theo = Nicholas Cage or Ryan Gosling

Happy reading!!  

[literature]

I am more familiar with the older actors and actresses and a lot of them have gone on to greener pastures.  So my picks are:

Maria - Meryl Strep because she can play any role and well

Teodor - Sean Penn or possibly Kiefer Sutherland with darker hair

Anna - Renee Zellweger because that's exactly how I pictured Anna living on the prairies

Stefan - Ken Olin, I've seen him play parts as a dirty rotten scoundral and he was very convincing

And I picked Clint Eastwood as the producer/director because anything he does is always great.

I think also looking to European actors & actresses might give more authenticity to the individual characters.  Unfortunately I don't know any to name.

As for the children, I wouldn't even know where to begin.

[pjpick]

Wow! This is a tough one.

Teodor: either a pared down Russel Crowe or I agree with Gerard Butler. Crowe can really connect a lot with his eyes.

Stefan: for me, Leonardo DiCaprio is my perfect choice. I think of him in Gangs of New York and I think he could pull this part off really well, although I do think Christian Bale would be a good choice as well.

Maria: maybe Jodi Foster? or Robin Wright Penn? or Glenn Close if she were 10 years younger.

Anna: the gal who played John Cuzask's girlfriend in High Fidelity--I don't know her name.

Lesya: Abigail Breslyn from Little Miss Sunshine.

[KathyS]

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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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ROTFLMAO!!!  We could always cast Brook Shields as Anna!  I know, I'm sorry, that was hitting below the belt!  Then, again, the  height problem would be there...Brook is at least three feet taller than Tom!  I don't think they make three foot lifts for shoes.  

[literature]

JeniferKAllison wrote:

All of these would not be able to be in the same movie because the timing/ages wouldn't work, but if you picture them the right age for the part and I think they'd be great!  

Maria:Greta Garbo (has the charm and love, as well as the not so classic beauty I picture in Maria) or Ingrid Bergman(has the charm and regal bearing I read in Maria)

Teodor: Gerard Butler (I agree, he's perfect for any role!) or Fredric March (I can't say why, I just picture him doing well in this role)

Anna: Joan Crawford (for her ability to be 'ugly' while being so very beautiful) or Jean Harlow (for the same reason)

Stefan:James Cagney (That legandary charm) 

Myron:Kurt Russel (was great a child actor)

Dania: Margaret O'Brien

Sofia: Judy Garland

Katya: Shirley Temple

Ivan: Brandon De Wilde 

Petro:Jackie Coogan

Lesya: Dakota Fanninng (I think this little girl has classic talent and could pull of the hope and heartbreak of Lesya perfectly)

__________________________________________________________________

And if Jackie Coogan isn't available, how about Robert Blake (The Little Raskals) for Petro?  Or is he still in jail for killing his wife?

And if Jean or Joan aren't available for Anna, there's always Betty Davis.

[KathyS]

Of course, the extensive use of an airbrush and plastics would be necessary...but it could work!

Teodor:  Hugh Jackman

Maria:  Nicole Kidman

Anna: Natalie Portman

Stefan:  Ben Affleck

OR famous duos:

Teodor:  Harrison Ford

Maria:  Kelly McGillis

Anna:  Kate Winslet

Stefan:  Leonardo Dicaprio

[melisndav]

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 - Anne Hathaway

Anna- Angelina Jolie

Theo - Brad Pitt

Stefan - Johnny Depp

[michaelsjlrc]

I think this is tough because while Shandi was very discriptive about a lot of things (scenery and scenes in particular) in this novel, the physical descriptions of the characters were not as detailed.  Somehow when I picture Maria, I see Julianna Margulies (the nurse who played George Clooney's girlfriend in ER) and for Teodor I see Adrian Brody. Anna and Stefan are tougher. Maybe Charlize Theron for Anna and Ralph Fiennes for Stefan. I don't think I could cast the kids - the kid actors I'm familiar with are too pop to play these types of kids.

[bartzturkeymom]

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JaneM wrote:

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

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I could see Peter Stomare as Stefan

[emmagrace]

literature wrote:

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am more familiar with the older actors and actresses and a lot of them have gone on to greener pastures.  So my picks are:

Maria - Meryl Strep because she can play any role and well

Teodor - Sean Penn or possibly Kiefer Sutherland with darker hair

Anna - Renee Zellweger because that's exactly how I pictured Anna living on the prairies

Stefan - Ken Olin, I've seen him play parts as a dirty rotten scoundral and he was very convincing

And I picked Clint Eastwood as the producer/director because anything he does is always great.

I think also looking to European actors & actresses might give more authenticity to the individual characters.  Unfortunately I don't know any to name.

As for the children, I wouldn't even know where to begin.

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I could not agree more! Clint Eastwood always directs amazing movies and he would be perfect for this piece! Meryl Streep is awesome as well!

[Anna_Louise]

What fun and a wonderful idea!

Okay; here goes:

Maria-Amy Adams

Anna-Kate Winslet

Theo-Liam Neilson or Brad Pitt (I personally like Liam!!!)

Stefan-Johnny Depp or Ralph Fiennes

Children:  I'm not sure but any of the children actors/actress I think would be fine.

Anna

[KathyS]

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Anna_Louise wrote:

What fun and a wonderful idea!

Okay; here goes:

Maria-Amy Adams

Anna-Kate Winslet

Theo-Liam Neilson or Brad Pitt (I personally like Liam!!!)

Stefan-Johnny Depp or Ralph Fiennes

Children:  I'm not sure but any of the children actors/actress I think would be fine.

Anna

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Liam Neeson, yes, yes, yes....but the thought of him, in the ending of the story....I don't think there would be a dry eye in the house!  The question is, would we want to see our major hero turned into someone who would commit murder, and then kill himself?

Part of me wonders if this kind of a story, as it stands, could ever be made into a movie.  How do you translate it....visually....I picture it as an epic, sweeping lanscape, art film....but....  Not many people go to the movies to see this kind of art, especially in epic form.

People want to be entertained, for sure, but not be hit with too much they have to think about.  Anna's mind, alone, would take work to get settled into a comfortable visual space.  You can't see into it, from the outside.   The actress would have to be exceptional.  I have a feeling, if this is bought without Shandi's input, the ending would surely changed.

[emmagrace]

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Anna_Louise wrote:

What fun and a wonderful idea!

Okay; here goes:

Maria-Amy Adams

Anna-Kate Winslet

Theo-Liam Neilson or Brad Pitt (I personally like Liam!!!)

Stefan-Johnny Depp or Ralph Fiennes

Children:  I'm not sure but any of the children actors/actress I think would be fine.

Anna 

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KathyS wrote:

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Liam Neeson, yes, yes, yes....but the thought of him, in the ending of the story....I don't think there would be a dry eye in the house!  The question is, would we want to see our major hero turned into someone who would commit murder, and then kill himself?

Part of me wonders if this kind of a story, as it stands, could ever be made into a movie.  How do you translate it....visually....I picture it as an epic, sweeping lanscape, art film....but....  Not many people go to the movies to see this kind of art, especially in epic form.

People want to be entertained, for sure, but not be hit with too much they have to think about.  Anna's mind, alone, would take work to get settled into a comfortable visual space.  You can't see into it, from the outside.   The actress would have to be exceptional.  I have a feeling, if this is bought without Shandi's input, the ending would surely changed.

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Liam Neeson would be awesome as Theo you guys. I agree with you Kathy, this novel would be difficult to interpret visually and I would hate to see Liam become a murderer and then kill himself. I am also sure that they would have to change many things to make it work on film!

[Stellaluna99]

I've been struggling with trying to think if actors for these rolls and it makes me realize just how few young actors I actually know! And I'm only 37!! But I can completely agree about Angelina Jolie for Anna.  She does such a fantastic job at playing women that are mentally unstable and Anna definitely fits that description.

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melisndav 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 - Anne Hathaway

Anna- Angelina Jolie

Theo - Brad Pitt

Stefan - Johnny Depp

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[Immortal-Spirit]

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Lil_Irish_Lass wrote:

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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.

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I totally agree.  Plain, everyday people.  

[Immortal-Spirit]

I have to also admit that I don't know many young actors, and I'm 41!  However, I liked several of the casting calls that I have read. 

I also have to agree that this wouldn't make a good "Hollywood" movie.  This book is perfect by itself and if Hollywood got involved, they would change everything and we wouldn't even recognize it!  People in general just don't want to see an ending that is not happy or the hero is flawed.  And to keep their attention is another problem....

I love this book as is, and wouldn't want it changed for a movie. 

[PinkPanther]

I would not be able to pick any famous people to act in the movie. I feel as though this book needs foreign and unknown actors. Maybe making the book into a documentary sort of film, with people that lived through a similar situation speaking. I just feel that this book is meant to be lived through by stories of people who actually had to go through what the family went through.

[GrammiT]

i think Liev Schreiber would make a great Theo, maybe Kate Winslet as Maria.  Not sure about  Anna or Stefan--would take a very strong, serious actress/actor.

[GadgetgirlKS]

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Immortal-Spirit wrote:

I have to also admit that I don't know many young actors, and I'm 41!  However, I liked several of the casting calls that I have read. 

I also have to agree that this wouldn't make a good "Hollywood" movie.  This book is perfect by itself and if Hollywood got involved, they would change everything and we wouldn't even recognize it!  People in general just don't want to see an ending that is not happy or the hero is flawed.  And to keep their attention is another problem....

I love this book as is, and wouldn't want it changed for a movie. 

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I also agree. The book is such a great story and I wouldn't want to see it changed or "hollywoodish." Although it has been fun to visualize some of the actors and actresses that people have suggested in these roles.