LOOKING FOR STARS Winner Gets Key Role In Revolution Studios′ Sci-Fi Thriller Next Starring Nicolas Cage And Julianne Moore
Starz′ 14-Episode Talent Search Micro-Series LOOKING FOR STARS To Premiere Monday, June 19 at 8:50 p.m. (ET/PT)
A speaking role in Revolution Studios′ upcoming action adventure movie NEXT, starring Nicolas Cage and Julianne Moore, is the grand prize for the one talented winner of Starz′ original reality micro-series LOOKING FOR STARS, Starz Entertainment Group (SEG) and Revolution Studios announced today. The series will follow nearly two-hundred contestants from their first auditions through the appearance of the winner on the film set. LOOKING FOR STARS will premiere at 8:50 p.m. (ET/PT) Monday, June 19 on Starz, and continue through September.
The 14-episode micro-series is the first reality show of its kind: each episode is just 10-minutes long. It continues SEG′s commitment to creating unconventional programming that provides entertainment on the Starz premium channel but is also perfectly suited for VOD, the Internet and portable players that are becoming increasingly popular.
Thousands of aspiring actors responded to Starz′ casting call in January and vied for the 300 audition spots for the chance to be in a major motion picture. Auditions were held in New York, Las Vegas, Orlando and Kansas City, with only eight semi-finalists getting tickets to the finals in Hollywood. Original MTV VJ Alan Hunter and two local industry pros did the judging in each city. In the final, Hunter is joined by actor/director Melanie Mayron ("thirtysomething" and "The Baby-Sitters Club") and Revolution Studios executive Brad Sexton, who will make the ultimate decision of who will be cast in a speaking role in NEXT.
"In each city we were met by a multitude of diverse and unique individuals, many with talent, some just looking for a chance to realize their 15 minutes of fame," said Hunter. "Truly though this is the chance of a lifetime for the winner. To call it anything else would be to underestimate the power of this show."
The regional industry professionals who joined Hunter for the initial auditions for LOOKING FOR STARS include: Gawker.com editor Jessica Coen and Fox 5 reporter Naamua Delaney in New York City; KVBC News entertainment reporter Alicia Jacobs, and former actor and Las Vegas Connection reporter Bart Torres in Las Vegas; sisters and co-owners of the Actors Info. Booth, Inc. Lisa and Laura Bunbury in Orlando; and actor/comedian Tidy Dillard, and The Agency talent agency owner Janis Kliethermes in Kansas City.
Revolution Studios′ science fiction action thriller Next stars Academy Award® winner Nicolas Cage and Academy Award® nominee Julianne Moore, as well as Jessica Biel and is being directed by Lee Tamahori. It will be released domestically by Columbia Pictures in 2007.
Cage plays a man with the unique ability to see future events and affect their outcome. Relentlessly pursued by the FBI, which is seeking to use his abilities to prevent a global terrorist threat, he is ultimately faced with the daunting choice of saving the world or the woman he loves.
LOOKING FOR STARS is SEG′s first foray into original serialized short-form programming and is sponsored by SEG in association with Revolution Studios. Encore episodes will air on Starz on the Sunday following each original episode and on Starz Edge on the Saturday following each original episode at 8:50 p.m. (ET/PT), plus it will be available to view on Starz On Demand and available for download on the new Vongo service. For more information visit the LOOKING FOR STARS webpage at www.starz.com/lookingforstars.
