It's rare for a major studio film to hold an open casting call for a central role in a film, and even rarer for an actual unknown to be picked-- Paramount held what were widely expected to be casting calls for Super 8, a project that eventually cast Elle Fanning in a lead role, but they also had an open call for the lead in True Grit that resulted in relative unknown Hailee Steinfeld getting the part.

Now DreamWorks Studios-- formerly of Paramount, now in over at Disney-- is embarking on an open call to find a lead for Welcome to People, the directorial debut of Star Trek screenwriter Alex Kurtzman already set to star Elizabeth Banks and Chris pine, with Meryl Streep alsorumored for a role. The movie is a big switch from the sci-fi-centric Kurtzman, a family drama about a man (Pine) whose father dies and reveals in his will an entirely separate family. Banks is set to play a sister in the new family, an alcoholic with a 12-year-old son, who will presumably be played by whoever they pick up in the open call.

According to the press release, they're looking for a white boy ages 11-12, to audition this Saturday in Los Angeles. You don't need to have acting experience or even prepare something to audition; apparently they'll know what they want when they see it. Check out more information below and if you want your kid to be the male Hailee Steinfeld, now may be your chance.

LOS ANGELES, CA (November 30, 2010) - DreamWorks Studios has launched a casting search to fill a lead role in its upcoming movie “Welcome to People,” it was announced today by DreamWorks Studios.

Actors interested in the role are invited to attend an open casting call on Saturday, December 4, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. No acting experience is necessary for interested actors, nor are they required to prepare anything for the audition.

Role to be cast is ‘Josh’: Male, 11-13 years old, Caucasian, athletic, independent, and confident. Interested actors should be able to memorize lots of dialogue. Film will be rated PG-13 and actors should be comfortable with dialogue reflecting that rating.

Details on the open call audition are as follows:
R Saturday, December 4, 2010
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Denise Chamian Casting
Sunset Gower Studios
1438 N. Gower St.
Building 35, Suite 270
Hollywood, CA 90028
(323) 315-9445
(Street Parking Only)

Welcome to People is a drama about a young businessman (CHRIS PINE) who returns home after his estranged father's sudden death, only to uncover a devastating family secret, which sends him on an unexpected journey of self-discovery. Film is the feature film directorial debut of Alex Kurtzman (TRANSFORMERS, STAR TREK) with a script written by Kurtzman, Roberto Orci (TRANSFORMERS, STAR TREK) and Jody Lambert (OF ALL THE THINGS). In addition to Chris Pine (STAR TREK), Elizabeth Banks (THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN) has also joined the cast. Film is scheduled to begin production in January in Los Angeles.

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