Part of the high-profile movie “Parker” will be shot at Ca’ d’Zan Mansion at Ringling Museum of Art next week. Directed by Oscar-winner Taylor Hackford, the crime/thriller stars Jason Statham, Jennifer Lopez, Nick Nolte and Michael Chiklis. You could be in it, too. “Three days of paid work for ‘upscale’ looking formally dressed extras needed for major feature film to shoot at Ca’ d’Zan next week,” reads the email from the Sarasota County Film & Entertainment Office.
But the Herald has received conflicting reports regarding whether key cast members will be present.
“Parker” screenwriter John McLaughlin, best known for contributing to the “Black Swan” script, wrote the screenplay for the 1988 movie “Death Collector” directed by Tom Garrett.
Film professor at the University of Tampa and director of special initiatives for the Sarasota Film Festival, Garrett has been friends with McLaughlin ever since that collaboration. “From what I’ve been informed of regarding the scene being filmed in Sarasota, all the principal actors -- Jennifer Lopez, Jason Statham, Michael Chiklis and Wendell Pierce -- are working at different times, but will be there,” Garrett said. “And the Sarasota Film Festival is hosting the wrap party.”The Ringling Museum of Art issued a more detailed, but strikingly different report.
“‘Parker’ is filming one scene, the final ‘charity auction scene’ Sept. 28 through 30 at the Ringling Museum,” reads the statement by Pam Fendt, chief of marketing and communications at Ringling Museum of Art, released to the Herald upon request. “The movie is directed by Taylor Hackford and stars Jason Statham and Jennifer Lopez. Neither of these leading stars will be on site for the scene being filmed at the museum. The taping, predominantly taking place at night, is closed to the public.”
Regardless if the stars will be in Sarasota or not, R.J.’s Casting and Unique Casting Partners is looking for high-end, wealthy-looking “Palm Beach” types ages 30 to 70 to work as background extras. Candidates must be available to work in Sarasota on Sept. 28, 29 and 30 and provide the appropriate wardrobe. Nearly 300 extras are sought. Pay is $105 per day for three days. The first floor of the Ca’ d’Zan will be closed Sept. 27 through Sept. 30 to accommodate filming. The Ca’ d’Zan’s “Private Places Tour,” a private tour of the second story to the Belvedere Tower will continue to operate on a normal schedule.
Due to the nature of the project, the grounds will be open only to Ringling Museum venue ticketed visitors. Other museum venues will remain open, including the new $7.5 million addition to the Ringling Circus Museum’s Tibbals Learning Center that will be featured in the A&E section of the Herald on Sunday.
“The filming of ‘Parker’ is anticipated to provide an additional economic boost to Sarasota and the Ringling Museum,” Fendt’s statement continues. “In the past six months alone, television and film directors from New York and L.A. have chosen to film major productions at the Ringling Museum, drawn by the magnificent galleries, grounds and gardens.
“Earlier this year, PBS television recorded Jackie Evancho’s solo concert debut at the Ringling Museum, which was watched by millions of Americans from coast-to-coast.”People interested in being an extra in “Parker” are asked to submit a head shot or current digital picture to rjscasting@aol.com or www.rjscasting.com along with contact information.