Star-struck UAE residents hungry for their moment in the spotlight are rushing to fill the spots being offered for extras in the Hollywood action film Mission: Impossible 4, scheduled to begin filming in Dubai next month.
Starring Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner and Paula Patton, the fourth instalment of the hit series has a three-week shooting schedule in the emirate.
Sunday, Dubai-based company Mediacubed, an online communication and networking portal dedicated to the media industry, announced it has been appointed as the official and exclusive partner for "the casting of the biggest Hollywood action feature film to be shot here in Dubai".
Adam-John Ridgway, the company's managing director, who says he is contractually obliged not to name the film, told tabloid! the website, mediacubed.com, "took a battering" over the weekend.
"Applicants in their thousands have already started uploading their vital statistics and information. We have had to update the software and the application to facilitate the rush," he says.
"It's the most incredible feeling to have the industry believing in our service. There's a wealth of talent in the UAE that's been untouched and we are confident we will find the right people."
Roles on offer include three speaking roles and more than 1,000 extras (see box for details).
Mediacubed, which began operations in January, was picked by local production company Filmworks, who is facilitating the filming.
Filming for Mission: Impossible 4 has already begun in Prague where Cruise (left), who has starred in all three previous instalments, along with a production team of about 400 are currently camped. They will then head to Dubai for three weeks followed by Vancouver.
The film, with a scheduled release date of December 2011, is being directed by Brad Bird, known for the animation hits The Incredibles and Ratatouille.
Go for it
Want to audition for a role in Mission: Impossible 4? Here are the current slots being sought:
ActorsThree speaking roles are up for grabs. Applicants must have acting experience. There are spots available for Arabic and European men aged 25-35 years and European women aged 40-50.
ExtrasThe casting directors are looking for glamorous Indian men and women between 25 and 50 years old, dressed in traditional kurta pyjamas or saris. Men and women of all nationalities aged 25-50 dolled up in evening dress, tuxedos or formal national dress are also sought. Finally, there are spots for businessmen and women from all nationalities aged 30-40. Registration closes on October 10, 2010. Shooting starts in November. Visit www.mediacubed.com
