Hollywood calls and Dubai hopefuls line up

After having spent three days outside a casting studio, Vinita Bharadwaj can safely say that the lights and camera may not have descended yet on Dubai, but the action has certainly begun

It wasn't even a full-page advertisement. The black and white notice that appeared last Monday took up only one-third of a page in the broadsheet. But, splashed right on top, were the magic words: "Filmstar Do you want to be in the movies?"

It has to be said that it did manage to generate a substantial amount of interest within the community. After all, it did say "international movie," and there were already rumours aplenty about a high-profile Hollywood team arriving in Dubai shortly.

Casting session

Telephone calls to the advertised number revealed absolutely nothing. Posing as a filmstar wannabe and showing up at the casting session to extract more information also failed.

"Here's the registration form," was the mechanical response to any innuendoes. There was no confirmation about any movie details or what the casting sessions were for and yet, people kept coming.

Intrigued by human behavioural patterns, this writer decided to camp outside the studio from last Tuesday until Thursday and watch casting hopefuls walk in and out of the spotlight. Curiosity had definitely taken over the people who fit into the advertised demographics and many had taken precious time off from their jobs to explore the unknown.

For Akram Hussain, a Palestinian and cashier at a government department, the outing was nothing more than a different way of spending his lunch break. "They have asked for Middle Eastern males, not models, so I wasn't scared to see what was happening," he said.

But after waiting around for half an hour, he decided it wasn't worth the effort. "There is no guarantee that I will be asked to do anything and no one is telling us what the movie is about, so I'm just going back to work," he said as he walked back to his pickup.

"But those two look like they are determined to make it," he said tilting his head towards a couple of young men, who had clearly dressed to impress.

Hollywood movie

Samir Bedir and Adel Ahmad, both Egyptians, were trying out for the same category as Hussain and seemed to be slightly better-informed than him. "Don't you know? It's a Hollywood movie with George Clooney. The sequel of Ocean's Eleven," said Bedir, unaware that Ocean's Twelve is already at the post-production stage.

Bedir is a local businessman and his friend, Ahmad, is visiting Dubai. "He (Bedir) had tried to work in movies in Egypt, but it's too disorganised and didn't work out. Anyway, we know this is a Hollywood project, so maybe we will become famous by acting in it," said Ahmad.

Warnings that they might have to spend a good portion of their day at the casting office did not daunt them and they even promised an exclusive interview if chosen. "Actors have to work hard and this is only the first step. We're ready to wait. It's not a problem for us," they both said.

While time may not have been a problem for Wissam Marouf, Luai Al Nabhani and Yasser Esmail, they had political reservations about being associated with a "Western" movie, fearing a negative portrayal of the region.

"They have not been very positive in their representation of the Middle East so when we heard it might be an English-language film we decided to leave," Marouf said.

By this time, word had got out that the roles up for grabs were that of extras. However, the power of fame, recognition and glamour was too strong to deter most of the applicants, who weren't bothered by the prospect of long hours, no news and finally, no part.

"It's not like I have anything better to do today, so I'm quite keen on finding out what's really going on," said Zara Naqvi, a Pakistani, who has lived in Dubai for the past six years. The long ladies line was not the place to be on a weekend, but it would have made for excellent conversation starters at a later time.

Local sources did say that the movie in question is Syriana, featuring George Clooney and Matt Damon. The film is listed on the Internet as being produced by Steven Soderbergh and directed by Stephen Gaghan. Soderbergh directed Ocean's Eleven, which might have led to the confusion over the credits.

With names like Clooney and Damon being tossed around, it was no surprise to see four times the number of women show up for the casting on day three. "The money is nothing. It's just $100 (Dh367) per day, if chosen, but I think for me it's more of a desire to see George Clooney. Actually, I think it would be for all the women in this line," Naqvi said.

She had heard through the industry grapevine that the casting was for extras but was more interested in a Clooney sighting than anything else. "I've seen Ivana Trump, if you can call that a celebrity sighting," she said with a laugh, "and a number of Bollywood stars, but this one has a special something associated with it."

Clooney, the former ER heartthrob who has headed many a "most attractive list" all over the world, managed to cut across many boundaries, including matrimony.

Filipinas Haydee Angeles Booy, Hayley Holbrook and Cristina Leonetti were unabashed in professing their admiration for Clooney and said their significant others were quite encouraging about their tryst with the camera.

Emerging from the studio, the trio was quite pleased with their experience, however trivial it may have appeared to others. "They just took some pictures of us from different angles, measured our vital statistics and then said they'd call us back," said Leonetti.

For the three housewives, this was just another day out, but the casting session meant serious business for a group of six breakdancers from Abu Dhabi. The boys, fresh out of high school, had arrived at 8am, two hours ahead of the specified time.

"We've been dancing for a long time and have performed in shows all over the UAE," said Islam Abdul Wahab, the troupe's leader.

The boys preferred to stay away from the general crowd, which meant they didn't have access to the various nuggets of gossip floating around. "We don't know what movie it is or which country is making it. The ad (sic) said international film, but we don't really mind. We just want to be famous," Wahab said.

The pull of fame and fortune has always been hard to resist for most, but in a city where such opportunities are rare, the pull is much stronger and even ropes in parents. The Grovers had a day off from school and work, but it wasn't 13-year old Sahil's idea to attend the casting; it was his father's.

Excellent chance

"Sahil has always demonstrated great talent at school and has always been a performer and I thought this would be an excellent chance for him to get onto a larger platform," Grover said.

Dismissing the stereotype that the entertainment industry is a dark world and not safe for young minds to play with, Grover said he wouldn't mind his children looking into the performing arts as a secondary profession. "In fact my daughter, Arushi, is disappointed that there is no category for Asian girls," he said.

Whatever the lure - fame, money, glamour, experience or just good old curiosity - after three days outside a casting studio it can be said with great confidence that the lights and camera may not have descended yet on Dubai, but the action has already begun.