PLANO -- A casting call is looking to fill particular roles for the revamped TV series, "Dallas," which is set to begin production later this year.
The directors are not searching for additional actors but rather for filming locations that would showcase the new "Dallas" to viewers across the nation. Some North Texas residents could have their home or business chosen as a scene in a future episode.While it's not a speaking part, the properties used in the show are expected to say a lot about how the region has evolved since the show first debuted in 1978
Dallas Film Commissioner Janis Burklund said Plano residents or business owners may have an added advantage in the location casting because of the close proximity to Southfork Ranch -- the location of the Ewing Mansion that was also used in the pilot for the series continuation.
"While they're filming out there, they often have to marry other scenes," Burklund said. "It's easier for them to make a day by not moving that far away."
In most cases, writers generally have a script and look for locations that match their ideas. The producers of TNT's new show are mixing up the process and asking the writers to draw inspiration from carefully selected locations as they begin working on the season's first 10 episodes.
"It gives the writers more of a chance to write about what's really here," Burklund said.
As the younger characters come in, a new generation can be represented. Rather than centering the drama on ranches or high-end homes, some characters will live in lofts or high-rise apartments overlooking Dallas, Burklund said. All types of restaurants, bars, hotels, offices and homes will be considered as filming locations.
"This is a very diverse region that we have in North Texas," she said. "As the show evolves, there will be all kinds of characters from different ilks."
To submit a property for consideration, email dallastv@dallascityhall.com with the subject line "Dallas TV Series Locations." The submission should include contact information, the street address of the property, a brief description with photos and a message about why the property should be a part of the new series. If the producers are interested in the property, a representative will contact the owner to set up a visit.
The Dallas Film Commission keeps a database of location packages for interested productions, and they help coordinate shoots around North Texas virtually every day. Burklund recommends sending several photos that show the scope of the property without the file size being too large or too small.
"Look at your lighting and make sure you can actually make out what's in the picture," she said. "Try and think of it as if you were a real estate agent, and just give us a good, basic look at what the facility looks like."
Two decades have passed since the final episode of the original "Dallas" series that focused on the dramatic storyline of a wealthy oil tycoon and his family. Once shooting begins in October, it could set in motion another show that shapes the way television is done today.
"I am really struck by the great job that Cynthia Cidre [the new series' writer] did of merging the feel of the old show that everyone loved with the way she's pulling in a new generation," Burklund said. "I've seen a lot of 'Dallas' redo scripts over the years, and this one gave me goose bumps."
For information about submitting a property, visit www.dallasfilmcommission.com/how_to/how_to_list_property.htm
www.janusREGroup.com * Heather Anderson * 972-765-3773
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