The Lord of the Rings saga is coming back to our screens – and if you’re a slightly odd-looking actor or extra looking for work in NZ, Middle Earth might just have your next big job opportunity. Amazon is set to reframe JRR Tolkien’s classic fantasy series for its streaming service. Therefore, viewers can get ready to see hobbits, orcs, dwarves, and elves in all their gnarly glory once again.
Are you a jobbing actor with one or two striking facial features? Are you looking for ways to spend your time beyond finding big jackpots through Casino Market? An option could be to get in touch with Amazon’s talent agency of choice.
Funky-Lookers Wanted
BGT Actors Models & Talent specifically ask for ‘funky-looking’ or ‘unusual’ new stars for what appears to be Amazon’s forthcoming fantasy fest. “Do you have an overbite, face burns, long skinny limbs, deep cheekbones, lines on your face, acne scars, ears that stick out, bulbous or interesting noses, small eyes, big eyes, any deformities, skinny faces, missing limbs,” their ad asks outright.
It’s a pretty forthright outreach campaign, but it’s likely to appeal to the right people. What’s more, this is a campaign exclusively aimed at NZ actors. It’s an opportunity that is opening up in Auckland right now, meaning anyone looking for an interesting job to add to their IMDB pages will probably want to make a beeline.
Controversial, Yet Direct
However, the ad in question seems to have caused a little stir of controversy. It arrived online accompanied by photos previously used in anti-drugs campaigning in the US. Therefore, alongside their demands for ‘funky-looking’ Auckland citizens, visual media of drug abusers made their way to targeted readers.
However, the campaign – while controversial – seems to have worked. More than a handful of global outlets picked up on the news. It’s also likely that, given recent pauses to small and big screen filming, any entertainment news is good news right now.
What’s Next?
Amazon’s Lord of the Rings series has been a long time coming. The series already has links to NZ thanks to Peter Jackson, who directed the award-winning movie trilogy. New Zealand has, of course, long been a filming location of choice for big, bold TV and movie productions. There is nowhere else in the world with rugged landscapes like ours.
Amazon’s acquisition of the Middle Earth saga has been bubbling for some time. It’s long been known that the streamer and studio would be taking us back to Tolkien. However, thanks to global pressures in recent months, filming can only just start in the weeks to come.
From July, it’s thought that the new Lord of the Rings saga – which supposedly takes a slightly different slant on the books – will start shooting in Auckland. Therefore, if you are an actor with imperfect looks – but plenty of charm – it’s worth auditioning now.
Quite whether this means Amazon will scale back the budget on make-up or not remains up in the air!
SOURCES
https://nypost.com/2020/06/24/lord-of-the-rings-tv-series-wants-unusual-looking-actors/ QUOTE IS FROM HERE
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/spy/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503840&objectid=12342453
