MySpace casts unknown film stars

Struggling to get a film role has never been this easy. Ten
Internet users have landed film roles after they auditioned on MySpace, the
social networking website launched in 2003. Readers of the website chose the
movies director and several of the actors after producers asked people to
participate in the auditions, BBC has reported.

The unknowns, who include a student and an aerospace engineer,
star alongside actors Paul Nicholls and Tim Healy. Faintheart, billed as
a romantic comedy, is due to be released by the summer of 2008. The movie, which
is being backed by Film4 and Vertigo Films, tells the story of Richard, a sales
assistant who spends his weekends as a Mighty Norse Warrior in battle
re-enactments.

Director Vito Rocco won his role after 500,000 MySpace users,
who viewed the short film he submitted online, chose him. "Weve given
cinema-goers and online users the first real opportunity to be part of the
film-making process, right from script to seeing the results of their input up
on the big screen," he said. MySpace users will also contribute to the
script.

Compiled by Stuti Das

stutid@cybermedia.co.in