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For The Love Of Movies... Can We Talk?Casting Notice For Nina Simone Project Reveals More About What To Expect...
Seeking—Young Nina Simone: girl, 8-11, African-American, must look like a young Nina, talented, able to play the piano with ease, grace, and guts, a tough cookie who has something to show the world.
The above was from a casting notice I received via email, for the still untitled Nina Simone project that Cynthia Mort is writing and directing, and that will star Zoe Saldana and David Oyelowo.
Further, here's how the project is described within the casting notice:
"It tells the story of a legendary great soul singer, Nina Simone, and her relationship with her manager Clifton. It is not strictly a biopic but rather a portrait of an icon whose talent and passion took the world by storm. She was an iconic musician but also a woman who represented 'women' in their quest to be heard and appreciated equally. Nina's talent was huge and like many artists, her inner demons also shaped her life and career."
This pretty much supports what Cynthia Mort suggested in a previous post - that this isn't going to be your traditional biopic, and she's taking creative liberties in the retelling of Simone's story; or rather, we could say it's inspired by Simone's life, and isn't necessarily an literal translation of it.
So maybe something along the lines of Todd Haynes' Bob Dylan film, I'm Not There; or even Don Cheadle's proposed Miles Davis film, which he's described as a "cubist gangster pic," with emphasis on avant-garde, as in innovative and/or experimental, which speaks to hints he's given previously about it not being a traditional "cradle to grave story..."
I have no idea what to expect here, other than a film that likely will not be what we conventionally think of as a biopic. But it's moving full speed ahead, whether you like it or not, so, at this point, I'm just going to wait and see what Mort produces, whenever the film is done.
As the description above states, casting director Heidi Levitt, and casting associate Lauren Fernandes are seeking a young 8 to 11-year-old African American girl to play Nina Simone as a child.
That's very much in-line with the script Vanessa reviewed, which mentioned several flashbacks to Simone's childhood.
10 Comments
No | October 23, 2012 8:57 PM
I've read this script a few times as it was submitted to a company I was working at before and after Mary J. was attached. All I can say is that I hope that they've severely re-written it, though based on the description above, it doesn't sound like it. Basically, the script I read was of Nina Simone in her 60's who was being cared for by Clifton and constantly throwing herself at him while high on drugs and alchohol. Since this is a he-said type of story it should be taken with an acre of salt, also, of all of the great things Nina Simone has done in her life from being a civil rights activist to embracing and celebrating her African beauty in a time when no one else dared, who wants to see her in her declining years, drug addicted and coming on her 30-something year old caretaker? It's as much of a slap in the face to her legacy as the casting of Zoe Saldana and I pray that they've either improved it, or that this movie will die on the vine before it sees the light of day.
artbizzy | September 22, 2012 1:34 AM
I really want to throw your caps lock key out the window.
silverdaisy | August 27, 2012 3:54 PM
The casting call shd be for a young girl who looks like Zoe , not Nina, ya think? I have decided that I won't spend my money on this nonsense. In good conscience cannot support this.
Ankh Entertainment | August 27, 2012 3:53 PM
Should the casting not live up to the audiences expectations, regardless as to whether or not, one can place new talent or create a niche for unusual casting, it could make or break a talent's career. The proof is in the pudding. It sounds like the same scenario used in, "Lackawanna Blues," wherein, Michelle Ndego Ocello, was the composer for the film. Mind you the film was a period piece. It was a good movie however, did not have the broad market reach that would have taken it out of the community and onto the maps of an internet globally driven market. Fortunately and unfortunately, there are some serious Nina Simone fans, all over the world, from all cultures, and artists that are alive and have actually worked with Simone, who are just waiting to rip the inconsistencies and the inadequate interpretations apart. We only hope that the Director both of the movie and casting, can truly catch the correct mood and sensitivity of a period which was heightened by haunting remnants of the enslaved.
ALM | August 27, 2012 12:46 PM
"SeekingâYoung Nina Simone: girl, 8-11, African-American, must look like a young Nina, talented, able to play the piano with ease, grace, and guts, a tough cookie who has something to show the world." So the casting for the young Nina is more stringent than the casting for the adult Nina. SMH and LOL at the same time.
Amari | August 27, 2012 12:19 PM
Now, since Zoe is playing Nina, are they going to put her in some type of black face to darken her or will Nina have gotten lighter as she gotten older? Assuming they actually are looking for a dark skinned girl to play a young Nina, and not really a young Zoe.
Cordell | August 27, 2012 11:09 AM
So now their focusing on casting someone who looks like Nina lol. They might as well get Quvenzhane Wallis and call it a day.
martamique | August 27, 2012 10:36 AM
mmhmmm.