After the Sunset, a New Line Cinema production is being directed by Brent Ratner (Rush Hour I and II), and stars Pierce Brosnan (Thomas Crown Affair, Die Another Day); Salma Hayek (Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Desperado); Woody Harrelson (White Men Can’t Jump, Indecent Proposal), and Don Cheadle (Swordfish).
The feature film’s plot involves a rare gem being sought by Brosnan’s character, who teams up with Hayek’s character later in the film on a pursuit that begins in the United States and leads to Bahamian shores.
The movie, which is expected to shut down streets in Nassau and Paradise Island from Oct. 20 to mid-December, has the potential to be the biggest ever filmed in the country since the movies My Father the Hero, and Jaws.
In these films, including The Silence of the Lambs and Gigli, the Bahama Islands were only featured in small scenes, but the fact that Bahamians will receive far more exposure in the new movie separates it from the rest.
News about the film and openings for 1,400 Bahamian extras circulated like wildfire.
More Bahamians are expected to flock to the Centre for the second set of auditions today.
Interested performers are asked to bring a passport-size photograph of themselves and will need to fill out a short form.
Casting Director Judy Cook is seeking locals to play “background people” in a wedding scene, restaurant scene and a beach scene, including bodyguard, female and male dancers, bikini “babes,” bartenders, waiters and waitresses, and also stand-ins for Harrelson and Hayek.
Two local bands will also be needed.
Ms Cook explained: “I am looking for all kinds of people to play background. All of the island, I want locals, I want tourist-types, school-aged children. I need Caucasians to play old tourists and upscale restaurant patrons. I need two local bands for a wedding scene, so we want a Caribbean-style, but mellow and romantic. And, then I’m looking for beautiful women of all races.”
Don Cheadle’s character, she further explained, is somewhat of a charmer, who is seen with a different woman in every scene.
“So, we need beautiful women of all ethnicities ﾗ Black, Asian, White, Middle Eastern ﾗ and they will play all of the girlfriends of Don Cheadle’s character,” Ms Cook said.
Although most of the speaking parts have been filmed already in Los Angeles, Ms Cook said there is still a chance that during filming one or more persons may be given an “upgrade”, but it would be the director’s decision to allow an extra speak.
“They might be upgraded on set. The director might say, ‘Hey, say this,’ or ‘Say that’,” she said. “And then some people, who he sees in the photos that he likes, I will put them aside, call them up and have them come in for an interview. And, then we go from there.”
Although originally planned to be filmed in the Caribbean, a specific location had not been decided.
Asked why the production crew chose The Bahamas to film the movie, Ms Cook said this country fit the description of “relaxing and gorgeous weather.”
“It’s just the perfect place to spend the rest of your life. It’s paradise,” she said. “I’m sure he (Mr. Ratner) loves this place. He must have chosen this place for a reason, he must have been here before and fallen in love with it.”
The production also employs Bahamians behind the scenes. One of them is Heather Carey, assistant to Ms Cook.
“I just started on Monday, so I don’t know a lot about the film, but I’m looking forward to the production,” said Ms Carey.
Other positions in which Bahamians are employed, she said, include location scout, and production assistants.
By Khashan Poitier, The Nassau Guardian
