Spring Break
Students have chance to work with famous faces, in Grant County
Cassandra Bluett
Issue date: 2/10/05 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Lights, camera, action! These words will ring across the Cobre and Chino mines as camera crews will soon be moving in to begin the filming of an untitled production, inspired by the book Class Action by Clara Bingham and Laura Leedy Gansler. Charlize Theron, Sissy Spacek, Frances McDormand, three past Academy Award winners, as well as Woody Harrelson and Sean Bean are starring in the picture.
The film is a drama based on the true story of the first successful sexual harassment case in the United States, Jenson vs. Eveleth Mines. In 1975, Eveleth Mines hired the first four females in company history to work the Mesabi Iron Range of Minnesota. These women were subjected to sexual harassment, which included rude remarks and physical abuse. In 1984, Lois Jenson and other female miners rallied together and filed a suit against the mine. The suit was finally settled in their favor in 1999, when a judge ruled that Eveleth Mines maintained a hostile work environment.
Warner Brothers Pictures will film a portion of the movie in Grant County with the cooperation of the Phelps Dodge Mining Company. Principal photography is scheduled to begin at the end of January in Minnesota for exterior work. It will move to New Mexico on March 7 and will continue shooting until around March 22. Director Niki Caro, noted for her work on Whale Rider, said that Grant County was chosen because of the mine sites and the people.
The untitled work will be the 24th movie to be filmed in New Mexico since Governor Bill Richardson took office in 2003. Richardson, along with the film's producer and director announced Silver City's involvement in the shoot at the Besse-Forward Global Resource Center on campus in mid-December of last year. The production will bring in hundreds of high-wage jobs, and millions of dollars for the Silver City and Grant County economies.
Sunday, January 23, cast and crew arrived in Silver City for a read through and to begin MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration) training as well as haul truck driving lessons at the Chino mine. Theron, McDormand, and Harrelson were among the entourage. That Tuesday, a number of the stars and crew dined at Diane's Restaurant before leaving for Minnesota to begin filming.
Warner Brothers held a casting call for male mine workers and female stand-ins at Light Hall this past Friday and Saturday. Approximately 400 people came with hope of being on the big screen. Those that are chosen as extras will be paid $100 a day and are well fed by the production team. However, they are asked to work a minimum of twelve-hour days without leaving the set. Students that are selected will be forced to choose between attending class and the production because extras are asked to be available at all times.
The film is still unnamed. Suggestions can be e-mailed to assistant casting director Elizabeth Gabel at egabel@msn.com.
The film is a drama based on the true story of the first successful sexual harassment case in the United States, Jenson vs. Eveleth Mines. In 1975, Eveleth Mines hired the first four females in company history to work the Mesabi Iron Range of Minnesota. These women were subjected to sexual harassment, which included rude remarks and physical abuse. In 1984, Lois Jenson and other female miners rallied together and filed a suit against the mine. The suit was finally settled in their favor in 1999, when a judge ruled that Eveleth Mines maintained a hostile work environment.
Warner Brothers Pictures will film a portion of the movie in Grant County with the cooperation of the Phelps Dodge Mining Company. Principal photography is scheduled to begin at the end of January in Minnesota for exterior work. It will move to New Mexico on March 7 and will continue shooting until around March 22. Director Niki Caro, noted for her work on Whale Rider, said that Grant County was chosen because of the mine sites and the people.
The untitled work will be the 24th movie to be filmed in New Mexico since Governor Bill Richardson took office in 2003. Richardson, along with the film's producer and director announced Silver City's involvement in the shoot at the Besse-Forward Global Resource Center on campus in mid-December of last year. The production will bring in hundreds of high-wage jobs, and millions of dollars for the Silver City and Grant County economies.
Sunday, January 23, cast and crew arrived in Silver City for a read through and to begin MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration) training as well as haul truck driving lessons at the Chino mine. Theron, McDormand, and Harrelson were among the entourage. That Tuesday, a number of the stars and crew dined at Diane's Restaurant before leaving for Minnesota to begin filming.
Warner Brothers held a casting call for male mine workers and female stand-ins at Light Hall this past Friday and Saturday. Approximately 400 people came with hope of being on the big screen. Those that are chosen as extras will be paid $100 a day and are well fed by the production team. However, they are asked to work a minimum of twelve-hour days without leaving the set. Students that are selected will be forced to choose between attending class and the production because extras are asked to be available at all times.
The film is still unnamed. Suggestions can be e-mailed to assistant casting director Elizabeth Gabel at egabel@msn.com.
