Nov. 29, 2002 – If you dream of seeing yourself on national television, there may be a place for you in Terra Nova TV's upcoming documentary about the 1733 slave rebellion on St. John.
An advance team was on hand on Friday as residents and visitors gathered to make the annual trek up to the old ruins at Fortsberg, where the six-month uprising began. "We need lots of people, black and white," said St. Thomas resident Linette Oliver, casting director for the production.
Tryouts are from 1 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Pistarckle Theater, located at Tillett Gardens on St. Thomas.
The documentary will be filmed over the course of two weeks in late January and will air next fall on The Discovery Channel as part of its "Moment in Time" series.
Oliver said the 1733 rebellion was the most successful slave revolt in history. "It's a critical moment in time and important for the people of the Virgin Islands," she said.
You don't have to be star material to audition for one of the 20 principal roles or those of more than a hundred extras. "This is not supermodels; this is real people," Oliver said.
She said the days of the 1733 rebellion — coming on the heels of a hurricane, drought, food shortages and a new colonial code that legalized horrible punishment of slaves — were lean times for everyone, so she needs lean-looking people. She wants black people with distinct African features to play the newly arrived slaves, light-skinned black people to play the free Negro soldiers, and white people to play the colonial plantation owners and government officials.
Oliver would like to have actual families to play the families in the production.
No special skills are required except the ability to take direction. The job pays $150 a day for the principal roles and $75 a day for the extras. Oliver said crews will film at Annaberg, Fortsberg, Ram Head and Cinnamon Bay on St. John and also at locations on St. Croix and St. Thomas. If you're interested in auditioning, call 775-5262.
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