By JESS PEREGOY

jep024@latech.edu

 

Many students have been drawn to the glitz and glamour that Hollywood has sprinkled over Shreveport-Bossier City since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit and moved many sets northward.

After an open casting call was held at Tech, many students were able to claim their 15 minutes of fame.

Jennie Concelli, a junior merchandising and consumer studies major, went to the casting call without any expectations.

“A friend told me about the casting call so I randomly went up there,” she said. “I didn’t expect to get a call back, but they did.”

Since that call, Concelli has worked on set of the film “Factory Girl” starring Jimmy Fallon (“Saturday Night Live”), Hayden Christensen (“Star Wars”) and Sienna Miller (“Alfie”).

The movie also stars Guy Pierce (“Memento,” “The Count of Monte Cristo”) and is  about a love triangle between Andy Warhol (Pierce), Edie Sedgewick (Miller), a ‘60s pop icon, and Danny Quinn (Christensen), a character based on Bob Dylan.

“This movie is just so crazy,” Concelli said.

“I had no idea what to expect, but I got to the set and they fitted me for all of these amazing clothes from the ’60s and sent me on my way.”

The first time she saw “Saturday Night Live” star Jimmy Fallon on set, she did not know how she was supposed to act, she said.

“All of the other extras were just sitting there like it wasn’t a big deal,” Concelli said.

“But, I mean, come on, you know they were freaking out, too.”

Concelli’s friend, Lauren Evangelista, a senior merchandising and consumer studies and photography major, was the one urging her to come to the casting call, she said.

Evangelista worked on the set last week and cannot wait to be able to share some of Concelli’s experiences.

“It’s a little bit nerve-wracking to be doing something that’s such a big deal,” Evangelista said.

Like Concelli, wardrobe is something Evangelista is excited about, Evangelista said.

“You wouldn’t believe how much there is to choose from,” she said.

“My dress is straight out of the ‘60s.”

Concelli said waiting around on set for her name to be called is probably the worst part about being an extra.

“But, at the same time, I’ve met so many different people since I’ve been working on the movie because we all have to just hang out with each other all day,” Concelli said.

But what Concelli and Evangelista most anticipate is seeing themselves on the big screen.

“[‘Factory Girl’] really is going to be an amazing movie,” Concelli said.

“And the fact that it’s being filmed in Shreveport and it’s so easy to be a part of makes it even better.”

For students interested in being an extra in “Factory Girl,” there is still a need in the film.

“We’ve already used several hundred extras, but still need a lot more,” Ryan Glorioso, “Factory Girl” casting director, said.

Glorioso said people interested in being part of the film need to be between the ages of 16 and 60.

To contact Glorioso at Louisiana Casting, call 635-6989 or e-mail a picture and contact information to FactoryGirlCasting@gmail.com. Louisiana Casting is located at 5220 Hollywood Ave. in Shreveport.