Film casting for extras

(BY E-MAIL) A film producer friend of this site sent us an e-mail saying that his company will be casting soon (no set date as yet) extras for an ongoing project involving the area of La Línea and Algeciras and shooting in April. They need extras, men and women of all ages with a variety of profiles, preferably of the 1980s (no modern hair cuts!). Within this group they also need men of an 'international' look, British, Irish, French and Moroccan. That, and Men of  'strong and/or athletic complexion'. Although they'll be needing people of a variety of ages, including youngsters of about 16 and a few kids of between 4 and 11, the majority chosen will be between 30 and 60. Details below>>>

‘La Roca’ gets 2 Nominations for the Andalusian Cinema Awards

GIBRALTAR/LA LÍNEA (Press release) The epic love story between the rock of Gibraltar and the Spanish bordering town of La Linea keeps surprising us. The Andalusian Scriptwriters Association yesterday announced the nomineed for the 2012 Andalusian Cinema Awards. ‘La Roca’ has been selected in 2 categories: Best Documentary Film Best Original Score. Director Raúl Santos was moved and grateful when he heard the news: “You wouldn’t believe how many doors were closed for us in the making of this film. The great reception of the audience and professionals is the best gift we could get for our crew.” Regarding the nomination of composer Miguel Torres for Best Original Score, the director admitted that “Miguel is one of the hidden gems of Andalusian talent. I am sure that he will have many other opportunities to surprise us.” ‘La Roca’ is a feature documentary that premiered in Spain at the Seville European Film Festival, where it received the Golden Giraldillo for Best European Documentary. Three screenings will take place in San Roque next week so that up to 2,000 citizens of Gibraltar and the neighboring Spanish area can celebrate the nomination with the filmmakers. This event has been organized by the Ham Radio Museum and the City Council of San Roque. More information about the film, EPK and advance tickets at http://www.larocamovie.com. See the trailer below>>>

'Picnic' this year's winner of the Short Film Competition of San Pablo

JIMENA /San Pablo de Buceite A busy weekend in San Pablo: among preparations for this year's Workshops for Peace (July 21 to 30), was choosing the winner of the Short Film Competition for Peace. Some 52 short movies came in from all over the country and from Argentina and Puerto Rico. Prizes were €600 to the winner - 'Picnic' by  Gerardo Herrero, of Asturias, about the consequences of war, which has won prizes at several festivals. In second place, with prize money of €300, was Entre pañuelos y Sueños, by Alejandro G. Salgado, of Sevilla, who tells us the story of Howard Jackson, a black character who earns his living at a traffic light in Sevilla. Prizes will be given on the 22nd at the Casa de la Cultura in San Pablo, as part of the Workshops for Peace.

The Pink Panther picks - for a Sunday laugh and a thank-you to Blake Edwards

This is by way of paying tribute to Blake Edwards, who died on Wednesday, aged 88, with his wife Julie Andrews and their children by his side. Edwards directed over 40 films in his extensive career, among which are some of the most memorable, including Breakfast at Tiffany's, 10, Victor/Victoria and The Pink Panther series.

German TV looking for men and women

SAN ROQUE The Tourism office in San Roque (on the Plaza de Armas, photo) is holding a casting session tomorrow from 11am to 2.30pm and from 4.30 to 7.30pm. A German production company, Polyphon Films, is looking for men and women of all ages to appear as extras in part of a series for ZDF television to be shot in San Roque. Those chosen to appear briefly in the series will be paid, so if you're interested, take a copy of your ID (passport, DNI) and a document that shows you are registered with Social Security. (This item, and many more, appears in CampoPulse)

The Colonel's Etceteras, a massive collection

The 1959 film starring Vittorio de Sica and Anita Ekberg was indeed projected onto the bell tower on Saturday night. Yes, it's the same bell tower seen in this still from the film. The still was stolen from TioJimeno's massive collection on the subject, including the whole film (in French) and an article by Ricardo Gómez (TioJimeno in person), titled 'Searching Desperately for the Colonel's Etceteras' and which starts as follows: "I wasn't born when the Colonel's Three Etceteras was shot in Jimena. I was an adolescent when the obsession for finding a copy of the film began to germinate. I was about 13 when>

Last night at El Paseo

(Photos: TioJimeno / Bur) As it was announced a couple of days ago, a film shot in Jimena in 1959 was shown last night in the square. The audience, many of whom had taken part in the movie, were delighted with it, even if it was in French. Loud exclamations of "Oh, look, there's my cousin!" and "That's me! That's me!" rang out among the throng. Just before the film was projected onto the bell tower, a little ceremony took place with Mayor Pascual Collado, Ricardo Gómez,who has been instrumental in trying to recover the movie, Brigitte Berg, who ceded the rights to the movie for the nigh,t and local personality Carmen Ortega 'La Pachela', who was Anita Ekberg's double way back when, at age 17. (See photo below).>

Vittorio de Sica and Anita Ekberg in Jimena tonight

'The Three etc... of the Colonel' was filmed in Jimena in 1959. There are very few copies left in the world but it was, and is, an important part of the village's history as practically everyone was an extra in it. It was a silly racy story (for its time) set during what in Spain is called the War of Independence (and elsewhere, The Peninsular War). Many attempts have been made to find a copy but celluloid is very fragile. However, according to Mayor Pascual Collado, a team working on a documentary, he thought, turned up with a French version of it a couple of days ago. The rights to the film are in some legal fracas in Italy and probably France with De Sica's heirs, but, thanks to an agreement with the French version's rights it will be projected onto the bell tower in the main square this evening, Saturday September 11, as from 9.30 pm. We believe that our friends at TioJimeno -Ricardo was even in Rome trying to get a copy some years ago- are preparing to upload it so that we can all see it. They also have several stills from the movie, showing the tower itself, among other things. It should be fun, but bring a cardie just in case...

Agaden Cine Club: Films for September

As many of our readers know, Agaden, the environmental organization, has a Cine Club that holds cinema shows every month. Most if not all of the movies are in Spanish (often dubbed from other languages), but this is a great way to improve your Spanish if it's a bit rusty - and to learn some more. It's also a great way to meet people, have a drink and a chat, and get to see a film in congenial surroundings.Click on the image of the poster to get September's programming. All films are shown at 10pm and all are for over-18s. Agaden's Jimena headquarters are just below the Town Hall on Calle Sevilla, on the same side.

Still photos of the German TV series at Jimena Castle

Remember we told you that they're shooting a German TV series up at Jimena Castle? We haven't been able to get up there yet, but fortunately TioJimeno's roving photojournalist, Juan Manuel, has been up there taking photos and they've posted a slide show of them, as well as a video. Once again, thanks to TioJimeno.

German TV series filming at the castle

(From Council website) Jimena castle is being used to shoot scenes for a televison series by Action Concept, a German production company specializing in action series, some of which have appeared on Spanish TV. The series containing the chapter being filmed at the castle is based on fantasy and parapsychology. Filming will continue until next Thursday, after which the team will head for Sancti Petri to continue shooting. (Photo from the series Cobra Alert, via TioJimeno.)
Jimena and its surroundings have often been used for this purpose, ranging from entire TV series and films, to commercials and documentaies. (Prospero note: Shouldn't the Council think of setting up a Jimena Film Commission or something? It would bring work and tourism.)