Ridley Scott’s biblical epic ‘Exodus’ has seen thousands of Spaniards queuing up to sign on for the role of slaves in the film.
With the unemployment rates continuing to rise in the country, Ridley Scott’s biblical epic ‘Exodus’ has seen thousands of Spaniards queuing up to sign on for the role of slaves in the film. In a region with unemployment at 35 percent, the prospect of work as an extra with a daily wage of 80 euros ($107) has sparked a rush in Almeria where casting is being held for the story of Moses and the Jewish exodus to the promised land.
"Half of Almeria and half of Spain has come," said one of the casting organisers, Nerea Herrero.
People had come from as far as the northern Basque Country and Galicia in the northeast hoping their faces would be among the 3,000-4,000 extras that end up on the big screen, he said.
Some 10,000 people turned up at a casting call in the city of Almeria, and another 5,000 in the nearby town of Pechina, Herrero said.
"We did not expect so many people but we're glad we had this good response because we need a lot of people," he said.
On Friday, some 3,000 people showed up for the final casting, some arriving in the early hours for a good place in the queue.
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Those chosen will play the parts of the many slaves in the movie.
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"We are looking for very, very thin people, even if it is a bit over the top, because we need people who look like slaves and they were starving," said Herrero.
Shooting is expected to start in mid-October.
Source-AFP