James Franco’s ‘As I Lay Dying’ will begin filming in Canton, MS next month, Extras Needed

James Franco’s As I Lay Dying, based on William Faulkner’s novel of the same name, will finally begin filming next month after nearly six years of planning.

The movie, which is rumored to star Paul Dano, Michael Shannon, Joaquin Phoenix, and Richard Jenkins with Franco directing, will tell Faulkner’s gloomy tale of a poor Mississippi family trying to move their mother’s corpse through rough terrain, on a wagon.

Much of the movie is expected to be shot in Canton, Mississippi this fall. Producers originally wanted to film in Oxford, Mississippi but because most of Oxford’s local lodging was are already booked for Ole Miss’ home games – leaving no place for the cast and crew to stay – they settled for Canton.

“It’s an honor to be adapting a Faulkner novel, and a pleasure to be able to film in Mississippi locations, where the story was set,” said Franco.

In preparation of filming, there will be an open casting call held tonight at New Stage Theatre at 1100 Carlisle St. in Jackson, MS. Producers are specifically looking for white boys 8 to 10 years old, who can play “a young-looking, country boy with a slight rebellious and dreamy nature” and white girls age 16 to 25, “who are described as clean-kept, attractive girls.”

They also need men of all races ages 40 and older and white women ages 16 to 25.

The boys and women should arrive to tonight’s casting call between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., while men should arrive between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., with a photo of themselves.

There will also be open casting calls held on Friday and Saturday in Canton at The Corner House, 252 E. Peace St. Friday’s casting call is from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday’s is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

If you have any scoop about the upcoming shoot or where they will be filming, let us know about it at olv@onlocationvacations.com!

Source: Clarion Ledger, WAPT, Photo: Denise Korey

35 COMMENTS

  1. A portion of the movie has been filmed in White Oak Mississippi. The people have been very supportive in their role as host. I believe the movie can be an oscar nominated movie with an smith county old country backdrop for its setting. See the Sept. 12th edition of the Smith County Reformer newspaper for the article.

    • see page 3 of Sept. 12th edition of Smith County Reformer newspaper for article emtitled White Oak chosen for movie site. The people of White Oak Baptist Church in serving the cast while they filming. White Oak Water Assn. provided water (3 tankers) for i believe a rain scene and maybe the flood scene but can’t confirm the flood scene. Perhaps.they may return in October.

    • see page 3 of Sept. 12th edition of Smith County Reformer newspaper for article emtitled White Oak chosen for movie site. The people of White Oak Baptist Church in serving the cast while they filming. White Oak Water Assn. provided water (3 tankers) for i believe a rain scene and maybe the flood scene but can’t confirm the flood scene.
      Perhaps.they may return in October. Everything seems to have went real well.

  2. smithcountyreformer.net. is the web site for the newspaper, the old house was once owned by Jasper Dukes now owned by attorney Eugene C. Tullos.

  3. thank Chris I did try to search the website but nothing comes up maybe they dont put everything online tried their facebook page too and there was nothing there

  4. They left White Oak in mid Sept. and returned to Canton. I am not sure how long they will be in Canton. The blogs are saying they need extras.

  5. I am sending two pictures printed in todays paper by Mr.Gene Tullos and owner of the house. We recentlly celebrated the 100th aniversary of our court house. The contractor was the grandfather of coach Bobby Bowden who spoke at the event. Now
    kw, the old house was built in 1899 James Franco and the producers of the film payed a visit to White Oak sometime after 2009. They fell in love with the old home. The. co-executive producer, Vince Jolivette stated that the old house was the sole reason for filmibg in Mississippi. Lee Kaplsn, an Wash. DC attorney

  6. Lee Kaplan an attorney for the Faulkner Foundation along with members of the Mississippi Film Commission were on hand. More than fourty percent of the movie was filmed in White Oak. The movie will be released in 2013. This is truly an honor for our county.

  7. The movie has been invited to the Cannes Film Festival in May in France. It will be a part of uncertain reguarded catagory

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