Filmmakers seeking cast, crew

Fifteen people responded to a casting call at DC's Cafe in Cape Girardeau Thursday night, hoping to get parts in an independent film to be made by a group of Cape Girardeau men.

The aspiring actors read from the script for "Dark Garden," a psychological thriller written by Greg Levrault, a Cape Girardeau bill collector. The film is about a passive man who finds a body in the basement of his house, decides not to report this news and meets the man responsible. Eventually more bodies turn up in the movie.

Director Pat Bond, who sells mattresses during the day and tends bar at night, has made some short films in the past. "Dark Garden" is planned as a full-length feature. Filming is scheduled to begin in mid-July.

Bond said they hope to enter the film in festivals. "If nothing else, we all get experience," he said.

Tim Bearden and Jeremy Ferguson also are associated as producers. Bearden has a degree in film from SIU.

Bond was somewhat disappointed in the number of people who came for the casting call. He thinks some who want to be in a film might have been nervous about auditioning.

Levrault said the movie has "a micro-budget." The film will be edited on his computer. Bearden has a production company called Six Dollar Budget. "We're following that philosophy," Levrault said.

More actors and crew members are needed. They also are searching for a house with an earthen basement to film in. Anyone interested is asked to phone Pat at 270-4769 or Jeremy at 270-0159.