Casting Director PoPing AuYeung is back in Beijing looking for four teen actors to cast in an upcoming bilingual web series, tentatively scheduled to start shooting in August or September 2015. AuYeung previously worked on the TV series Marco Polo, and the movies Karate Kid, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II: The Green Destiny, as well as other big-budget Sino-foreign productions. You can learn more about AuYeung’s general requirements for submissions and advice for auditions here.
The web series Journey to the East will tell the story of Journey Rockwell, an all-American rock chick, forced to move to Beijing, China when her mother gets a job teaching English to pop stars. She and her genius brother Miles must adjust to Chinese public school: they not only survive in China, they make new friends and thrive.
Whilst in Beijing, AuYeung is looking to cast the roles listed below. All actors must be bilingual (English and Mandarin), performing experience is preferred but is not an absolute requirement.
Journey Rockwell. Lead (10 – 14, Caucasian girl). The ultimate teenage rock chick. She is a talented singer and guitarist. Strong, determined, and not afraid to give it all she’s got. Proud, and sometimes a bit of a hot head. Ability to sing and to play guitar preferred.
Miles Rockwell: Co-lead (10 – 14, Caucasian boy) Brother of Journey. A.K.A. Kid Genius, the most interesting kid in the world. Miles may be small in stature but his heart is mighty. He plays the drums, he’s a self-proclaimed foodie, and a lego aficionado.
Kenny (aka Golden Tiger): Series regular (10 – 14, Chinese boy) a dream boat. Kenny is an awesome hard working kid. The total package. He wants to make his astronaut father proud. He’s an incredibly talented guitarist.
Mei Ling: Series regular (10 – 14, Chinese girl) extremely smart and lovely Chinese girl who helps Journey adjust. Mei Ling can be somewhat uptight at times, but only for everyone else’s good. She teaches Journey and Miles how it all works in China.
Nancy: (Late 30s – early 40s, Caucasian) Series regular. Beautiful widowed single mother of Miles and Journey. She moves her family to Beijing when she gets the opportunity to work as a dialect coach for famous pop stars. Nancy is a hard-working mom who cares deeply about her kids.
Bebe: Recurring role. (10 – 14, Caucasian American girl but we are open to other ethnicities) Bebe is a teenage rock chick but a little tougher and meaner than Journey. Must be fluent in English and Mandarin.
Ramona: Recurring role. (10 – 14, Caucasian American girl but we are open to other ethnicities) Ramona is a teenage rock chick and does whatever Bebe says. Must be fluent in English and Mandarin.
Yi Tian: Recurring role. (10 – 14, Chinese girl) Yi Tian is a pretty but mean girl. She is Journey’s arch nemesis in singing. Ability to play an instrument is a plus. Must be fluent in English and Mandarin.
Lily: Recurring role. (10 – 14, Chinese girl) Lily plays the pipa (or other instruments). Must be fluent in English and Mandarin.
Aunt or Grandma: Supporting role. (30s-50s, Caucasian) A caring aunt or grandma of the Rockwell siblings. Must be fluent in English and
Mandarin.
David: Recurring role. (Late 30s -50s, Chinese) David is Mei Ling’s kind and dutiful father. A businessman as well the ultimate dad. Must be fluent in English and Mandarin.
Nai Nai: Recurring role. (60s-80s, Chinese Woman) Mei Ling’s funny grandma. Chinese speaking only.
Mrs Liu: Recurring role. (20s-30s, Chinese woman) Mrs. Liu is Miles and Journey’s sweet and hard working teacher. She is young and passionate about her students. Must be fluent in English and Mandarin.
Janitor: Non-speaking featured actor. (20s-40s, Chinese woman/man)
A Mr. Bean type. We are looking for a good comedian. Must be good with a lot of physical comedy.
If you or your kids are a match for any of the roles, send the following information in a word document to AuYeung at kidscastingchina@gmail.com:
- Attach one recent head shot of your child taken with your cellphone. Do not put photos in the body of the email.
- Full name of child actor in English and also parents’ names.
- Contact details: Parents’ emails, phone numbers, skype, wechat, whatsapp etc.
- Age of child actor
- School name
- Degree of fluency in English and Chinese.
- What accent do you have when you speak English
- Performing experience, if any
- Musical arts experience, if any (particularly guitar or drums)
- Do you plan to leave Beijing during June/July 2015?
- Are you available to work for 6 to 8 weeks in the fall of 2015 if you are successfully cast? Can you take time off of school?
Photos courtesy of PoPing AuYeung
