Update 9-29-2013: Click here for the new post regarding this series.
Auditions are underway for a brand new Disney Channel series pilot titled "Kirby Gates". The single camera comedy will combine live-action and animation. Kids and teens from 12 - 17 years of age are being cast as series regulars, as well as adults for possible recurring roles should the series be picked up. Many kids and teens will also be hired as extras by Disney casting to play students and other roles. People of any ethnicity can submit, or register for extra work. The show is SAG-AFTRA with AFTRA contract terms. Shooting will begin in November, 2012.
Executive Producing and directing "Kirby Gates" is BAFTA Film Award nominee David Bowers, who is an English Animator, Film director, Screenwriter, and Voice Actor from Stockport, Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom. Bowers directed "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules," his first live-action film, and also directed the third film in the series, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days". He also directed and served as a writer on the award winning animated film "Flushed Away" starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Winslet, and "Astro Boy" starring Charlize Theron and Freddie Highmore.
The "Kirby Gates" writers are Mike Alber and Gabe Snyder, who are also producing. The two have written for Spike TV, the MTV series "Death Valley," the short-format digital video series "Ultradome", a tongue-in-cheek, action-comedy that tapped into the comic book, video game, action-adventure, fantasy and science-fiction culture. Alber and Snyder are repped by Josh Adler of New Wave Entertainment, and Melissa Orton of Agency for the Performing Arts (APA).
Some of the roles being cast are the title role of Kirby Gates, a 12-13 year old boy; Kirby's older sister, a 15-16 year old female; Kirby's best friend, a 12-13 year old boy; two high school bully brothers, 16-17 year old teens; Kirbys mom and dad, 40-45 years old; the High School principal 45-55 years old; and the girl-next-door, a very pretty female 12-16 years old. The extras will be hired in Los Angeles when shooting starts in November.
Minors and foreign talent must be legally eligible to work in the state of California and in the United States.
The 2013 Los Angeles Actors Resource Guide eBook includes the following information and documents for adults, minors, and foreign talent who would like to work as an actor or extra on film and television productions in Los Angeles and the United States:
• USA Child Actor Work Permit Requirements
• California Child Actor Permit Application
• California Minors Summary Chart
• Child Actor Coogan Trust Deposit Instructions
• California Division of Labor Standards Offices
• Immigration Work Permit Information
• Non-Immigrant Visa Application
In addition to the following Los Angeles Actors Resources:
• Audition Tips
• How To Make an Audition Video
• Los Angeles Casting Directors List
• Los Angeles Extras Casting Directors List
• Los Angeles Talent Agents List
• General Talent Agent Information
• Los Angeles Acting Classes List
• Acting Classes for Young Actors in Los Angeles
• Los Angeles Headshot Photographers List
• Sample Actors Resume
• Sample Beginning Actors Resume
• Sample Cover Letters
• Entertainment Industry Terminology
• Miscellaneous Los Angeles Resources
• Actors Unions
• PDF Users Guides
The 2013 Actors Resource Guide eBooks are available here.
Principal Actor Casting
See the post titled Headshot and Resume Information regarding how to submit for acting roles.
Submit photos and resumes by mail only.
No phone calls or personal drop-offs.
Los Angeles:
Sheila Guthrie
Suzanne Goddard-Smythe
"Kirby Gates" Casting
1201 W. 5th Street
Suite F-40
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Extras Casting
Los Angeles:
Central Casting
220 S. Flower St.
Burbank, CA 91502
Registration Info: (818) 562-2755
(Do not send photos to Central, you must register in person)
Production Companies:
Do NOT send photos and resumes to the production companies, as they will most likely end up being thrown away. They do not cast the films, rather they hire casting directors who sort through the thousands of submissions.
Disney Channel
3800 W Alameda Ave
Burbank, CA 91505
Producers:
David Bowers
Mike Alber
Gabe Snyder
Director:
David Bowers
Starring:
To Be Cast
Story:
Up and coming 13 year old animator, Kirby Gates, fantasizes a world of colorful cartoon characters - a vivid dream world that is at frequent odds with his real life. His older sister Dawn makes sure that his life is a nightmare as often as possible. His best buddy Wendell can't figure out what his niche is in life, which frustrates him being that he comes from a family of over-achievers. And there are the two school bully brothers that make Kirby their main recipient of their attempted torture, although Kirby manages to outwit them more often than not. His former art teacher, who now is an eccentric dumpster diver, is aware of Kirby's amazing cartoonist skills and is always there for Kirby when he needs advice. With a school principal who can't seem to relate to kids no matter how hard he tries, and clueless parents, Kirby still manages to create a vivid cast of cartoon characters that make his actual life as a "normal" kid seem boring by comparison. And then all of a sudden, a very cute and sweet girl moves in next door, and Kirby's imagination goes into super high gear - along with his raging teenage hormones as he tries to connect the dots between his fantasy life and reality.
