An open casting call is being held in Burnaby for people to play various roles in a mock Afghan village in Alberta.
It’ll be used for cultural sensitivity training for Canadian soldiers and set up by members of the film industry in Wainwright.
Casting director Rhonda Fisekci said she’s looking for Afghans, Muslims and amputees aged 18 to 60.
“We need people who speak Farsi or Dari to play interpreters. We also need background people who can fill out the village and make it look like a real town,” she said.
“Our goal is to get real Afghans, but we can hire people to dress up like villagers too.”
Fisekci added it’ll look like a film set without cameras.
“We have special effects on heavy casualty days when people go into battle. There’s a lot of blood, guts, and gore.”
No weapons or live fire will be used.
Vancouver resident Gen Handley played a reporter in a similar training exercise in Wainwright four years ago. He called the experience “surreal.”
“People took their roles seriously. Tempers did rise between the Afghans and soldiers,” he said.
“The line between training and reality became blurred at times.”
The training sessions will be held between Aug. 21 and Nov. 1.
The casting starts at 2 p.m. on Aug. 4 and 5 at the Holiday Inn in Metrotown, 4405 Central Blvd.
