Landing a part in Netflix film: Familiar faces in the crowd
When the Netflix film “Women Like Us” is filmed on Shelter Island in the coming weeks, famous names will be associated with the production. Whoopi Goldberg, Jenifer Lewis, Vivica Fox and Vanessa Williams are in the cast for the film, being made by Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson’s Higher Ground Productions.
“There’s been a buzz in the Reporter the last few weeks about the movie,” said Marianne Carey, “and then there was a post on Instagram that they were looking for extras.”
Full disclosure: Marianne is this reporter’s sister, one of the siblings who’s been bitten by the acting bug.
“I was excited to see that they were filming on Shelter Island,” she said, “and I’m a fan of Whoopi Goldberg and Michelle Obama and all the work that they do.”
One of the Instagram posts, by Waldron Casting, called for extras to go paddleboarding with a dog. “Because I love to paddleboard with my dog, I sent in a photo of us doing that, along with biographical data that they requested, and I was cast as a ‘beachgoer,’” Ms. Carey said. “Having spent many summer days at Crescent Beach growing up, taking swimming lessons from Jack Wroble, it was the perfect role for me. No Method acting is needed; it’s all natural. Swimming, paddling, walking or just lounging, I’m ready for it all.”
Her nephew Erich Carey snagged the role as the paddleboarder, along with his Corgi Hercules. Other Islanders have been cast: Kelly Surerus as the hotel receptionist, her husband Brett as an “upscale hotel patron” and Paige Morehead will be another beachgoer.
The all-star cast, along with Whoopi Goldberg, includes Grammy and Tony Award-winning Vanessa Williams, Vivica Fox and Jenifer Lewis, all of whom will be on the Island during the film’s 10-day film and production schedule, which started Sept. 20.
The Pridwin Hotel & Cottages, too, will have a star turn in the film, as much of the filming will be happening here according to town sources.
The feel-good comedy’s plot follows the lives of four friends, played by Goldberg, Williams, Fox and Lewis, who get together for a weekend girls’ getaway spurred by the death of a spouse for what would have been a 30th wedding anniversary.
Meanwhile, Police Chief Jim Read and his team are readying for the exciting local event. “The Police Department has been working with Netflix and the other Town departments on public safety, traffic and marine operations. We’ll have an officer assigned on filming days, with Marine Patrol working the water-related days and traffic control assistance as needed,” Chief Read said, adding that public impact is expected to be fairly limited, with most of the filming occurring on private property.
There will be temporary beach and parking restrictions at Crescent Beach from Sept. 25 to 26. Shore Road, however, will remain open to traffic.
Ms. Carey’s day job is at Melina Wein/Compass Real Estate and she serves on the Library Board, but she’s been honing her acting chops over the last several years in the History Museum’s summer productions. She was the brassy-voiced Shelter Island telephone operator in “A Deck of Ferry Tales,” a member of the chorus in “Lords of Menantic,” and a presenter in this summer’s “Voices of Valor.” She’s participated in acting workshops at the North Fork Arts Center in Greenport in recent years.
“I met my late husband Dennis Hayes when we were both acting in plays at the North Fork Theater and other regional productions,” she said, “it’s something that’s always brought me joy.”
When the film is released, Islanders can enjoy scanning for familiar faces in the crowd, with Marianne and other local extras popping up behind the big stars.
“I believe in the age-old quote, ‘No role is too small,’” she said.
