WCCO.com has a brief report on the first day of shooting on the Coen’s next movie, A Serious Man. The piece is about the transformation of the local Key’s Cafe to fit with the movie’s setting of the late 60’s. The extras are all in period dress and there’s a lot of 60’s cars too. You can watch the video segment here and see 12 on-set photos below. Ethan seems to be busy but no sign of Joel…

Soooo, the Coens are scheduled to start shooting this on 9th September… and they are still casting/haven’t announced any casting yet… anyways Sarah has been in touch again with some extra detail from the casting calls for “featured extras”. Below follows some fleshed out character details and moments, I wouldn’t consider any of it spoiler material but if you are sensitive to such things you may want to stop reading.

Announcing new FEATURED EXTRA ROLES for Coen Bros film!
August 11th, 2008
A SERIOUS MAN FEATURED EXTRAS
There’s a treasure trove of Featured Extras in Joel & Ethan Coen’s film, “A Serious Man!” Our Directors take great care in casting INTERESTING FACES to fill these very unique roles! Let us know ASAP if you fit the following descriptions & want to be considered. Read details in their entirety.
MRS. SUSSMAN – Jewish spouse of Dr. Sussman (60’s)—dumpy.
Script description: Dr.Sussman’s wife lies asleep on her back, her mouth open, snoring softly.
Dr. Sussman supports himself w/ one arm thrown across her body. He leans in, carefully lowering a dental mirror into her open mouth! Otherscenes: Sussman’s kitchen at dinnertime, Dr. Sussman stares into space with his untouched food in front of him, while Mrs. Sussman chats
volubly. Mrs. Sussman and Dr. Sussman are seen chatting over dinner. They’re also shown in bed; Dr. Sussman smiles in his sleep with his armthrown over Mrs. Sussman. THESE ARE GREAT SCENES! LOOKING FOR SOMEONE COMFORTABLE W/ HERSELF! Character face! (3 scenes)

RUSSELL KRAUS – 40’s-50’s Non-Jewish. Maybe bad teeth, maybe not. Interesting face.
Script description: A close shot of a man being examined (Russell Kraus) in a dentist’s office bites down on two horse-shoe shaped troughs-an upper and lower-that overflow in oozing white goo.  The man’s mouth opens and a hand enters to grab the upper tray. In exam room, the dentist chats & examines mouth. Dr. Sussman takes a dental mirror & looks in Russell Kraus’s mouth & frowns. Later, Russell is twisted over the side of a chair spitting into a sink as the scene ends. This is a great scene for a person w/ a charactery, interesting face!! He is a Delivery Dispatcher for the Star Tribune w/chronic mandicular deterioration! Close up on Kraus grinning as he shakes Dr. Sussman’s hand in dental reception area! (2 scenes)

HEBREW SCHOOL BUS DRIVER – VERY JEWISH LOOKING!! Important role!!
THIS CHARACTER NEEDS TO ACTUALLY DRIVE A SCHOOL BUS!! The Bus Driver must have a class B license. Preferably one with a School Bus Endorsement. If not a School Bus endorsement, than a Passenger Endorsement. Must know how to drive & operate a split axle School Bus. Great scenes!!

RED OWL MGR.– 40’s, interesting face of either middle-management or more garage-mechanic, blue collar type. Non-Jewish.
Script description:  In a grocery store, the store manager reaches for the phone.  The Rabbi asks him a question: “Do you know a goy named Kraus? Russell Kraus?” The store manager shakes his head. Later, he listens to phone call & hangs up with a puzzled look. We’d prefer an actor-type who can take direction, as the Red Owl Mgr is genuinely annoyed, etc!

MRS. SOCHEN – 60’s – 70’s, Jewish. INTERESTING FACE!! Gorgon-Gargoyle.
Script description: In a Hebrew School Classroom, while the teacher is leading a class drill, the elderly secretary (Mrs. Sochen) shuffles to the teacher’s desk and hands him a piece of paper off her stack of copies. Another scene: An old woman (Mrs Sochen) walks slowly w/ a teacup chattering on a saucer. She has thick eyeglasses & wears thick flesh colored support hose. She takes slow, short steps towards desk. (2 Scenes)

THE FOLLOWING are JEWISH kids (10-14) in Hebrew School:
* BOOGER SEEKER – Boy (10-14). Jewish. Interesting face.
Script description: In a Hebrew School classroom, a bored child is excavating a bugger from his nose while the teacher lectures. After successfully withdrawing a booger, he carefully drapes it over the sharp end of his pencil.

* GIRL W/SPLIT ENDS – Girl (10-14). Jewish. Interesting face.
Script description: In a Hebrew School classroom, a young girl holds a hank of her bangs in front of her face, separating out individual hairs to examine them for split ends while the teacher lectures.

* SLEEPY KID – Boy (10-14). Jewish. Interesting face. (Possibly girl)
Script description: In a Hebrew School classroom, a child stares at a clock through drooping eyelids while the teacher lectures.  His head eventually begins making descending bobs towards his chest. It then drops ever lower. The other students begin to sing. The sleepy kid’s chin finally reaches his chest and he gives a long snorfling inhale of sleep.

THE FOLLOWING are part of a HORROR MOVIE playing on TV (within the film!):

* 4 BRAIN MINIONS – Same as thugs. B-movie heavies. Lugs. Types that in a 50’s movie would have 5 o’clock shadow and a bad attitude.

*2 THUGS – Same as minions; Big, heavy, lacking muscle definition. See above.
Script description: A horror movie plays on a television. On the set of the horror movie– a living, pulsing brain in a large fishbowl appears to be giving orders to minions who wear imperfectly form-fitting 1950’s uniforms of the future.  After receiving instructions, the minions of the brain kowtow before it and leave. They’re succeeded by two leather helmeted thugs, big & heavy though lacking in muscle definition, who escort a resisting handsome man before the brain.

LONELY JANITOR – 50’s – 60’s, Non-Jewish man. All ethnicities encouraged to submit!
Script description: Lonely Janitor pushes a broom down hallway, his echoing footsteps eventually recede.

GAWKING NEIGHBOR – 30’s- 40’s suburban male. Non-Jewish.
Script description: The neighbor gawks as a police car has stopped in front of the Gopnik’s House, w/ lights still flashing. Two cops go up the walk w/Uncle Arthur between them in handcuffs.

LIFEGUARD – Fit, 20’s, Male. Real water safety skills would be useful—so he can function as such.
Script description: A lifeguard supervises as families are crowded onto a small beach; children cavorting, adults lounging & people diving from an anchored raft in a swimming area.

Thanks to Sarah for mailing this in and the best of luck to her!