'House Of Cards' Holds Casting Call
BEL AIR, Md. (WJZ) -- The groundbreaking political thriller "House of Cards" stays in Maryland. Filming for season three starts soon.
As Gigi Barnett reports, hundreds of hopefuls answered the call to be extras in the popular show.
Headshots in hand and hopeful for a part in the critically acclaimed Netflix hit "House of Cards, a casting call in Bel Air drew thousands before the first hour was over.
"I'm here to give it a shot," one actor said.
The show, set in the nation's capital, stars Kevin Spacey as a ruthless D.C. insider. But it's shot in Maryland, and returns for filming, flushing millions into the state's coffers.
"This is very exciting. Season two of 'House of Cards' hired over 3,700 Maryland crew, actors and extras. And they purchased and rented goods or services from over 1,900 Maryland businesses," said Jack Gerbes, director of the Maryland Film Office. "So it means money for the state of Maryland."
Getting a callback means getting up close and personal with Hollywood A-listers.
"The work itself is torture, but talking about it later is a riot and a hoot-and-a-half," said actor Mame Templeton. "It's great fun to say I was out all night with Kevin Spacey until the sun came up."
For some actors, the casting call could launch their screen careers.
"I've been doing some theater work and decided this is the next step in that evolution," said actor Jamie Crowne.
For others, it's just an item checked off a bucket list.
"We just like to come out and have fun and meet people," said actor Ginny Hillhouse.
Because House of Cards is a political show, casting directors need to see how actors would look if they were in D.C., bow ties included.
"We have to visualize them looking like a D.C. politician or an ambassador or a lobbyist. So if they come that way, it just makes it easier for us to visualize," said Kimberly Skyrme, local casting director.
Filming for "House of Cards" begins this month.
It's not confirmed when the third season of "House of Cards" will premiere, but experts say sometime around mid-2015.
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