Empire City Productions is getting ready to begin production on the second season of the action-comedy series “Supah Ninjas” for Nickelodeon. The first season was shot at the Paramount lot in Hollywood, however the sets were dismantled and trucked across the country to Pittsburgh, where season two will be filmed. The lead, guest starring, and recurring roles are being cast in Los Angeles, while smaller roles and extras are cast in Pittsburgh.
An open casting call is scheduled for people ages 18-40 who are experienced martial artists, dancers, gymnasts and parkour practitioners to work as stunt people and featured extras. In addition to the stunt performers and featured background, the casting director is seeking young actors ages 14-19 with theatre experience for speaking roles on the show. Also being cast are teen girls with cheerleading experience. “Supah Ninjas” is also looking for a few interns for the summer to work in the Camera/Production/Art/Costume departments
“Supah Ninjas” made the move to Pittsburgh for a few reasons. The show takes place in a Gotham City-like world called Empire City, and Pittsburgh can lend itself to that kind of vibe for any outdoor scenes – locations that the production doesn’t really have access to in Los Angeles like the old brick buildings and bridges, the rivers. In addition, Pittsburgh has a great talent pool along with a film and television tax credit program.
The teen sitcom was created by Leo Chu and Eric Garcia, who both won Writers Guild of America WGA Awards for writing the pilot episode of “Supah Ninjas”. Garcia grew up in the Pittsburgh areas of Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair. He studied fine arts at Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. The high school the kids attend in “Supah Ninjas” is called Benjamin Rush High School, named after the Dickinson College founder.
The sitcom follows three teens – Mike (Ryan Potter), an awkward high schooler who learns he’s descended from a long line of ninjas; best friend Owen (Carlos Knight) and Mike’s longtime crush Amanda (Gracie Dzienny), who all receive guidance in the form of a hologram of Mike’s dead grandfather (George Takei). “Supah Ninjas” combines humor, action sequences and cliffhangers. It is also unique in that it is one of the few shows that focus on an Asian American family.
On March 15, 2012 it was announced that Nickelodeon renewed “Supah Ninjas” for a second season of 20 episodes. Filming will begin June 18, 2012 at the 31st Street Studios. Each episode shoots for about five days.
Open Casting Call Details
The open call is only for people ages 18-40 who are experienced martial artists, dancers, gymnasts and parkour practitioners to work as stunt people and featured extras. (see below for instructions on how to submit for teen roles, and how to apply for student intern positions).
Where:
Pittsburgh CLO Academy
130 CLO Academy Way
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Click Here for directions.
It’s between Penn Avenue and Fort Duquesne Boulevard, across the street from Fifth Avenue Place. Once inside, take elevator to 8th floor.
When:
Thursday June 7, 2012
12:00pm – 3:00pm
4:00pm– 6:00pm
Show up at the open casting call wearing clothes that you can comfortably move around in to show off your skills such as martial arts, gymnastics, dance. Please do not wear jeans. Come prepared to perform your craft.
Bring a headshot/resume or current photo of yourself, photo ID, and a pen to fill out a registration form. There are no fees to attend this open casting call.
If you are located within reasonable driving distance of the Pittsburgh area, and are unable to attend the open casting call, you can email a headshot and resume (if available) or recent color snapshot, list any special skills you have, and include all contact information and location to:
Put “Supah Ninjas” in the subject line of your email.
For the teen roles, a parent or legal guardian can submit a headshot and resume to the following:
Put “Supah Ninja Teen Roles” in the subject line of the email.
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:
Sheryl Levine
1438 N. Gower Street
Building 62
Los Angeles, CA 90028
Pittsburgh:
Nancy Mosser Casting
Blackbird Studios
3583 Butler Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Extras Casting
Pittsburgh:
Nancy Mosser Casting
Blackbird Studios
3583 Butler Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Crew Members
Pittsburgh:
Experienced film and/or television crew members can send a resume to:
Put “Supah Ninjas-Season Two” in the subject line of your email.
NO actor or extra submissions to this email address.
Production Interns
Pittsburgh:
“Supah Ninjas” is looking for a few interns for the summer to work in the Camera/Production/Art/Costume departments. Students have the opportunity to start work anytime through November, 2012.
Apply at the following website:
“Supah Ninjas” 2012 Summer Interns
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.
Empire City Productions
77 31st Street
Pittsburgh PA 15201
Nickelodeon Network
1515 Broadway
38th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Producers:
Leo Chu
Eric Garcia
Sharla Sumpter
Brian Robbins
Don Dunn
Directors:
David Jackson
Brian Robbins
Clark Mathis
Alex Winter
Jonathan Judge
Dave Payne
Note: Various directors work different episodes during the season. In television shows composed of individual episodes, the television director’s role differs from that of a film director in that he or she may work only on some television episodes as opposed to the director of an entire film production. In episodic television productions, the major creative control resides with a producer of the show. The television producer(s) with creative control is called the showrunner (in this case Leo Chu and Eric Garcia).
Starring:
Ryan Potter – Mike Fukanaga
Carlos Knight – Owen Reynolds
Gracie Dzienny – Amanda McKay
George Takei – Grandpa “Hologramps” Fukunaga
Story:
The series revolves around Mike Fukanaga (Ryan Potter), the main protagonist, and his friends, Owen (Carlos Knight) and Amanda (Gracie Dzienny). After the death of his grandfather, Mike is given a mysterious letter which leads him to discover that he comes from a long line of ninjas. With Owen, and later Amanda, they are ushered into the world of crime-fighting, forming the team “Supah Ninjas”. They are trained with a hologram of Mike’s grandfather (George Takei), whom Owen refers to as “Hologramps” in Empire City.
