The new drama series “Chicago Fire” has been picked up for season one by NBC, which made the announcement in May, 2012. The show follows the lives of the firefighters and paramedics working at the Chicago Fire Department – firehouse of Engine 55, Truck 81, Squad 3, Medic 61, and Battalion 25. The show’s starring, co-starring, and guest starring roles are being cast out of New York, with additional principal actor casting in Chicago where shooting will take place. All of the stand-ins and extras will be hired in the Chicago area. The show begins production in July, 2012.
The series has a great starring cast that includes Taylor Kinney (“The Vampire Diaries”) who will play Squad Lieutenant Kelly Severide; Jesse Spencer (“House”) as Matthew Case, a natural leader who was born to be a firefighter; Lauren German (“Hawaii Five-0”) as Leslie Shay, a fearless EMT, who’s as comfortable with the guys in the firehouse as she is with the women; Monica Raymund (“Law & Order SVU”) plays paramedic Gabriella Dawson, who is quick, brave and dedicated; David Eigenberg (“Sex and the City”) as veteran firefighter Christopher Herrmann who lost his home due to foreclosure and is living with his in-laws; and Charlie Barnett (“Law & Order SVU”) as Peter Mills, a young firefighter cadet just graduated from the Chicago Fire Academy.
“Chicago Fire” is being executive produced and written by the series creators Derek Haas and Michael Brandt, who are known for writing the screenplays for such films as “2 Fast 2 Furious,” “3:10 to Yuma,” and “Wanted”. Emmy Award winner Dick Wolf, who created the “Law & Order” franchise, is executive producing with Peter Jankowski and Danielle Gelber from his company Wolf films. “Breakout Kings” co-creator and executive producer Matt Olmstead has joined “Chicago Fire” as executive producer/showrunner.
“Chicago Fire” is scheduled to premiere on NBC Wednesdays 10:00/9:00c after “Law & Order: SVU” during the 2012–13 television season.
Minors and foreign talent must be legally eligible to work in the state of Illinois and in the United States.
The 2012 Chicago Resource Guide eBook includes the following information and documents for adults, minors, and foreign talent who would like to work as an actor or extra on film and television productions in Illinois and the United States:
• Illinois Child Labor Laws Information Sheet
• Illinois Child Labor Laws Information Sheet 2
• Illinois Child Employment Certificate Application
• Illinois Night Waiver for Child Actors Application
• Illinois Child Statement of Physical Fitness Form
• Illinois Child Labor Complaint Form
• Illinois Teenager Employment Certificate Information
• Parent Guardian Approval Form
• USA Child Actor Work Permit Requirements
• USA Immigration Work Permits and Visas
• USA Non-Immigrant Visa Application
In addition to the following Chicago Actors Resources:
• Chicago Casting Directors List
• Chicago Extras Casting Directors List
• Chicago Talent Agents List
• Chicago AFTRA SAG Franchised Talent Agents
• General Talent Agent Information
• Chicago Acting Schools and Classes List
• Chicago Headshot Photographers List
• Actors Unions
• Miscellaneous Chicago Resources
• Audition Tips
• How To Make an Audition Video
• The Casting Process
• Sample Actors Resume
• Sample Beginning Actors Resume
• Sample Casting Director and Talent Agents Cover Letters
• Entertainment Industry Terminology
• PDF Users Guides
The 2012 Chicago Actors Resource Guide eBook is available here.
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.
New York:
Lynn Kressel Casting
Chelsea Piers, Pier 62
3rd Floor, Room 304
New York, NY 10011
Chicago:
Mickie Paskal
Jennifer Rudnicke
Tenner Paskal & Rudnicke Casting
10 West Hubbard Street
Suite 2N
Chicago, IL 60610
Extras Casting
Chicago:
Joan Philo Casting
3929 N Southport
Suite 2
Chicago, IL 60613
[email protected]
Extras will be cast in July when filming is ready to begin.
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.
“Chicago Fire” Production Office
2621 W. 15th Place
Chicago, IL 60608
Wolf Films
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608
Universal Television
100 Universal City Plaza
Building 1360
3rd Floor
Universal City, CA 91608
NBC (distributor)
3000 W Alameda Ave
Burbank, CA 91523-0001
Producers:
Michael Brandt
Derek Haas
Matt Olmstead
Dick Wolf
Peter Jankowski
Danielle Gelber
John L. Roman
Director:
Jeffrey Nachmanoff (Pilot)
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 with creative control is called the showrunner (In this case Matt Olmstead).
Starring:
Taylor Kinney – Kelly Severide
Jesse Spencer – Matthew Casey
Lauren German – Leslie Shay
Eamonn Walker – Walter Boden
Charlie Barnett – Peter Mills
David Eigenberg – Christopher Herrmann
Monica Raymund – Gabriela Dawson
Teri Reeves – Hallie Casey
Merle Dandridge – Kay Fitori
Story:
No job is more stressful, dangerous or exhilarating than those of the Firefighters, Rescue Squad and Paramedics of Chicago Firehouse 51. These are America’s everyday heroes — the courageous men and women who forge headfirst into danger when everyone else is running the other way. But the enormous responsibilities of the job also take a personal toll. Big reputations and hefty egos, coupled with the pressure to perform and make splitsecond decisions, are bound to put squad members at odds. When a tragedy claims one of their own, there’s plenty of guilt and blame to go around. In the middle of a divorce, Lt. Matthew Casey (Jesse Spencer) tries to go about business as usual but can’t help butting heads with the brash Lt. Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) of the Rescue Squad – and each blames the other for their fallen team member. When it’s “go-time” though, they put aside their differences and put everything on the line for each other. “Chicago Fire” is a look inside one of America’s noblest professions.
