Originally posted Tuesday, September 11, 2018 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
BET's latest scripted series"American Soul" goes back a few decades to explore the life and career of "Soul Trainer" creator Don Cornelius.
The show is set to begin production next week in Atlanta, where BET has shot plenty of its scripted fare over the past decade..
Cornelius, who died of suicide in 2012, will be played by Sinqua Wells, formerly of "Power" and "The Breaks."
BET describes the show as “an unflinching look at the entrepreneur, and his “Soul Train” dancers, crew and musicians during the 1970s.” It was a groundbreaking show representing African-American culture at the time and continued to air in some form until 2006.
Five more regular cast members were also named this week:
Jason Dirden (Basie Shanks in OWN's "Greenleaf") will play a gangster and club owner who introduces Cornelius to the decadent world of Los Angeles.
Iantha Richardson (flash-forward Adult Tess on "This is Us") will play "Soul Train" dance coordinator and classically trained ballerina.
Christopher Jefferson (AMC's "Fifth Ward") will play Julius "JT" Tucker, a music producer who can play everything from Bootsie to Bach and is part of the music trio Encore along with Simone (Katlyn Nichol) and Kendall (Jelani Winston).
The network has not yet announced a premiere date for “American Soul,” which is produced by Jesse Collins Entertainment (“The New Edition Story,” “The Bobby Brown Story”)
UPDATE: Here is info on getting extra work on the show:
Casting Breakdown:
Now casting extras for the TV series American Soul filming in Atlanta, GA from September-December 2018. The extras rate is $75/8 hours, with an 8 hour guarantee and overtime after 8 hours.
We are currently casting the following extra roles:
-Soul Train Dancers
-Musicians
-Models
-Military Types
-News Crew Types
-Bouncers
-Clown
-Magicians
-Students
-Nightclub Extras
-Diner Extras
-Police Officers
-Upscale Supper Club Extras
-Extras with Period Cars from 1950-1975
-Extras with 1970's hairstyles
-Extras of all looks and ethnicities
To submit, please visit: http://hyltoncasting.com/submissions/extras/
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