Stuart Hunter
The Province

Sunday, December 15, 2002

Jay Anderson isn't your typical stage mom.

With a couple of days razor stubble and his dirty work jeans on, Surrey dad Anderson was a far cry from what you'd expect to find a la Joan Crawford at yesterday's casting call for Paramount studios new feature film A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Shielding son Brandon from the morning drizzle, the unlikely stage dad waited patiently in line along with about 200 aspiring young actors looking for their big break in what is being hailed as the next big thing after the Harry Potter series.

"His mom saw the ad in the newspaper and I was coming down here for work anyway so we thought we'd stop in," explained the 46-year-old owner of a parkade-maintenance company. "We've never done anything like this."

A tad on the shy side, eight-year-old Brandon was gunning for the role of Klaus Baudelaire, the bookish researcher from the children's novels by Lemony Snicket.

"I think it would be fun," said the Grade 3 student from Cedar Hills Elementary as he shuffled another step toward his first audition, adding, "I'd like to be an actor and be in the movies."

His dad chuckled and interjected: "Yeah. But he'd rather be a cop. Wouldn't you?"

The open casting call at 2nd Avenue Studios in Vancouver sought 10- to 12-year-old girls and 8- to 9-year-old boys to star in the film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld.

West Point Grey Academy Grade 9 students Cassie Gill, Arpen Thandi and Lindsay Spencer figured that while they may be 13, they would still be an ideal choice to play the role of Klaus Baudelaire's older sister, Violet.

Violet is described as a world-class inventor who loves tinkering with mechanical devices and helps safeguard her family from evil. Some girls even had their hair tied up with a ribbon like Violet.

"I just wanted to get some experience going to auditions," said Cassie, a Jennifer Lopez fan.

"I've taken some acting courses," added Catherine Zeta-Jones fan Arpen, adding she'd be a perfect Violet because "she has a really powerful personality like me and I have a brother like she does, too."

Meg Ryan fan Lindsay said her mom suggested that she audition.

"My mom says I've always been a good actor," said the veteran of school plays. "I've read all the [Snicket] books. I can read one in an afternoon."

Mom Shannon Muir reckoned son Adam, 8, would be a natural Klaus -- they both love reading although, unlike Klaus, Adam doesn't list parsley soda as his least favourite food.

"He researches a lot and he likes to read like me," Adam said. "I like acting, it's amusing. I think the books are an interesting series."

Shannon pulled her Gore-tex jacket close and added: "It's a little cool and wet but we are curious to see what it will be like. If he had the opportunity to [act], it would be great."

For many, it was not only their first crack at a major role but their first shot at serious acting.

And why not?

Harry Potter star Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley, had only read the Potter books and acted in a few school plays and local theatre before he took his shot at stardom. As an audition, the drama student from Hertfordshire, England, submitted a video tape of himself performing a rap song he made up just for the event. He eventually landed the much-coveted role of Harry's best friend.

It's still not yet known where A Series of Unfortunate Events will be filmed or when the choices will be made for the two major roles.

Casting calls for the film were also held yesterday in Boston, Chicago, New York and Toronto.

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