Do you have what it takes to be in the movies? This may be your big break.

Calling all actors

‘Space Warriors’ –– a remake of the 80’s movie ‘Space Camp’ — will cast for local parts on Tuesday in Huntsville. The movie is about five kids who win spots at NASA’s space camp and avert a space station crisis.

Why are they auditioning here? Because they’re also filming here. At the actual Space Camp. And The U.S Space and Rocket Center is thrilled to be hosting Hollywood.

“The movie “Space Warriors” is another wonderful opportunity for the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and Space Camp. More than 600,000 students have graduated from our programs. The filming of yet another movie at Space Camp will continue to help us tell our story that this is one of the most amazing places in the world.

“We are honored to host the cast and crew and we are optimistic this will bring about many positive things for Space Camp, the City of Huntsville and all of Alabama,” Tim Hall, spokesperson for U.S. Space and Rocket Center told me.

Huntsville Films

The Rocket City has a long history of hosting Hollywood. In 1994, ‘The War’ starring Kevin Costner was filmed nearby and launched the long-lasting and lucrative career of then-eleven-year-old Lucas Black from Decatur, Alabama.

In 1995, Walt Disney came to town and filmed ‘Tom & Huck’ with teen-heartthrob Jonathon Taylor Thomas. Mostly filmed in neighboring, historic Mooresville, many locals played as extras and recall hobnobbing with this year’s best-supporting actress Oscar winner, Octavia Spencer. She was the “help” in the extra’s tent.

Perhaps the first big-budget Hollywood movie filmed in the Valley was the 1986 feel-good flick ‘Space Camp,’ which starred Kate Capshaw and Kelly Preston. While the leading ladies may be better-known as the wives of big box-office stars Tom Hanks and John Travolta, also in the film was a young, and relatively unknown, Joaquin Phoenix.

Q & A: Space Camp alum

Of Huntsville-natives featured in ‘Space Camp’ the most prominent was Hollye Suggs Florio who played Kate Capshaw’s junior version, ‘Young Andie’. Florio was gracious enough to speak with me by telephone about her experience auditioning and filming her role in a major motion picture.

Bronwen: How old were you when you auditioned for the movie, and how did you get interested in trying out?

Hollye: “Space Camp came out in the summer of 1986. I think I was 10 years old during most of the filming. At the time I’d been doing community theater since I was really little. Ron Harris was involved with the casting, mostly to get local actors as extras. Since I’d worked with Ron before, he let me and some other kids know about tryouts, and we went and auditioned as extras.”

Bronwen: What was that experience like?

Hollye: “Pretty much that summer, I, along with some other kids from Fantasy Playhouse shows, were on set filming the movie as extras. We hung out a lot with Joaquin Phoenix. There weren’t many kids in the cast, so he didn’t have kids to hang out with. And because of that we saw some of the other adult actors in the movie. I have to say that everyone was very nice. The others in the cast just really liked that the kids could play together.”

Bronwen: How did you get to audition for the role of Young Andie?

Hollye: “I filmed a scene [as an extra] with Kate Capshaw, where we were seated next to each other riding a bus. At the time I really wanted to be an actress and so I started asking her all this stuff about how she got started in the business. She was super nice and started telling me about her experiences. From that conversation she made a suggestion to the director that I could play young Andie. The director then auditioned me. She really made it all happen. If I hadn’t talked to her it never would have happened.”

Bronwen: So what was the audition process like for the bigger part?[pullquote align=”right”] “If I hadn’t been involved with Fantasy Playhouse, and met Ron Harris, I wouldn’t have been an extra. Things definitely build on one another.”-Hollye Suggs Florio, Young Andie in Space Camp (1985)[/pullquote]

Hollye: “I did a screen test and then another audition for the director. On my eleventh birthday I got the call that I was cast as Young Andie, and found out I’d get to fly to Los Angles to film the part. One thing completely led to another. If I hadn’t been involved with Fantasy Playhouse, and met Ron Harris, I wouldn’t have been an extra and got to meet Kate. Things definitely build on one another.”

Bronwen: I have to ask one last question, just because I think it would be too cool if it happened. Do you think you’ll try out for the remake — for ‘Space Warriors’?

Hollye: “I’m considering it. It would be really fun, even being an extra.”

For all those interested in gracing the silver screen in ‘Space Warriors’ we’ve gathered audition details for you below. If you would like to read more about the Huntsville-Hollywood connection, this link will take you to the complete IMDB.com listing.

Audition Details

What: Open casting call
Date: Tuesday, July 10
Time: Auditions: 10 am to 1 pm; Callbacks: 2-6pm
Location:
Hollywood Huntsville
705 Stevens Avenue NE
Huntsville, AL 35801
What to bring: A hard copy of a photo (and a resume if appropriate)

If you cannot come on Tuesday:

• You may submit a 30-45 second monologue which best showcases your acting abilities.
• Online auditions are more age-specific, calling for several teenagers ages 13-18.
• Click here for complete details