Date: Fri 25-Aug-1995

By ANDY GOROSKO

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

movie-casting-Sleepers-

Full Text:

Newtown Casting Call - So You Want To Be In Movies!

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

A casting company is seeking people to serve as movie extras for "Sleepers," a

feature film planned to be photographed in part at the Fairfield Hills

Hospital campus.

Wilfley-Todd Casting of New York City plans to hold an open casting call on

Monday, August 28, from noon to 4 pm in the Alexandria Room at Edmond Town

Hall, 45 Main Street, said Vicky Cosentino of the casting firm.

Everyone who would like to be in the movie should come to the casting call

where they will be briefed about the nature of the film. Prospective extras

will be asked to fill out an informational form.

The company is especially interested in casting boys ages 12 to 18 of all

ethnic backgrounds, Ms Cosentino said. The casting company is particularly

seeking husky boys ages 15 to 18 who look like football players, she said. The

boys will serve as extras playing the roles of juvenile delinquents in the

mid-1960s who are serving time.

People reporting to the auditions should bring a recent photo of themselves

which they can leave with the casting company for its reference. The

applicants should bring their social security card to the casting call.

The casting company will then contact the people they have selected as extras

in the film. If selected to work, extras will be paid $50 for an eight-hour

day.

Word of the company's plans for an open casting call spread fast throughout

the state with calls of inquiry pouring into the town clerk's office this

week. The telephones were ringing off the hook with people calling to ask for

directions to Newtown.

After hearing about the casting call, some folks mistakenly showed up at

Edmond Town Hall on Tuesday looking for the casting director.

The film "Sleepers" is based on a book of the same name. Noted director Barry

Levinson will make the movie starring Robert DeNiro and Brad Pitt. Mr Levinson

has directed films including "Diner," "Good Morning, Vietnam," "Rainman," "The

Natural," and "Tin Men."

The film also will be shot in New York City. All scenes involving Robert

DeNiro and Brad Pitt will reportedly be shot in New York. The movie will use

the Fairfield Hills location as the setting for a boys' reformatory and

detention center, providing an institutional look for the production.

Fairfield Hills, a state psychiatric hospital, has been decreasing in size in

recent years as the state pursues a policy of patient

"deinstitutionalization." The patients who remain at Fairfield Hills are being

transferred to Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown.

The state government has been seeking new, private uses for the Fairfield

Hills property.

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The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

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Date: Fri 25-Aug-1995

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