Auditions held to play Middle Eastern Villagers - G&M

Auditions held to play Middle Eastern Villagers

Canadian Press

EDMONTON — Dozens of people hoping to help Canadian soldiers prepare for duty in Afghanistan auditioned Saturday for the chance to play Middle Eastern villagers in realistic training scenarios.

The auditions were organized by DB Entertainment, a production company which has been hired by the military to produce realistic exercises for its soldiers at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright this fall.

The cast will live in mock villages and experience simulated suicide bombings and riots. It's all part of a plan to help Canadian soldiers understand Middle Eastern conflicts, culture and language, the production company said.

Many of those auditioning on Saturday were Muslims, and some with Afghan backgrounds.

Zahir Azizi, who was born in Afghanistan, said he is glad to have the chance to help educate soldiers and in turn, people in the Middle East.

"When these soldiers go to Afghanistan everything is strange to them, the topography, the culture and the traditions," Azizi said.

"In villages (in Afghanistan) the people are mostly uneducated and they can't understand why they (Canadian soldiers) are there. They just take what the Taliban or other parties or groups tell them about the soldiers."

Azizi is hoping to get a $250 per day speaking role.

People who can speak fluent Farsi, Pashtoun and Dari are being offered $100 more a day than people without the language skills.

Ninety people from Edmonton and Calgary will be cast for the training. A security screening is required to take part.

Casting organizers said that similar training has helped the United States and Great Britain reduce their incident, injury and death rates.

Kris Rurka, a casting agent, said the actors would not be cast in a stereotypical way.

"I think people are comfortable because they are helping so many people in their own countries," he said.

A military spokesperson was not available to comment.


Source: Globe and Mail