SUBMITTED BY Scooby

November 28, 2002 — The New Zealand Herald reports on the number of background actors needed for the new Tom Cruise film, shooting in New Zealand:

"Casting directors for the upcoming Tom Cruise film The Last Samurai are looking for 400 - 500 Japanese men to join the army of extras needed for the film when New Zealand casting begins in Taranaki next month. Industry insiders do not expect there to be enough suitable Japanese men in NZ to fill the roles and casting directors may look to other Asian men as extras. Overseas extras may also be flown in to make up the numbers. The schedule is expected to be gruelling, with the extras working for 10 - 12 weeks from January, for 12 - 14 hours per day".

(Thanks to Dark Horizons)