Fox's Bee Season

Bee Season Productions has launched a nationwide search for a 10- to 11-year-old girl to star in Bee Season, which will be released by Twentieth Century Fox under the Fox Searchlight Banner. Based on the best-selling novel of the same name, the film will be directed by David Siegel and Scott McGehee, who previously helmed the critically acclaimed The Deep End. Bee Season is produced by Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa, who share an Independent Spirit Award for Best Picture for Election and have produced The Wood, Pumpkin and the upcoming Cold Mountain. Mindy Marin is the casting director and Cathy Weiner is the casting assistant.

Casting will be for the part of Eliza, a Caucasian girl (Jewish father, Catholic mother) who is watchful and introverted, but has a certain grace; a girl who is shy with a hint of sadness in her eyes. In some ways, she is wise beyond her years but still a little girl. Eliza longs for her parents' approval and love, as well as their attention. Though she has long blended into the background, her life takes a dramatic turn when she is discovered to be a spelling bee whiz kid.

Eleven-year-old Eliza Naumann comes from an odd family that tends to divert emotional frustrations into secret channels. When she unexpectedly begins winning spelling bees, what had been a stable dynamic in the Naumann household becomes disrupted; long held secrets emerge and a latent spiritual yearning is awakened. As the national spelling bee nears, the Naumanns find themselves in a spiral of surprising discovery and jarring uncertainty.

Auditioners are instructed to create a VHS tape with the following contents:
-Full shot of child that shows height
-Child stating her name, height and date of birth
-Conversation with the child where she speaks about school, family, friends and any other appropriate information to show her personality
-Performance of the audition scene (downloadable at FoxSearchlight.com/BeeSeason) taping just above the shoulders

Included with the tape should be a tape log, child�s picture and resume (with date of birth). Tapes must be submitted by the child's parent or legal guardian. Unfortunately, submissions and tapes will NOT be returned. Send the package to the following address:

Bluewater Ranch Casting Artists, Inc.
Bee Season
1433 6th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401

ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2003.

For a complete listing of audition requirements please go to: FoxSearchlight.com/BeeSeason, call 310.395.1882 or email rancher@bluewaterranch.com.