Four Indians are currently shooting in New Zealand for the next big fantasy film — The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (LWW). The first film in the Narnia series requires 'short talent' for which Indians are perfect, according to Mumbai-based casting director Sameer Bhardwaj.
Those who've read the books by C S Lewis will remember the story of Aslan and the White Witch – caught in an ultimate battle of good verses evil.
In the story, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy are sent to the country from London during World War II where they discover a magic wardrobe that leads them to the mystical world of Narnia.
This mystical world of Narnia is overrun by dwarves and other little people and so according to Bhardwaj, "The short talents will be part of the Red and Black Dwarf Armies in the film, and will undergo prosthetic makeup processes under the supervision of Hollywood special makeup artist Howard Berger (Kill Bill Vol 1 & 2, Minority Report)."
Having previously sourced people who could play hobbits in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings, Bhardwaj said, "They wanted as many short talents as possible. It took us quite a while, but we found around 30, out of which four were finally selected."
A stringent method is used to match the criteria demanded. Bhardwaj said, "The people I am looking for are not those you would find in a circus or on a stage show.
"Their bodies have to be proportionate; they should be between 3.5 feet to 4.4 feet and look like five to seven-year-old children. We were basically looking for healthy adults who are tiny, with no misshape or compression."
"This kind of dwarfism," he continued, "is known as pituitary dwarfism." The US $170 million film is a joint production of The Walt Disney Studios and Walden Media and is being directed by Andrew Adamson (Shrek).
Filming that began in Auckland in June, will only end in January. It will be released only in December 2005.
Those who've read the books by C S Lewis will remember the story of Aslan and the White Witch – caught in an ultimate battle of good verses evil.
In the story, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy are sent to the country from London during World War II where they discover a magic wardrobe that leads them to the mystical world of Narnia.
This mystical world of Narnia is overrun by dwarves and other little people and so according to Bhardwaj, "The short talents will be part of the Red and Black Dwarf Armies in the film, and will undergo prosthetic makeup processes under the supervision of Hollywood special makeup artist Howard Berger (Kill Bill Vol 1 & 2, Minority Report)."
Having previously sourced people who could play hobbits in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings, Bhardwaj said, "They wanted as many short talents as possible. It took us quite a while, but we found around 30, out of which four were finally selected."
A stringent method is used to match the criteria demanded. Bhardwaj said, "The people I am looking for are not those you would find in a circus or on a stage show.
"Their bodies have to be proportionate; they should be between 3.5 feet to 4.4 feet and look like five to seven-year-old children. We were basically looking for healthy adults who are tiny, with no misshape or compression."
"This kind of dwarfism," he continued, "is known as pituitary dwarfism." The US $170 million film is a joint production of The Walt Disney Studios and Walden Media and is being directed by Andrew Adamson (Shrek).
Filming that began in Auckland in June, will only end in January. It will be released only in December 2005.
