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Casting call for 'The Infiltrator' bring 1980s back to Tampa

 
Diane Kruger and Bryan Cranston star in The Infiltrator, the story of Robert Mazur, a Tampa resident and former undercover federal agent who infiltrated Pablo Escobar's drug money laundering empire.
Diane Kruger and Bryan Cranston star in The Infiltrator, the story of Robert Mazur, a Tampa resident and former undercover federal agent who infiltrated Pablo Escobar's drug money laundering empire.
Published April 12, 2015

TAMPA — Pastels. Leg warmers. Big earrings. Loud silk shirts. Jelly sandals.

Few of the people who showed up at the Tampa Convention Center for the casting call Saturday of Bryan Cranston's movie, The Infiltrator, wanted to admit that they still keep any of this clothing in their closet.

The movie is set in the 1980s, so the casting agency encouraged folks who wanted to be extras or stand-ins for featured actors to show up in period garb. Part of the movie will be filmed in Tampa Bay later this month.

"I'm sad to say there were still some things in my closet that kind of worked," said Rob Gruen, 65, of Tampa, who was applying to be an extra and looked ready for the set of Miami Vice in a light-gray suit, triple-pleated pants, a black T-shirt and a gold chain. "I don't know if I want to admit that."

Hundreds of Tampa Bay residents answered the casting call for The Infiltrator and will be awaiting calls in coming days telling them whether they made the cut. Casting officials could not say how many they expect to hire.

The $47.5 million movie stars Cranston as Robert Mazur, a Tampa resident and former undercover federal agent who infiltrated Pablo Escobar's drug money laundering empire.

Officials at Marinella Hume Casting warned folks not to expect a speaking part with Cranston, who played Walter White on Breaking Bad. If selected, they may appear only in the background of shots and might be visible for just a few seconds.

Still, casting officials said they won't discourage dreamers. Once in a great while, an extra might catch a director's eye and finagle their way into a speaking part.

"Lightning does and can strike," said Lee Ann Harvey, a casting associate. "Just don't expect it."

And to emphasize that, this casting call had nothing to do with acting. Nobody was asked to read lines. Nobody really cared if you played Othello in high school. Instead, casting officials took down a few details of everyone's biography and then took a photo of applicants.

Those extras who get a call back will earn up to $112 for 12 hours' work.

Anyone strolling around downtown Tampa on Saturday might have been forgiven if they thought they had stumbled upon a convention of Tom Selleck or Pat Benatar impersonators. In fact, an announcement for the casting call suggested that men "think Magnum P.I.," Selleck's 1980s series, and that women think "full, big hair."

Courtney Saunders, 26, of Tampa had Benatar down cold. It took help from a friend's mom who actually recalled tending her own hair in the '80s.

Saunders felt a little self-conscious. "My friend's mom said, 'Don't worry about it,' " Saunders said. "She said everyone looked ridiculous back then."

Ray Wainright Jr., 56, of Ruskin looked as if he never got the memo about the 1980s clothing. His dress was Florida casual circa 2015. But Wainright said he had another attribute: He's hairy.

"They said think Tom Selleck," he said. "I've got thick eyebrows. And I opened up my shirt and showed off chest hair just like they had in the '80s."

Trey Reed, 45, of Seminole said he liked the 1980s vibe. The former VA physician said he's got a wardrobe that looks like it was transported via time machine from 1984.

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"I've got a closet full of this stuff," said Reed, who had green pants and a light-orange jacket and a loud shirt with wide collar. "I've got more of these clothes than regular clothing. I love it."

Contact William R. Levesque at levesque@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3432.