Casting Call for Baz Luhrmann’s New Netflix Show about The Bronx

UPDATE: The deadline for submissions has been extended to March 17, 2015

While there is certainly a tendency to romanticize the days of yore, especially in this day and age where hipsters (like bedbugs) are everywhere and nothing you do can get rid of them, there is certainly something to be said of the Bronx of the 1970s.

Was it perfect? Certainly not. In fact, the 1970s was the decade that Gerald Ford told the bankrupt city to “drop dead.”

But it certainly says a lot about the status of the culture when a Hollywood legend wants to do a show about you.

That’s right, legendary Hollywood director Baz Luhrmann, best known for his work on “Romeo & Juliet” and “Moulin Rouge,” is currently in the process of casting folks for his new show called “The Get Down,” which takes place in the Bronx in the 1970s.

Currently, Baz is casting African-American & Latino/Hispanic men and women, aged 18 to 21. But, more specifically, Baz is on the lookout for real Bronx residents — the very colorful, cultural people that make up the melting pot of the greatest city in the world.

And, Baz adds, you don’t have to be an actor by trade to audition. “Nothing would make all those involved in ‘The Get Down’ more thrilled than to find cast members from The Bronx itself,” he said. “So I can only encourage anyone who fits the criteria of the auditions to audition. You never know until you try.”

To audition, hopefuls need to compose a demo reel that includes an introduction, a short dance, a story about the actor or actress and a song, rap or poem.

As you can imagine, Baz has already received a lot of potential candidates. “We have some amazingly talented kids coming through here that don’t get the opportunities that they should,” he said, “so I will definitely get the word out about it,” he said.

“The Get Down” will premiere on Netflix next year, and will feature 13 one-hour episodes.

Auditions can be submitted here — All submissions must be received by March 10th 17th.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEbRXzKu__8]