The world wide star search has ended as newcomer Caroline Barry is cast in the coveted role of Nellie Bly in the motion picture suspense thriller based on Bly’s book, 10 DAYS IN A MADHOUSE.Seattle, WA, USA (October 18, 2013) — The world wide star search has ended as newcomer Caroline Barry is cast in the coveted role of Nellie Bly in the motion picture suspense thriller based on Bly’s book, 10 DAYS IN A MADHOUSE.
10 DAYS IN A MADHOUSE chronicles the real life experiences of 23 year old journalist Nellie Bly, who feigned mental illness to go undercover in the notorious Blackwell’s Island Insane Asylum to expose atrocities. The production is the follow up to director Timothy Hines’ critically acclaimed film, WAR OF THE WORLDS THE TRUE STORY.
Director Hines knew he was watching a star in the making when he first viewed Caroline Barry’s screen test for the lead role as fearless reporter Nellie Bly. “There were very specific things we were looking for, very specific traits, attitudes and energies in portraying the most exciting woman journalist of all time. And Caroline has them all,” beams Hines about Ms. Barry’s casting in his new film. “On top of that, she has amazing acting chops.”
Producer Susan Goforth adds, “There were some very close contenders out of the original 164 screen tests, whittled down to 20 semi-finalists. There were many great actresses and some a hair’s breadth from getting the role. The creative team was laboring over it. Drawing on the descriptions in biographies like author Brooke Kroeger’s, ‘Nellie Bly, Daredevil, Reporter, Feminist,’ published by Random House, we were all looking at the things that made Nellie Bly who she was. We got down to three finalists. After many hours of comparing and re-watching the screen tests I finally just went to Tim and said. ‘You’ve sat with Nellie Bly for 3 years now. You know this. You know who it is. Who is Nellie Bly?’ He looked up as if a light bulb went off and he said, ‘It is Caroline Barry, without question.’”
Originally from the East Coast, Ms. Barry studied acting at the University of Colorado. With a large body of stage work, ranging from Shakespeare to more contemporary comedies like Noises Off, Ms. Barry turned to film and soon began commanding starring roles in a variety of indie pictures.
“She is definitely up to the task,” says Hines. “I’ve chatted with many of the contenders and they all agreed that Caroline is the right choice for Nellie Bly. There’s something about Caroline that is at once, an almost innocence and at the same time a powerful confidence, which Bly was known for. Plus, Caroline, like Nellie Bly, has a natural infectious smile. She has a vibrancy of spirit that just makes you want to watch her over and over again. It’s that magic that stars have. An indescribable something that just makes them stand out and everyone knows it.”
It hasn’t gone unnoticed that Caroline Barry has an uncanny physical resemblance to Nellie Bly, who invented investigative undercover journalism working for Joseph Pulitzer and was the first woman journalist to write hard news.
10 finalists who will be cast in major supporting roles are Katie Singleton, Julia Chantrey, Morgan Breon, Saskia Larsen, Natalia Davidenko, Katelyn Stelly, Talya Mar, Emily Greco, Corrina Cornforth and Lauren Cooper.
10 DAYS IN A MADHOUSE is planned for world wide theatrical release in 2014.
Media Contact
Company Name: Pendragon Pictures
Contact Person: Susan Goforth
Email: news@pendragonpictures.com
Phone: 206-639-3198
Address:1700 7th Ave, Suite 116#170 Seattle, WA, 98101
City: Seattle
State: Washington
Country: United States
Website: http://www.pendragonpictures.com
