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CLEAR Temp: 64 °F Wind: SSW at 5 mph Wednesday, October 1, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend June 20, 2003 Line producer Lynn Reynolds on Thursday holds up a script with the line that young acting hopefuls were to read in auditions for the New Age spiritual film "Indigo" being filmed in Ashland. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli In the spirit of ‘Indigo’ The chance to be in a non-Hollywood film brings children to Ashland auditions By JOHN DARLING for the Mail Tribune After auditioning 250 children in Ashland on Thursday, Stephen Simon, producer of "Indigo," said "We have our cast." The hopefuls and their parents came from the Rogue Valley’s back yard and from around the country. The kids and their parents, mostly moms, jammed the artattack theater on Oak Street, resumes and head-shot photos in hand to read lines like, "I didn’t meet them on the Internet — I met them on the inner-net" — a reference to a new sort of "indigo child" who has higher powers of telepathy, intelligence and skills at shaping a new world. Simon, producer of the consciousness-raising films "What Dreams May Come" and "Somewhere in Time," and director James Twyman, both of Ashland, called back five girls for the part of 10-year old Grace and one Ashland boy for 10-year old Nicholas. Callbacks are on Friday and Saturday for the final choices. Advertisement Adults were auditioned earlier this week in Ashland and Portland, for a total of 800 auditions, most pulled from local or regional talent pools, without use of agents or studios, Simon said. Many parents and child-actors spoke of a special sense of mission in trying out for a spiritually oriented film and said money was not their motivation. "We have a deep desire for Ashley to be involved in spiritual cinema," said Kay Cunningham, who flew here from Arlington, Texas, with her 9-year-old daughter, who was one of the few callbacks. "We’ve raised her to be very spiritual and it’s an honor to be involved." Ashley Cunningham added, "I love acting so and would like to do something that has a purpose, a meaning and is not the trashy stuff Hollywood usually makes." The film portrays a young "indigo" girl and her grandfather who discover her spiritual gifts as they run from a potential kidnapper. The grandfather is played by Neale Donald Walsch of Ashland, author of the best-selling "Conversations With God." He and author-singer Twyman co-wrote the film. Twyman has written a book on the alleged psychic powers of "indigo" children. "I’m amazed at the talent in this area," said Twyman. "A lot of the kids were indigoes. They’re very delightful and seem to have a strong sense of direction. They’re changing the world and bringing in peace." "The indigo children are smarter," said Seanne McVarish of Medford, whose daughter Jacquie, 9, had just auditioned. "They have an otherworldly spirituality and are here to make other people happy and make a bridge between this concrete world and the spiritual world." "It was really exciting," said Jacquie. "I thought I did well but I messed up a few lines. It was really fun." Her mother said she was not the stereotypical stage mom, pushing her child to stardom, but was "just supportive of her passions and dreams" by helping with music, dance and acting. Dana Fox of Ashland, mother of Jessy Peters, 11, echoed the sentiment. "I’m not thrilled about the child actor life. Jessy is devoted to soccer, gymnastics and school here, but it’s a cool experience that the film is made here by a conscious guy like Walsch, instead of Hollywood." "It’s nice that it’s not a regular movie and can affect people in a positive way," said Tammy Glover, mother of Angelina Hess, 7, Talent. "We didn’t want anything to do with the other kind of movie. This is in tune with spirituality and has integrity." One girl, actually named Indigo (Johnson), came with her mother, Vicky Johnson, from San Rafael, Calif., partly on the coincidence of names and because the girl had a dream of a journey the night before, she said. "She’s an indigo," said Vicky. "She has a sensitivity I didn’t know as a child, a light and intelligence. She knows the answers to things she shouldn’t know the answers to. It’s a new energy entering the world, an evolutionary step that’s bringing light to the world." Ryan Schwarzer, 9, Ashland, had a different view: "I’m here for the money," he said, bringing a belly laugh from his mom, Robin Schwarzer. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? 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