"Don't Think About It," a direct-to-DVD movie, will begin production here Oct. 25 under the direction of Alex Zamm, who has made such TV movies as "Snow" and "The Pooch and the Pauper." It is intended to be the first in a series of films adapted from the short story anthology "The Haunting Hour" by R.L. Stine, who also wrote the "Goosebumps" series. "Don't Think About It" will feature Emily Osment, 14-year-old star of the Disney Channel's "Hannah Montana" and younger sister of Haley Joel Osment. The film concerns a 13-year-old named Cassie (Osment) adapting to life at a new school and a new neighborhood. Her pranks attract the attention of a menacing stranger. The movie is expected to generate between $4.2 million and $4.7 million in economic benefits to the region, according to Ellen Weiss Kander, executive director of Steeltown Entertainment Project, a local organization designed to attract film and TV production to Pittsburgh. The film will be shot in and around the Pittsburgh area through Nov. 19. Locations will include the (closed) Knoxville School in Mount Oliver, a home in Cranberry and a vacated store in Carnegie. Children from 4 to 17 years old will be needed as extras, particularly those 12 to 14 for a middle school Halloween dance scene. Those interested can come to an open casting call from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at Nancy Mosser Casting, 239 Fourth Ave., Suite 1217, Downtown. Details: www.mossercasting.com or 412-434-1666. "Don't Think About It" will be produced by The Hatchery for distribution by Universal Studios Home Entertainment for release around Halloween 2007. The Hatchery produces family entertainment for all media. One of the Los Angeles-based people instrumental in pointing The Hatchery toward Pittsburgh was district native and special effects maestro Greg Nicotero, who hopes to visit town in mid-November. "Doing what I can to bring some movie work back to Pittsburgh," Nicotero says. "Of course, we will be providing the creature work." By we, he means KNB EFX Group, Inc., a company he co-founded that is based in Van Nuys, Calif. "Don't Think About It" will be the second of three movies shooting here this fall. "The Mysteries of Pittsburgh," based on a novel by Michael Chabon, is in production under the direction of Rawson Marshall Thurber. Its cast includes David Morse, Peter Sarsgaard, Mena Suvari, Nick Nolte and Sienna Miller. Beginning Nov. 6, Noam Murro will direct "Smart People" with a cast headed by Dennis Quaid, Rachel Weisz and Thomas Haden Church. Additional Information:

Details

Children from 4 to 17 years old will be needed as extras, particularly those 12 to 14 for a middle school Halloween dance scene. Those interested can come to an open casting call from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at Nancy Mosser Casting, 239 Fourth Ave., Suite 1217, Downtown. Details: www.mossercasting.com or 412-434-1666.

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