Alle-Kiski Valley answers the call of 'Banshee'

If Tony Bowen of Vandergrift is any indication, subscriptions to Cinemax might soon be on the rise in the Alle-Kiski Valley.

Bowen, who introduced himself as “T-Bone,” was among those who turned out at the Casino Theater in Vandergrift on Monday for an open casting call for extras, stand-ins and photo doubles for the Cinemax series, “Banshee,” which has begun production of its fourth season here.

Bowen, 63, said he's never seen the show, which focuses on an ex-con who assumes the identity of the sheriff of the fictional town of Banshee, Pa.

But he has tattoos, one of the traits the show is looking for.

“I don't have Cinemax,” Bowen said. “If this happens, I might get it.”

Filming of the show is scheduled to start April 20 and continue to mid-to-late August, said Katie Shenot, an extras casting director with Nancy Mosser Casting of Pittsburgh.

The eight-episode fourth season will air in 2016.

Set designers with the show were reportedly in Vandergrift on Monday. Work is under way at the former J.C. Penney storefront on Grant Street, which will become the Banshee sheriff's department.

An agreement between the show's production company and the borough is still being finalized, Mayor Brian Carricato said.

In addition to regular townsfolk, press types and police department background, casters were looking for bearded men, people with visible piercings who are heavily tattooed, goth and punk types, and men with shaved heads.

The casting process was simple, with hopefuls providing some information about themselves and having their picture taken.

With a lot of the filming to be done in Vandergrift, which will become Banshee, Shenot said local residents have very good chances of appearing on the show.

Those who sign up could get called in anytime during filming.

“It's a cool way to see how (television production) is done,” she said. “Everyone will have a lot of fun.”

Hopeful extras included fans of the show and those, like Bowen, who have never seen it.

“I'm a really big fan of the show. I've watched it since it started,” said Brandon Smail, 21, of North Apollo. He was “ecstatic” when the show moved its production from North Carolina to Pennsylvania, after North Carolina ended its film tax incentive.

“Come hell or high water, I'm going to try to be on the show,” he said. “Wherever they stick me, I'll be happy.”

Denise Saunders of Greensburg said she and her mother, Patty Cholock, 73, of Youngwood are fans. She would like to meet actor Ulrich Thomsen, who portrays Kai Proctor on the show.

“I thought it would be fun. I wanted to try it. We love the show,” Saunders said. “We think we would be Amish people or townspeople.”

Amy Crisman, 44, of Buffalo Township, said she doesn't watch much TV and has never seen the show, but “I have a lot of tattoos and piercings.”Crissman and her husband, Harry Crisman, own a tattoo studio, Inner Vision Bodyart, in Freeport.

“Everybody I know said I should come and do it,” she said. “Apparently, they thought I fit the description.”

Coming in the wake of movies “Promised Land” and “I Am Number 4” that were shot in the Alle-Kiski Valley, Casey Davis, 37, of Vandergrift said it's good to see another production come to the Valley.

“It brings attention to the town,” he said. “Lord knows this town is nothing like it used to be. It's a shame.”

Davis, who teaches culinary arts at Northern Westmoreland Career & Technology Center in New Kensington, said he's not seen the show, but there was a simple reason why he came out to be an extra.

“I'm a school teacher,” he said. “I need something to do in the summer.”

Brian C. Rittmeyer is a staff writer for Trib Total Media.