FILM fever gripped the city yesterday as more than 1,000

Plymothians turned up to what organisers described as 'the

biggest casting' they had ever seen.

The queue 'overwhelmed' the casting crew for Disney's remake

of Alice in Wonderland, as it snaked from the front doors of

the New Continental Hotel – where the search for extras took

place – round the Pavilions, eventually reaching Jester's on

Union Street.

From 8am through to 6pm – people from as far as Reading

waited, dying for the chance to be cast in the Tim Burton

movie, which is tipped to star Hollywood heartthrob Johnny Depp

as The Mad Hatter.

Casting director Ilenka Jelowicki said: "This is the biggest

casting I've done – normally about 600 turn up but today there

has been over a thousand."

The team need to select 250 people from those they choose

from auditions yesterday and again today, when they expect to

have to see hundreds more hopefuls. She added: "It's been

amazing here. Everyone is so friendly, enthusiastic and very

understanding."

The first person in the queue was Andrew Lessiter, who had

waited eight hours from 2am. He said: "It was a very simple

process. About 100 people at a time went in and sat down, and

were met by the casting director and the hair and make-up lady,

who said yes or no.

"If it was 'yes', we went on to be photographed and

measured, and were asked to fill in an application form.

"We were told we would be informed by phone within two weeks

whether we had been chosen."

Despite the long wait and endless queuing, the atmosphere

was charged with excitement and adrenalin and among the tears

of disappointment, there was hysteria as some were told

'yes'.

Ilenka said: "Three girls went crazy jumping up and down

madly screaming when I said 'yes'. I felt like I was on

X-factor."

Chris James, 18, was one of those left jubilant, leaping

into the air, shouting 'yes' when he was told: "Yes. You've got

great lamb chops."

Ella Lewis, 16, from Torpoint was also given the

thumbs-up.

She said: "I'm so excited. Let's hope I get in the final

selection, and then marry Johnny Depp."

People of all ages and from all walks of life waited

patiently in-line.

Keith Feltham, 67, a former vicar from Woolwell, said: "Tim

Burton's films are always very creative and I am used to

standing up in front of people."

The Purvis family – who had travelled all the way from

Reading – initially came because the two daughters were

'obsessed' with Johnny Depp, but when both girls were told

'no', it was the parents who were measured up, photographed and

are now awaiting a phone call.

But casters became increasingly picky throughout the day in

an attempt to whittle down the queue.

The small team of eight ended up combing the queue to save

time – sending many away while telling others to come back

today with a signed piece of paper – their golden ticket to

jumping the queue.

Ilenka said: "We're really short on 40 to 50-year-olds –

that's what we really need right now. We need completely

naturally coloured hair, no layers or fringes for the women and

men must have at least a couple of inches of hair.

"Lamb chops are great and girls must have natural

eyebrows."

Sarah Gavin 16, from Plympton, said she was "absolutely

gutted" after falling at the first hurdle – just because she

has a fringe. She said: "I got up at 3am for the audition, and

the taxi arrived at four.

"I had a really nice day, and I guess some are lucky and

some aren't."

Danielle Smith, 16, who got a 'no', was also 'gutted', but

her three-and-a-half hour wait was not completely in vain.

She said: "I met the lady standing behind me and she makes

films and wants to cast me in a film she's making about

Germany. She's taken my details and is going to get in

touch."

Karen Beckham, 39, and from North Road West, got up at

2.30am to secure second place in the audition queue.

She said: "They liked my long hair and my complexion and

told me to keep out of the sun for the next two weeks."

Extras can expect gruelling 15 hour days on set for two

weeks, with a lot of waiting around.

Women might end up wearing corsets so uncomfortable they

don't allow the wearer to sit down, and men sporting attachable

facial wear that might become very itchy.

Filming will take place in the last two weeks of September

at currently undisclosed locations.

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