film question (Shamokin, Mount Carmel, Penn: hotels, theater, high school)

[lancewashington788]

I’m a filmmaker working on my first feature film (fully funded!), and planning a potential road trip to Pennsylvania to find a certain type of American character. Would be very appreciative if you guys could offer some advice on specific parts of the country I should visit.

I’m looking to document the life a white boy who is between the ages of 16-20 and comes from an economically disadvantaged background, and we want to cast someone who embodies the spirit and upbringing of the character. This character is someone who is unworldly, fresh and has a certain innocence. He may be someone who has a layer of flimsy masculinity, that he picked up from his environment, but is essentially soft at his core. I am also open to someone who has been in trouble with the law but is essentially innocent and unknowledgeable when it comes to the world at large. So this might be a kid from a small town or a city; I would be willing to visit both. But I don’t want someone who is too hardened or savvy.

Can you please recommend some specific regions of PA or nearby states where I might find this type of kid? I will be traveling in the months of October and early November in my car, staying in hotels along the way. I live in NYC but I’m willing to drive anywhere that is less than 10 hours away. Would prefer somewhere closer but I’m open to all suggestions. I'm a young woman who is very approachable and comfortable approaching people for what it's worth.

I’m also looking for suggestions of areas or events where kids that age would hang out or congregate. It’ll be tricky to look in towns where teens and young adults are rarely seen on the streets or don’t gather
anywhere indoors.

The more specific the regional recommendations, the better (towns, cities, specific hangouts or events).

The selected person would be paid handsomely for their participation. I hope that this can be a great financial and personal opportunity for someone who is rarely given such.

Open to any and all ideas. Thank you!

[jtab4994]

You might try visiting any of the old Anthracite towns on a Friday night this time if year. You'll still find plenty of poor white kids there, and they'll likely be hanging out in public after the weekly high school football game. I'm thinking of Mount Carmel, Shamokin, places like that.

[Wells5]

Suggest that you take a peek at the videos linked below before going out in the field.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_PzL0bJDW0



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5SmoLF55YY

[Mike from back east]

Too bad you're not doing this 75 years ago; you'd have many thousands of boys from hard scrabble steel towns to choose from.... likeJohnny Unitas and a host of other NFL greats like Joe Namath, Johnny Lujack, Babe Parilli, Joe Montana, Dan Marino and Jim Kelly.

[KevinE]

Shamokin

Really... just pull surveillance camera footage and the movie will write itself.

[PAhippo]

get an actor and you can have any type of character you need.

[medievalbooks]

Be best to get an actor. Getting folks to act themselves in a play, movie, theater is near impossible. Also that age range will get more than one parent concerned. I would be if I had a teenager.