From the Z on TV blog:
A Baltimore actress, who is studying for a graduate degree at the Johns Hopkins University, is running a strong first in the "Mad Men Casting Call Contest" that promises a walk-on role in TV's top drama for the winner.
As of Monday night, Carolina Monte Rosa, who moved to Baltimore from Brazil 18 months ago, currently has 102,326 votes versus 30,799 for her nearest competitor.
The winner for a walk-on role in an episode that will air next season will be chosen from the Top 10 men and Top 10 women vote-getters by series creator Matthew Weiner. The decision will be 60 percent based on popular vote and 40 percent on Weiner's judgment.
The premise of the contest, which is sponsored by AMC and Banana Republic, involves contestants submitting photos that embody "Mad Men" style. Fans then vote on the photos. The photo shown here is the one submitted by Monte Rosa, who is currently acting in several independent films being shot in the area as well as working as a server in an area restaurant and pursuing a master's degree in liberal arts.
Here's an e-mail interview with her:
How long have you been living in Baltimore?
I moved from Brasilia to Baltimore about a year and a half ago. I really love living in such an amazing, culturally-rich city. So many people here appreciate the arts.
Are you a student at Johns Hopkins? If so, what program?
I'm currently working on my MLA (Master in Liberal Arts) at Johns Hopkins. I have a Journalism and a Business degree back in Brazil. As for acting education, I've recently been through a Meisner intensive training in New York.
Are you doing any acting now?
Yes, I just started shooting an independent feature film called "Amateur Hour", by Sam Moussavi and Justin D'Agostino (Austere Films). It's basically the story of some movie afficionados that want to actually produce films... and they plan a heist in order to budget the production. It's one of those great "black" comedies and includes amazing talents and Thievery Corporation's soundtrack. I've also just finished one of the shorts in the compilation titled "The Shadow of Strangers" from The Robinson Brothers (Indigo Blue). In addition, I starred in Hotspur's music video "Heads/Tails" (directed by Josh Eisenberg), which is on MTV and has just been accepted to the Montreal Youngcuts Film Festival 2010 among others
Are you fan of "Mad Men"?
Absolutely! I really got into the show about four months ago. I watched a whole season in a week and became addicted instantaneously!
How did you come to enter contest?
I heard about Banana Republic's amazing contest watching this current season on AMC. I got a code and sent in my picture.
While the deadline for submissions was Monday at midnight, the voting continues through Sept. 17. It started in July.
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