Corbin Bernsen is either a really down-to-earth guy or a very, very, very good actor. Anyone who has seen his work and then met him here on the weekend would no doubt say that he is both.

The actor/producer was in Kipling Saturday and Sunday to conduct auditions for a part in an upcoming movie, Donna On Demand. In an interview, he had nothing but good things to say about the community and about the 90 or so hopefuls who read for him.

“I am totally ‘blown away’ by the amount of raw talent I have seen here,” Bernsen told The Citizen. “The number of truly good readings has surprised me.”

Except for local volunteers doing the paperwork, he served as a one-man crew for the auditions, operating the camera and giving instructions and at times lending suggestions to hopefuls. Between sessions, Bernsen, sporting a white “Kipling, Saskatchewan” t-shirt, mingled with the gathering, chatting with townsfolk and a few who had come from a distance to audition.

“I was amazed that he seemed like just a regular guy,” one said.

“He’s really nice. Nothing like I thought he might be,” said another.

Nearly 90 hopefuls, young and old, went in front of the camera in hopes of landing the part, though none knows yet which role will in fact be awarded. There will be one selected from the Kipling auditions in any case, as fulfillment of his now-famous trade with Kyle MacDonald.

MacDonald traded a snow globe to Bernsen, a collector, for the movie role. MacDonald then traded the role to the Town of Kipling in exchange for the house at 503 Main St., which is where last weekend’s auditions were conducted. As the world now knows, the trade for the house completed MacDonald’s mission, to ‘trade up’ from one red paper clip until he got a house.

Bernsen said he wanted to dispel local rumours that peg Donna On Demand as a “porno flick”. “It definitely is not,” he said. While certain scenes might result in its receiving an ‘R’ rating, it will not be a “bad” movie.

The story is about the relationship between men and women, wherein women are too often put in the situation where they are at the beck and call of the man in their life (in that sense: “on demand”), rather than the two being partners. The name “Donna”, has some significance in its similarity to the biblical “Madonna”, whom Bernsen refers to as “the ultimate mother”.

Although only a single role is a part of the deal, Bernsen said it could be just the beginning for Kipling and area. His production company, Publicmediaworks, has other projects on the go. One of them, 3 Day Test, is set in winter and some of the filming and casting could be done here, if suitable arrangements can be made, he said.

That might require that residents sacrifice some rink time so that a set could be constructed in a more or less controlled environment. However, Bernsen suggested the spinoffs both in the construction and filming would be a shot in the arm for the local economy.

To say nothing of the publicity. Once again on the weekend, Bernsen’s presence turned the attention of national media to Kipling. Two crews filmed a portion of Saturday’s auditions, interviews were conducted with Bernsen and some of the hopefuls and Kipling was in the news yet again.

Even after departure, he and Economic Development Coordinator Bert Roach were much in demand for radio and television appearances, including some time on the CTV morning show Canada AM.

Roach has even more appearances scheduled as the Labour Day long weekend approaches. As a part of Saskatchewan’s Biggest Housewarming Party Ever, Sept. 1-3, more auditions will be conducted, though time for them will be limited to about four hours for the Donna On Demand role. Following this, tapes will be reviewed and finalists chosen for a ‘pop idol’ style improv performance to be held at Kipling Community Centre. The winner of the role will be announced Sunday, during a gala Housewarming program to be held on Main Street. It is likely that the finalists will be of a certain age range, since by that time the selection of roles suitable to the top candidates will have been narrowed down.

It is also likely, however, that further auditions will be held in addition to the four hours allocated for the role obtained in the trade. As with those last weekend, the readings are being termed an “open casting call” and those auditioning may be considered for future Publicmedia-works productions, particularly 3 Day Test, if they indicate an interest in doing so.

That being the case, all age groups were represented in the weekend auditions, from at least one pre-schooler, on up. One was 78-year-old Margaret Duke, who auditioned “on a dare”, but with whom Bernsen was impressed.

“Truthfully, many people impressed me with their stage presence and their enthusiasm,” he said. “I mean it when I say there are several here who have the potential for movie careers.”
Bernsen said he is thrilled that the auditions and casting call process was being used to award the role, rather than a draw or some other method, particularly in view of the “raw talent” he has already identified.

“3 Day Test is all but cast in my head,” he said.

Which, even though the lead roles will in all likelihood be filled by experienced actors, certainly bodes well for many of those auditioning at Kipling.

A waiver separate from that for the Donna On Demand role was required for the open casting call.

Donna On Demand will be filmed in Los Angeles. Those trying out for it are required to be available during the approximately three weeks they would be needed for filming, if they are cast.