I keeping seeing the trailer for Blue Crush, and the surfing scenes, combined with the relative obscurity of the actors, reminded me of something they do sometimes. In particular, when the producers figure that the “authenticity” is more important than the acting, so they just use someone skilled in the subject, rather than an actor. In this case, they would just find a cute surfer chick, instead of hiring a cute actress and using a surfer double. (I’m not saying they did in this case, just an example of what I’m talking about.)
Another example I vaguely recall is Center Stage, where some (most?) of the dancers really were professional dancers.
I know there are more examples of this method of casting. Anyone’s memory better than mine?
Lately I’ve noticed that they have superimposed actors’ faces on athletes, drivers or stunt men by computer to create the impression that the actor is doing the activity.
Is it very far down the road before Bogart, Gable or Wayne are once again making movies?
Jim Bray, an amateur roller-skating champion, in Roller Boogie. Ha! I loved that film. I remember him being quite good-looking, but utterly without any charm or acting ability.
Steve Vai played the Devil’s guitar player in the Ralph Macchio vehicle Crossroads. The part didn’t have any dialogue, but it was nice to have one of the people in the scene actually playing the guitar. And he really mugged for the camera, too.
Danny Trejo, who has a good career playing small roles as tough guys and convicts, is an actual ex-con.
Bogart’s face was used througout an episode of Tales from the Crypt. I consider the use of dead actors in commercials and television spots to be in very poor taste. <whew> Felt good to get that off my chest.
Of course, the outstanding example (in my mind anyway) of this is the B. Supporting Actor winner of 1984, Dr. Haing S Ngor, who played himself in The Killing Fields.
In Fat Man and Little Boy, IIRC some of the scientists were scientists. There’s a director, who’s name escapes me, who does this with all his films if he can possibly get away with it.