02/15/06 — Restaurant chain looks for two new stars

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Restaurant chain looks for two new stars

By Turner Walston
Published in News on February 15, 2006 1:51 PM

Restaurant chain Pizza Inn will start looking Thursday and Friday for a few good local faces to star in its upcoming advertising campaign.

Rather than bring in professional actors, Pizza Inn is looking to Goldsboro to provide actors for the 60-second spots that will be aired nationally beginning in late 2006, said Jill Poythress Nielsen of Pizza Inn operations.

Auditions are scheduled both days at the Pizza Inn at 3009 Ash St.

The company will shoot footage for four commercials in Goldsboro.

Company officials say they hope their customers will be the best advertisement for their product.

"They've decided to pretty much get our customers, and they thought that the Goldsboro market and the Rocky Mount market were two towns that we had strong Pizza Inn customers in," Mrs. Neilsen said.

Mrs. Neilsen said the casting call is open to anyone.

"Soccer teams, Girl Scout troops, anybody, families, seniors, kids. It doesn't matter."

Auditions will involve taking a picture and reading a line or two and answering some questions.

"Just to make sure you're comfortable with the camera," Mrs. Neilsen said.

The actors will be notified of their selection early next week.

The restaurant won't be the only location in the commercial. A location scout is looking for places around Goldsboro to film people enjoying Pizza Inn pizza.

"They might be in a classroom or at the park," Mrs. Nielsen said. "It's going to be kind of like a reality shot."

Auditions will take place from 8 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

And, if they are chosen, the winning spokespeople will get more than just a chance to enjoy pizza on camera.

They will get some real dough, too -- a paycheck for their efforts.