Yesterday, industry observers were shocked when a casting notice went out for HBO’s upcoming Westworld reboot which informed them that they may be required to “appear fully nude; wear a pubic hair patch; perform genital-to-genital touching; have your genitals painted; simulate oral sex with hand-to-genital touching; contort to form a table-like shape while being fully nude; pose on all fours while others who are fully nude ride on your back; ride on someone’s back while you are both fully nude; and other assorted acts the Project may require. The Project will also include language and sexual situations that some may consider personally objectionable or uncomfortable.”
Needless to say, that is sexual content that is far beyond the norm for even premium cable networks like HBO and Showtime. Late in the day, HBO released a statement that put the blame for the notice on Central Casting, one of the largest extras agencies in Hollywood.
“The document that the background actors were given was created by an outside extras casting vendor,” said an HBO spokesperson in a statement. “It was not requested, written or approved by HBO, Warner Bros. Television, or the producers, and contains situations that we do not require of any actor. We are rectifying immediately the discrepancies in this vendor’s document with our actual on-set practices, which provide a professional and comfortable working environment for all performers.”
Related: Westworld May Be HBO’s Most Sexuality Explicit TV Show
That casting notice may not have come from HBO, but the scenes in question were filmed yesterday under SAG-AFTRA supervision. According to Deadline, over 50 extras were paid $600 each (which is far above the standard $157 per-day rate for extras) in exchange for taking part in “graphic sexual situations.”
SAG-AFTRA also voiced its displeasure once HBO responded to its concerns by throwing shade on Central Casting.
“SAG-AFTRA sent the consent form to HBO [Tuesday] afternoon and requested that the document be changed to more accurately reflect the contractual provisions,” said a spokesperson for the union. “HBO had every opportunity to rectify this situation, and it was only after their direct refusal to remedy this that we posted the notice on our website. The union is very pleased to hear that HBO is doing the right thing now, but it is disappointing that we had to take such public measures to ensure compliance with our contracts and protect our background actors.”
Westworld Season 1 is currently in production and it will premiere on HBO in 2016.
Does the reported sexual content make you more or less interested in HBO’s take on Westworld? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
