May 3, 2015

See the Aspiring Extras for Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger’s 1970s HBO Show

By Rebecca Milzoff

Photo: Mark Peterson

On the afternoon of April 21, hundreds of characters in spangles and studs lined up outside the Church of St. Paul the Apostle on the Upper West Side. All hoped to be cast as extras on Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger’s not-yet-titled HBO show about the 1970s New York rock-and-roll scene. Applicants were asked to embody personas from punk to disco to early hip-hop to ’60s holdover to — in the words of the casting call — “Connecticut residents.”

*This article appears in the May 4, 2015 issue of New York Magazine.

Burlesque dancer
“I usually have a vintage ’50s day look, so it was fun to try something a little more challenging and make my hair even bigger. I teased it on the way to the casting.”

Burlesque dancer
“I usually have a vintage ’50s day look, so it was fun to try something a little more challenging and make my hair even bigger. I teased it on the way to the casting.”

Actor
“I have a time machine that makes me stuck in the ’80s, but I look older”

Actor
“I have a time machine that makes me stuck in the ’80s, but I look older”

Hairstylist
“I’m the vocalist in a glam-punk band called Annie Activator. We’re really influenced by early Blondie and the Runaways. I’ve had the mohawk pink for about four years now; my friend calls it the punk-rock ponyhawk, like I’m a My Little Pony. Little kids stop me on the street.”

Hairstylist
“I’m the vocalist in a glam-punk band called Annie Activator. We’re really influenced by early Blondie and the Runaways. I’ve had the mohawk pink for about four years now; my friend calls it the punk-rock ponyhawk, like I’m a My Little Pony. Little kids stop me on the street.”

Freelancer, “kind of like a cowboy”

Freelancer, “kind of like a cowboy”

Illustrator and musician
“I’m really into Alice Cooper, and the eyeliner’s a thing I just kinda got into and it stuck. I actually have no idea how to put on makeup. The collar is my girlfriend’s, and my shirt says L.A.M.F., which stands for ‘Like a motherfucker.’ ”

Illustrator and musician
“I’m really into Alice Cooper, and the eyeliner’s a thing I just kinda got into and it stuck. I actually have no idea how to put on makeup. The collar is my girlfriend’s, and my shirt says L.A.M.F., which stands for ‘Like a motherfucker.’ ”

Actor, model, designer, stay-at-home dad

Actor, model, designer, stay-at-home dad

X-ray technician and experimental electronic musician

X-ray technician and experimental electronic musician

Hairstylist

Hairstylist

Singer

Singer

Model and actress

Model and actress

Actress

Actress

Professional hip-hop dancer

Professional hip-hop dancer

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