VOLANT

The casting agency in charge of finding extras for the season premiere of NBC's "The West Wing," is looking for people to portray policemen, paramedics, White House staffers, media types, politicians, volunteers, bus drivers, Secret Service agents, farmers and spectators.

But they don't necessarily have to know how to act.

"Acting ability has nothing to do with it," said Nancy Mosser of Nancy Mosser Casting in Pittsburgh, who is running the casting call from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Orr Auditorium at Westminster College in New Wilmington. "We pretty much choose them at random because they will play different people."

People age 18 and older are needed to fill at least 300 nonspeaking parts when the hit television show is filmed Aug. 23 and 24 in Volant. Most of the people will be needed for both days from before dawn to dusk, according to the Lawrence County Tourist Promotion Agency.

Applicants are asked to take a recent photo or Polaroid of themselves and a pen to fill out the casting form with information such as clothing size, height, weight and hair and eye color.

"We will call them if we need them," said Ms. Mosser, who also handled a casting call for the film, "The Mothman Prophecies." "But if they don't hear from us, we will also keep their information on file for future work."

Those unable to attend the casting call Saturday may download a form from the Internet at www.mossercasting.com and mail it with a photo to Nancy Mosser Casting, Suite 1217, 239 Fourth Ave., Pittsburgh 15222. For more information, call the agency, (412) 434-1666.