ASHE looking for its next ‘CHILL’ star

The ASHE Company is looking to expand the cast of its hit YouTube series, CHILL. According to ASHE’s executive director, Conroy Wilson, CHILL garnered so much attention in its début series earlier this year that people have been clamouring to join the on-screen action. Now aspiring actors and actresses will get that chance as ASHE launches its Finding the Next CHILL Star initiative, a virtual audition series where interested people will be invited to read for various roles in season two of CHILL.

“The feedback on season one of CHILL has been overwhelmingly positive. Everyone was so impressed with the quality of the production, the script and how real and effective the storyline was. We tackled so many issues people are facing today in such a natural way while remaining entertaining, and people loved that. So much so [that] the requests to be in the production have also been overwhelming,” he said. “People want to associate with good quality products and production. The consistent feedback is ‘it look like a farrin show’ or ‘this should be on Netflix’, and as such, we wanted to get more people in the cast. We’re planning to go bigger and better for season two, and this is just the start we need.”

Wilson said that with COVID-19 still a major factor hindering social interaction, the audition process for Finding the Next CHILL Star will have to be done virtually. Interested persons are being asked to follow the ASHE Company’s Instagram page, @theashecompany and @thetabsproject. A link to the audition process will be placed in the bio section of said pages, and the registration link for the audition goes live on Monday, August 16 at 7 p.m. Interested parties will be asked to submit videos. Top contenders will be posted to the group’s social-media pages, and the extended CHILL family (viewers) will vote for their favourites. The final selection, however, will be made by the ASHE team.

LONGER EPISODES

Although a release date for season two has not yet been announced, the ASHE Company has already begun filming for the follow-up season. And according to Wilson, even more drama is expected for season two. “We have been getting a lot of messages via social media asking when season two will begin. Cast members are accosted in the streets [by people] asking about the series, but all we can say is coming soon,” he laughed. “We have learnt from season one that in this kind of movie/series production, much can happen, and we have committed to doing longer episodes based on the feedback we received from season one, so stay tuned. While we won’t give away the story, the plot will thicken with new characters added. It’s gonna be big! The most we will say right now is it opens with a funeral.”

Wilson said the team has a lot of material to pull on. “Look at the world, look at Jamaica, look at the communities urban and rural; uptown, downtown and midtown. Look at the young people and all their issues and relationships, and you will have an idea what to expect when we return,” he continued. “As usual for productions from the ASHE Company, the stories and issues will be real.”

shereita.grizzle@gleanerjm.com