By Jacob Tierney
Tribune-Review
GREENSBURG, Pa. — The abandoned state prison in Hempfield will be populated by hundreds of inmates and corrections officers again — at least temporarily.
A film crew is preparing to shoot scenes for a movie on the site of the former SCI Greensburg.
The crew will be in the area Sept. 8-19 shooting scenes for “Three Seconds,” a film adaptation of a Swedish novel about a man who infiltrates a prison.
Most of the movie is being filmed in Philadelphia.
Nancy Mosser Casting of Pittsburgh has announced a search for 700 to 900 local extras of all ethnicities, mostly men, to appear in the movie.
Carlisle businessman David Goldsmith, who this year bought the site from the state for $950,000, confirmed the prison would feature in the movie.
This is the second time this summer that film crews have used the abandoned prison. The Cinemax TV show “Banshee” shot several scenes there in June.
“At least the prison is getting some use right now,” said state Sen. Kim Ward, R-Hempfield.
The medium-security prison, which was built to hold 900 inmates and employed 360, closed in June 2013. State officials cited declining inmate population and the high cost of maintaining the facility.
Its mix of old and new facilities and the fact that it’s not in use make it a good candidate for filming, Ward said.
“It’s a good, positive thing for the area and for the people here,” she said.
She hopes the 96-acre site is soon put to a more permanent use.
Goldsmith said he was not ready to comment about potential uses for the facility.
“We’re looking at several options but don’t have a fixed solution at this time,” he said.
Nancy Mosser Casting will hold an open call for extras from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 23 at thePalace Theatre in Greensburg. The company is looking for men 18 and older to play prisoners and corrections officers.
Applicants will fill out paperwork and have a photo taken, according to the company. The process takes about 15 minutes.
The pay rate for extras is $7.25 per hour for the first eight hours a day, with time and a half for additional work.
“Three Seconds” is directed by Otto Bathurst. It stars Luke Evans, David Oyelowo, Josh Brolin and Maggie Gyllenhaal.