Micah Lyons, a Hallsville native and filmmaker, is holding an open casting call in Longview for his upcoming crime thriller 'Stigma.' The event welcomes actors of all ages and experience levels to audition for starring, supporting, and extra roles. A crew networking summit follows to build local filmmaking infrastructure.
Micah Lyons has built a career in filmmaking, progressing from low-budget productions to larger projects featuring actors like Chad Michael Murray, Bruce Dern, and Willie Robertson from the TV show 'Duck Dynasty.' His most recent film, the western 'Bad Men Must Bleed,' was shot in Hallsville, Los Angeles, and Austin, and is available on Tubi and Prime Video.
On Saturday, Lyons and Lyons Family Studios are hosting an open casting call at Carmela’s Magical Venue, located at 6085 U.S. 259 North just outside Longview. The line forms at 11:30 a.m., with doors opening at noon and closing promptly at 4 p.m. No acting experience is required, and auditions are open to people of all ages and ethnicities. All materials and instructions will be provided on site.
'Everyone’s welcome because it’s Lyons Family Studios, and we want to build that,' Lyons said. He plans to fill a majority of the cast from this event, including starring and supporting roles, as well as extras.
' Stigma' is described as a family-friendly, cat-and-mouse-style crime thriller set in East Texas, expected to receive a PG-13 rating. The plot centers on a single, desperate young mother from Longview who returns to town and discovers her father is in prison for stealing money from a deranged business partner. She seeks the money to resolve her problems and leave for good, but the partner pursues her relentlessly. 'Problem is, the old, deranged business partner finds out she’s in town and snooping around, and he will stop at nothing to find his money and chase her down, not let her find it,' Lyons explained.
Following the auditions, a crew summit begins at 5 p.m. for aspiring behind-the-scenes workers and local vendors, such as electricians, carpenters, caterers, and hair stylists. Resumes are optional. Lyons aims to develop a network of local talent and services to support future productions, addressing the lack of filmmaking infrastructure in East Texas compared to places like Austin.
Lyons is converting a nearly 90-year-old former furniture store on Cotton Street in downtown Longview into a film studio. He plans to produce two to four of his own movies annually in the region, plus four or five for others, citing the area's economic benefits for filming. He also runs acting classes on Tuesday nights through the Micah Lyons Acting Studio for children and adults.
Lyons' inspiration stems from a personal faith journey, including a biblical reference to Ezekiel 37, though his films to date have focused on genres like action, westerns, and thrillers with integrated themes. Recently, he signed to produce 'Lost Girl,' a biopic of Rebecca Contreras, which he called 'the biggest movie in my career so far.'
His wife, Brooke Lyons, reflected on their early struggles in Los Angeles after college, living off wedding gift cards and odd jobs before moving to East Texas in 2019. 'It’s been a long road... The dream has always been there. He is relentless,' she said. Lyons emphasized their mutual commitment as central to their success, hence the studio's name.