Open Casting Call For Film About Socorro Champion Baseball Team

When Jess Araujo heard about the Socorro High School Bulldogs winning the 2009 baseball championship from a family member living in El Paso, he thought it would make a great movie.

“The real story is what it took to get there,” Araujo told ABC-7. “The dynamics between the coach and the players and their individual stories. There are key players that have compelling individual stories (about) what they had to go through to even be on the team.”

Araujo, who was born and raised in El Paso but is now practicing law in Los Angeles, has been working on writing a script and building a team to help bring the story of the Bulldogs to the big screen. The attorney-turned-producer has been collaborating with Chris Forbes, the coach who led the team to victory. The team is now at the point where it needs people to bring the script to life.

“We’re going to need male and female adults of all ages because there are going to be people who are playing the girlfriends, the team members, the coach, the families of the team members, the teachers,” said Araujo.

Araujo said he is hoping to cast a “big name” actor to play the role of Forbes, but he would not elaborate on who he’s talked to or even who he had in mind. When asked who he would like to see portray him on film, Forbes remained modest.

“A lot of people have suggestions,” Forbes said. “In fact, they had a thing on Facebook where people were trying to say who should play me. It doesn’t really matter as long as the story gets told.”

The open casting call is scheduled for Saturday at Socorro High School, 10150 Alameda Ave., at 10 a.m. No experience is needed.