After paper-clip trade-up, Saskatchewan town in movie spotlight

Kipling, the Saskatchewan town that traded a two-storey house for a place in the movies, rolled out the red carpet for director Corbin Bernsen this weekend.

Bernsen, former star of L.A. Law, was in Saskatchewan holding auditions for his upcoming movie, Donna on Demand.

Kipling won the movie role for one of its citizens in a now world-famous trade-up.

Slightly more than a year ago, Montrealer Kyle Macdonald put a red paper-clip on eBay, hoping to trade up to his very own home.

It took 14 trades, involving a fish pen, a cube van, a snowmobile and a snow globe from rock star Alice Cooper, but Macdonald got his wish.

He traded a KISS snow globe for a speaking part in the Bernsen film. Bernsen is a snow globe collector.

Then the town of Kipling stepped in, trading the house for the movie role.

And now Bernsen is in southern Saskatchewan, holding auditions forhis low-budget picture.

"Already I've seen 10 people who if I take them to L.A. and they get a little bit of guidance could easily work," he said.

At least one person will be hired for a speaking part in Bernsen's Donna On Demand, but he's not sure yet which part he'll fill.

"There's a couple of younger characters [in] leading roles. And if I come across those people it would be great to find somebody from here," he said.

"But if not, there's a little restaurant scene. It could be a waitress that hands food. You know that won't be a life-changing role, but the experience will still be there."

The top 10 prospects for the movie role will perform on stage during Kipling's big Labour Day party.

At the party, judges, audience members and Bernsen will make their final selection.

Bernsenis also floating the idea of a Christmas comedy shot in Kipling.

As for Macdonald, according to his blog, he regards the Labour Day festivities as the ultimate housewarming party.