Ron McCall, who teaches drama at Selma Middle CHAT Academy, left school this past week to join the cast of a new movie “The Skeleton Key” in New Orleans. He will be playing the part of a voodoo priest, “Papa Justify,” he said.

While the setting for the moving is contemporary, McCall will be working in another historical era. “I’m in the past,” he said. “I have to cut my dreadlocks since I’m playing a character who lived in the 20s. They’re paying me to cut my hair. We arrived at the precise amount for the consideration after negotiations.”

McCall said that he got the part in early April, and left school on the 13th for filming on site. Then the company will move to Los Angeles where filming will conclude in June.

To leave school early McCall had to get permission from the superintendent and the school board, which was granted.

He will return to teaching duties in the fall.

The film “Skeleton Key” is being

made by Universal Pictures and directed by Englishman Iain Softley, of “Hackers,” “K-PAX” and “Backbeat” fame.

The movie stars Kate Hudson, Joy Bryant and Peter Sarggaard. Written by Ehren Kruger, who also wrote “The Ring,” the movie is described as a thriller.

McCall said he believes the film will be released later this year.

McCall has numerous credits on his professional resume, including parts in six or seven movies, he said.

He is married to Sonja McCall and they have one daughter Khrysta who is 4 years old. McCall said that that his wife who is a reservist based in Georgia has just been released from full-time duty.

She’s been traveling all over the country in support of troop deployment for Iraq – She’s home just in time for me to leave for New Orleans and Los Angeles for a month,” he laughed. The family lives in Montgomery.

“I’m excited about the role,” McCall

said, “and so are the students. They want to go with me. I’m sure next fall I’ll talk to them about what’s involved in playing a role in a movie.”