Notes from a Casting Director
I’m always intrigued by the filmmaking process, and love talking to people working behind the scenes. Backstage.com just published a great story about Avy Squad, a New York-based casting director who’s hired actors for The Sixth Sense, Garden State, Brokeback Mountain, and Capote.
Squad says there’s a fine line between persistence and obnoxiousness. “There are some actors that contact me on every project I begin. If I have a role for them, I will bring them in. And if I don’t, in all honesty, I’m not going to call. Because everybody feels that they’re right for the role.”
More after the jump…
But she also understands how difficult the acting profession can be — not only the craft itself, but also the relentless campaigning to get a break, land a role, and maintain a steady career.
Occasionally, she’ll audition an actor based on portfolios sent to her office, though she doesn’t always sort through her daily mail personally. She also keeps a file called, “Avy, Don’t Forget This Person,” to remind her of someone who really has that spark.
Sometimes, she’ll ask actors to test with each other to see how they click, but not always. None of the romantically linked characters in American Gangster or Brokeback Mountain read together before being cast. There are seldom more than two stars attached to a project before she begins her work. On “Brokeback,” for instance, Kaufman cast all the roles, including the four main principals.
Some stars also help in finding talent; she has an upcoming project with Edward Norton, and imagines he’ll have significant input in its casting.
Click here to read this entire story. Fascinating!
Related Stories
POSTED IN: Casting News, Celebrity Pictures, Film Industry, Interviews, Movie Stars, Personalities
0 opinions for Notes from a Casting Director
No one has left a comment yet. You know what this means, right? You could be first!
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: