This video is an introduction to the art of casting direction and contains a brief history of casting in American cinema. Interviews in this video: THR Casting Directors Roundtable Full Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTiE0rRomP4 Crew Call: David Rubin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMA3VoZqYjM PBS News Hour "This casting director likes you for your idiosyncrasies" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V85GdzDo9k0 Video Transcript: They say casting is 90% of your film. And by “They,” I mean everyone. But, why? Why is it the last time you asked a friend to go see a movie, their first question was: “Who’s in it?” The passionate performance of an actress or actor brings great writing to life. Moreover, they can lift up mediocre writing and discover concepts on the page nobody saw before they did. So, this is a video about performance, right? Wrong. Though actors deserve tremendous credit for the characters they portray, this is a video about casting. And, no, not what a director envisions for a character, but the process that discovers actors before a director even sets eyes on them. Because the first step of casting is guided by a vital player you may have heard of, but probably don’t value as much as you should: The Casting Director. So, what does casting really entail and why does a casting director matter so much? With a script in hand, film directors send casting directors on a mission for hidden treasure--their only treasure map being a film director’s first interpretation of his or her characters. Sometimes, though, producers work with casting directors before a film director even signs on to a project. Their job, which has exploded in immensity during our information age, pushes them to scour the earth for any actress or actor who might fit the part they’re trying to fill. They then assemble this great volume of performers and begin the process of auditions. Casting direction is one of the few female dominated professions within the film industry, and if you consider the trauma performers endure during auditions themselves, it’s not hard to understand why. Women, and often gay men, dominate casting direction because the audition process itself requires a great level of emotional sensitivity. Whether it’s an open audition or you’ve been personally requested to come read, you’ve zero idea what’s going to happen. The valuable ability to guide that frightening experience with sensitivity, is part of what makes casting direction an art form. But to fully understand the what makes them true artists, you need to meet Marion Dougherty. You might not know the name, but tell me if you recognize these films: Midnight Cowboy, Grease, Lethal Weapon, or Batman. You probably do, and Marion Dougherty cast all of them. The 1960s brought with it the fall of the American studio system, through which performers were cast based on their contract with a studio and their specific visual type. With the studio system gone, actors became freelance artists. And seeing the opportunity to make casting direction a standalone profession, Marion began casting performers based on chemistry and their ability to capture the essence of a particular character. This was a game changer. No longer were performers cast based on only the studio’s needs, they were cast for their own intangible qualities and special idiosyncrasies. But, more importantly, they were cast based on whether or not they could actually act! And the ability to observe these qualities, to sit on that panel of gate-keepers then zero in on a performer's true ability and correct fit is a developed talent casting directors depend on. Unfortunately, Marion passed away in 2011, but she was pushed out of the very profession she helped create much earlier. And the disease of Hollywood that forced her to leave Warner Brothers in the 1990s, is the same disease that challenges contemporary casting directors. Corporate mergers from the 1970s onward have ironically debased casting into it’s pathetic studio system origins. A dedication to chemistry, idiosyncrasy, a correct fit, and actual acting has been replaced with pretty faces and big sellers. Sex sells, but like a one night stand, today’s Hollywood often leaves you feeling empty. Casting directors are tricky bastards though, and they find ways to fight for the performers they need even in today’s corporate film culture. Also, casting directors will play a huge role in diversifying Hollywood. But, believe it or not, there is no Academy Award for Best Casting Director. Fortunately though, casting direction is a labor of love and those who dedicate themselves to the art form do so because their passion transcends recognition. So, the next time you watch a film with truly amazing performances, yes, appreciate that big beautiful fish on screen, but remember that the person who caught that fish reeled them in with all their heart and soul.

• published: 12 Oct 2017
• views: 1564