In television and film casting, the decision of selecting an actor for a role typically rests with the production team, which includes the director, casting director, the producers and executive producers. While the casting process can be complex and involve multiple rounds of auditions, negotiations and considerations, the aim is to find an actor who not only meets the artistic requirements of the role but also aligns with the overall vision of the production.
Casting directors assess actors based on their talent, experience, look and suitability for the role. If casting directors strongly believe an actor is an ideal fit for a role, they advocate for that performer during the casting process.
Beginning the Casting Process
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood casting veteran Victoria Thomas, who has been casting for four decades, described how she initiates her casting process. “You kind of start out with certain ideas you might have, and you make a list for producers in the studio—kind of see where they’re coming from in terms of what they want to get out of casting a lead or a couple of leads,” she said in a SAG-AFTRA interview. “They may be going for some name value, or you may be allowed to cast some unknowns.”
Thomas develops a deep understanding of the director’s vision and works closely with the creative team to find suitable actors. “Talking to producers, the studio—figuring out what you’re all going for. Making that list or putting that breakdown out. Talking about the characters and just motivations and who these people are. So in that sense that’s the creative conversation I kind of like to have.”
In general, she notices that television tends to have more people involved in selecting talent than film. “And it’s different whether it’s a cable show versus a network show,” she remarks. “Working for HBO was a little less maybe intrusive than it might be working for like an ABC or an NBC. It just kind of depends on also who controls the show … Some people have a certain amount of power, so that could affect how much the studio sort of interferes with the casting process.” The search for an actor that everyone can agree upon can be frustrating. But she insists, “In the end we’re trying to fulfill [the director’s] vision.”
The Art of Persuasion
Casting directors may engage in negotiations and persuasive discussions with producers, directors, and other decision-makers to present a compelling case for why a certain actor should be cast. They may highlight the actor’s talent, marketability or unique qualities that make them an asset to the project.
Mr. Robot and Mad Men casting director Kim Miscia, however, points out the importance of respecting the creative team’s process in selecting talent.
“I feel like when you get to know producers as long as you work with them, you get to know the personalities. And some people really have, when they’re writing the role, they’re emotionally attached to an image of a role,” Miscia explains. “So even though I might think to myself, ‘Joe Blow is perfect for this part,’ and present it as such: ‘I’m really excited for you to meet this actor,’ I’ll get the ‘Mmm….’ And so I know they need to be convinced. So sometimes it’s not about advocating right off the bat; it’s about letting them go through the process, seeing who the people are and discussing the role.”
Actors go through a number of auditions, screen tests and chemistry reads to help the production team assess how well the actors work together and whether they can bring the desired dynamics to the characters. Each step of the way, the production team gleans insights about talent to help narrow down the casting options.
“Through the process of casting and the actors workshopping the material, it allows the producer to learn something new about the character that perhaps they hadn’t seen before. That often happens,” Miscia continues. “So very often we’ll end up casting that person who came in the first day, but I didn’t strong-arm the producer. It’s all about the psychology of understanding where they’re coming from and allowing them to find that actor being perfect—I mean, obviously with my help. But like I said, I can’t force someone into casting somebody. So there’s a lot of finessing, there’s a lot of conversation, there’s a lot of working with the actor.”
Continuing to Advocate for Actors
The Americans and The Greatest Showman casting veteran Rori Bergman shared how casting directors continue to think about actors after they don’t make the final selection. “I think it happens that we know someone is right for the [project’s] world, and we think, ‘This is their part,’ and for whatever reason, it isn’t. But we continue to advocate for actors that we feel belong in that world,’ she said at a Casting Society of America presentation.
“I’ve had actors that we’ve auditioned for probably a dozen different roles over the span of the seasons, and when finally the right role hits for them, it’s rewarding for everybody I think. It happened twice this season with actors we had seen so many times, and it ended up being a really fortuitous thing that we had never ended up using them on the other things that they had auditioned for because these ended up being bigger roles—and roles that were just the right fit for them at the right time on the show. So sometimes it’s knowing when to say, ‘Alright, maybe that’s not their role.’ One of our series regulars had auditioned for a guest role in season two, and I thought, ‘He should be booking this part,” and I’m so glad that he didn’t because when a major recurring came up in season three, he booked that, and now he’s a series regular with us. So I’m glad he didn’t book that one day-player role back then.”
Miscia concluded, “I think what Rori is saying is when you’re coming in again and again in an audition, don’t be discouraged; be heartened. We love you! We want to cast you. We are continually looking for that perfect fit for you.”
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