When you download movies to watch, you may not think about what it took to bring the characters to life. However, the casting department had a huge part in this and you would be remiss to not have a clue of what occurred behind the scenes to bring about a perfect entertainment.
A lot of homework goes into preparing for the shooting of the film. A casting chief will read the script and picture what the scriptwriter intends. However, in order to decide whom to pick as the best actor for each role in the film, meeting with the film director and producer is imperative.
From that point on, with a clear concept of what the film director and producer envision, the casting chief plays a key role between the actors and the film director.
Casting actually means choosing the people who will be acting. The casting chief lines up prospects, searches for talent and auditions them. They know the strengths, weaknesses and background of the people trying out for a movie. They negotiate fees for the actors and ensure the actors are on the set when expected by the rest of the crew for filming.
Long hours are not something to be afraid of. It can take hours or even days to select the right actor for the part out of hundreds of photos, videos, and interviews. The more you know people in the industry, the easier the job will be, since contacts are the golden source of any activity.
Casting also means knowing how to deal with people. Not only do they have to contact actors, audition them, let them know if they are or not chosen for the part, but also they have to deliver what the film director expects and handle any problem related to the actor that can come up while filming. They will have to sell the director on the proposed actors. This may be a piece of cake for a well-known actor but not so easy for someone starting in the business.
Whatever it takes, a movie wouldn't be able to see the light of day without casting as it would be missing a key ingredient that brings it to life.
And what's more rewarding for a casting chief than to see one of his/her actor or actress take on an Academy award or some such other honorable recompense, acknowledging their talent?
Next time you download movies to watch, observe the actors and how their presence makes or breaks the story. The King's Speech is a typical example. How is it that Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush can keep the audience's interest up for almost two hours in a fairly empty room?
