So now you have a casting director who can get the script into talents' hands. The first thing you'll be asked for is that list of dream names for all your leads. Make one up and start there. Now the casting director has an idea of what you are looking for in each role. He/she will then ask for character descriptions and a synopsis of the film to send to talent (along with the script). Sometimes you'll find a way to get someone on your initial list, but be aware that it's always harder to find actors who want to work on a low budget feature with lower than usual pay and/or with a first time director. Can you blame them? Their career is on the line, too. Also, they might simply be busy during your shoot dates, or just in general. If the list you came up with doesn't work, or just to add or tweak your list, the casting director will send you a list of their own they believe will work for each of these roles. Just remember, you want to find actors willing to take this leap of faith for a strong script and first time director, while also having talent that investors will invest in. Even more importantly, do the obvious: cast the right person for each role. After all, the overall integrity of the film always comes first. Just because you may not think they have a fanbase doesn't mean they don't. Do your research.
There's strategy involved when casting a movie. My specific case proved to be a strange one. Most movies have some kind of trick when it comes to casting. Here was my problem: my two lead parts proved to be a casting nightmare. As I've mentioned before, Trust Us is a time travel movie, and I need an older and younger version of the lead who are not only 30 years apart in age, but they must share screen time for most of the movie. Ouch! Now I don't know how you feel about this, but resorting to split screen for an entire movie with post effects and make-up to make a 19 year old character look 49 in a low budget film is just not realistic. The entire film's credibility is at stake here. Think about how complicated this is: I need two actors that look alike to both agree to these roles. It's hard enough to find one actor who's right for the role to stick. This is without a doubt twice as hard, as each actor depends on the other to fill both roles. Wow, could they think up any more obstacles for us? This road to wrap is just getting ridiculous. We're sick in the head you know; we just can't bring ourselves to quit! The answer to all this is we have to match one actor to the other, one at a time. This also means once one actor and version of the character is cast, the other one becomes much harder to find; there are physical limitations now. Things can be done to make them look more alike with make-up, but unless we want to go through hours of prosthetics and make one of your "name" actors not even look like himself and run the risk of the audience not buying it, we're stuck. But now you're just here listening to my specific problems, and this blog is for you too.
So you meet with your casting director and discuss strategy. You may want to target your lead first and build the cast around him or her. You may want to go for anyone who'll show interest and see what happens, then work from there. All of these strategies can work. Probably the first thing the casting director will do is send the script to the major talent agencies. This is when you get this strange sensation: people are now reading my script. Take a step back, folks: this is big stuff! People up to this point have read your screenplay, sure, but now the big talent agencies are in on it too? In a way, through a small circle in the business at least, your script's gone public. Important people have been told or are even reading your script right now. You've laid it all out there. Cool, right? I hope you have the script at the best it can be. Everyone is judging you now on that 90-120 pages (or so) you forged from your brain. So congratulations, your foot just got through the door and it's time to take a moment to celebrate. Done? Good, now you can worry all over again. We still need actors to actually like it.
Another strange thing about casting is the different methods of approaching actors. For many actors, you just send them an offer and hope they accept. Others will agree to meet with the director. This is the category I find most actors fall into, and it's my favorite too. Now you can decide if you can work with them and hear what they have to say about the script. It's important for them to meet you, too. Others will send their reel first, then you get to decide whether to call them back to set up a meeting. And finally, some actors will agree to do a read for you, whether it's a taped audition or a live one. Also, let me make it clear, this is not a measure of their worth, fame, or even their character. Every agency, actor, agent, etc. has their way of doing things. This kind of stuff usually has more to do with the agent than the talent. Don't take anything personally in this business or you'll go crazy, and most of the time this kind of thing isn't personal. Some agents will respond with a "no" without even letting their clients read your script.
So great... we're prepared to see how actors and their agents react to our masterpiece screenplay. If all this makes you nervous, don't let it. Guess how many movies have been made where no one reads the script but you? None, so get very used to this type of rejection if you aren't already. For God's sake, be proud of your script. You've already got a handful of people putting their careers on the line because they believe in it. Why wouldn't anyone else with half a brain, right?
Now, this is when it really gets surreal. Just wait until someone you've heard of and respect tells you they like your script. That's when you're in dreamland. So-and-so likes my script? Niiiiice. Yeah it's okay, enjoy that. Even if it doesn't work out, that's pretty darn cool.
So remember, all we need is for an actor to say "yes" to the project and things slowly fall into place. But how does one get this "yes?" This to me is the biggest learning curve of all: when does "yes" mean "yes?" Get ready for wild one...but first, in a few days get ready for some important details on my own project, Trust Us. Learn who's joined my team on the Road to Wrap. Don't miss this one...
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