PRODUCTION > BLOGGER BLOG
Bloggers gotten a bit persnickity - so PRETEND is moving. You can now find it here:
www.pretendshort.wordpress.com
Monday, January 29, 2007
Friday, January 26, 2007
Casting Journal 2 of 3
PRODUCTION > CASTING
Casting Eddie’s spent but none-the-less loving mother, Merideth proved to be the real challenge. And coming up with the right solution proved to be a point of contention between me and my producers.
My feeling was, is that the film hinges around whoever plays Eddie. If you don’t believe the boy – you don’t believe the film. So whoever we cast as Merideth is the woman who most believably fits with who we want with Eddie.
My feeling was also that I hate spending more money then is necessary, so I felt that we should bring in women to immediately read against the 5 boys we had narrowed down to for Eddie. In one day. I mean, why would I want to even waste my time seeing auditions, if they could never work with the kids we had cast?
Jack and Claudia disagreed. They thought we should have an audition for the mother, narrow that down – and then do a third call back where we paired the boys to the mothers later. And thank God they thought so. More on that tomorrow…
Having had to reschedule for after the break (no one likes to audition for shorts two weeks before Christmas apparently) – we were out of the swing of things. I’ll admit the last thing I was mentally prepared for was seeing auditions, after the whirlwind that was my New Years trip to New York.
But somehow, as the women trickled in (emphasis on trickle, as just about a dozen of the 50 we called showed up) we quickly found a great range of mothers for our Eddies. Usually at these auditions, the pickings are a bit slim. But we were floored by the talent that came in. Just like with the boys, we were able to find 5 great choices for Merideth. One for each our Eddie’s. And suddenly I was overcome by the exciting notion, that in a week I’d have my cast.
Casting Eddie’s spent but none-the-less loving mother, Merideth proved to be the real challenge. And coming up with the right solution proved to be a point of contention between me and my producers.
My feeling was, is that the film hinges around whoever plays Eddie. If you don’t believe the boy – you don’t believe the film. So whoever we cast as Merideth is the woman who most believably fits with who we want with Eddie.
My feeling was also that I hate spending more money then is necessary, so I felt that we should bring in women to immediately read against the 5 boys we had narrowed down to for Eddie. In one day. I mean, why would I want to even waste my time seeing auditions, if they could never work with the kids we had cast?
Jack and Claudia disagreed. They thought we should have an audition for the mother, narrow that down – and then do a third call back where we paired the boys to the mothers later. And thank God they thought so. More on that tomorrow…
Having had to reschedule for after the break (no one likes to audition for shorts two weeks before Christmas apparently) – we were out of the swing of things. I’ll admit the last thing I was mentally prepared for was seeing auditions, after the whirlwind that was my New Years trip to New York.
But somehow, as the women trickled in (emphasis on trickle, as just about a dozen of the 50 we called showed up) we quickly found a great range of mothers for our Eddies. Usually at these auditions, the pickings are a bit slim. But we were floored by the talent that came in. Just like with the boys, we were able to find 5 great choices for Merideth. One for each our Eddie’s. And suddenly I was overcome by the exciting notion, that in a week I’d have my cast.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Excuse my mess...
PRODUCTION > BLOGGER BLOG
We switched into a new year, and new mode of production. To celebrate, the blog is getting a face lift - watch out for flying debris and chime in on the new look when its finally done!
We switched into a new year, and new mode of production. To celebrate, the blog is getting a face lift - watch out for flying debris and chime in on the new look when its finally done!
Casting Journal: 1 of 3
PRODUCTION > CASTING
It's a phrase often quoted in many a film / directing class and yet still manages to be true. And that's 95% of good directing is the casting. I don't know if I agree with the exact percentage point - but boy it’s up there.
CASTING QUESTIONS
Casting is a true multi-faceted art form. It certainly begins with "the look" - the head shot and resume (an incredibly useful tool that tells you everything and nothing at the same time.) But beyond that, casting (especially on the super indie level) is about digging deep for real talent. I don't have the benefit of having seen their work - or relying on their "star power." Most of the fine folks that show up for an indie short audition are still budding, still building their reels, looking for a big break.
Because we've no reference point, we've got to constantly have a few criteria, a few questions other then "Do they look like a mother" in mind. Can they act? Do I believe them? There's also the question of mold-ability. How do they take a note? Will they take chances and give me something from the material I didn't even know was there? And even if they're perfect for the part; Still lingers the most important question of all. "Will they care enough about some dinky short to show up the day we shoot."
CASTING LOCATION
In casting Pretend, we went to The Actors Studio, a great little spot off Pico and Robertson. Its got a mini lobby, and a great stage area. When you're bringing in actors you’ve no prior experience with, I think its important to let them know you're serious - and these auditions were important enough to do them in a space. We probably could've cut costs and had them at one our apartments or something - but somehow the thought of having an audition in an apartment always recalls that Coco scene from fame. Not exactly the image I'd like to project. I mean I want people to show up.
AUDITIONS FOR EDDIE
Luckily we did not have that problem in casting Eddie. A feat owed to the efforts of my all star producer team – particularly Jack Perry and Claudia Vazquez.
Dozens of very talented, and very young thespians showed up to audition for Eddie. It was a fascinating process. Even when writing the character, I was never quite sure of how old he was. Seeing boys from 5 to 14 read for the part was kind of like this great workshop. They’d give me something, I’d make a suggestions – and suddenly we had a reading we both helped create. And ultimately, a good casting decision feels the same way. I'm always looking for an actor who can surprise me, and bring something to the table.
With Pretend, I had in mind a black boy at about age 9 who looked and talked a certain way. But instead of being so narrow with our search, we opened it up to all races and gave a wider age range. Ultimately, I'm looking for someone who will bring something to the role that is more then I ever dreamed of. And in that way a true collaborator.
The auditions for Eddie were incredibly successful. From dozens, we were able to narrow it down to 5 boys – of all different ages and races. I’m confident that one of them will make the perfect Eddie. Its just left to one more important casting question…chemistry.
More on that and the auditions for Eddie’s mother, Merideth to come...
It's a phrase often quoted in many a film / directing class and yet still manages to be true. And that's 95% of good directing is the casting. I don't know if I agree with the exact percentage point - but boy it’s up there.
CASTING QUESTIONS
Casting is a true multi-faceted art form. It certainly begins with "the look" - the head shot and resume (an incredibly useful tool that tells you everything and nothing at the same time.) But beyond that, casting (especially on the super indie level) is about digging deep for real talent. I don't have the benefit of having seen their work - or relying on their "star power." Most of the fine folks that show up for an indie short audition are still budding, still building their reels, looking for a big break.
Because we've no reference point, we've got to constantly have a few criteria, a few questions other then "Do they look like a mother" in mind. Can they act? Do I believe them? There's also the question of mold-ability. How do they take a note? Will they take chances and give me something from the material I didn't even know was there? And even if they're perfect for the part; Still lingers the most important question of all. "Will they care enough about some dinky short to show up the day we shoot."
CASTING LOCATION
In casting Pretend, we went to The Actors Studio, a great little spot off Pico and Robertson. Its got a mini lobby, and a great stage area. When you're bringing in actors you’ve no prior experience with, I think its important to let them know you're serious - and these auditions were important enough to do them in a space. We probably could've cut costs and had them at one our apartments or something - but somehow the thought of having an audition in an apartment always recalls that Coco scene from fame. Not exactly the image I'd like to project. I mean I want people to show up.
AUDITIONS FOR EDDIE
Luckily we did not have that problem in casting Eddie. A feat owed to the efforts of my all star producer team – particularly Jack Perry and Claudia Vazquez.
Dozens of very talented, and very young thespians showed up to audition for Eddie. It was a fascinating process. Even when writing the character, I was never quite sure of how old he was. Seeing boys from 5 to 14 read for the part was kind of like this great workshop. They’d give me something, I’d make a suggestions – and suddenly we had a reading we both helped create. And ultimately, a good casting decision feels the same way. I'm always looking for an actor who can surprise me, and bring something to the table.
With Pretend, I had in mind a black boy at about age 9 who looked and talked a certain way. But instead of being so narrow with our search, we opened it up to all races and gave a wider age range. Ultimately, I'm looking for someone who will bring something to the role that is more then I ever dreamed of. And in that way a true collaborator.
The auditions for Eddie were incredibly successful. From dozens, we were able to narrow it down to 5 boys – of all different ages and races. I’m confident that one of them will make the perfect Eddie. Its just left to one more important casting question…chemistry.
More on that and the auditions for Eddie’s mother, Merideth to come...
Monday, January 01, 2007
Happy 2007
More on Pretend is soon to come. For now - I'm soaking up the beginning of another new year.
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