On this episode I chat with LA Casting Director Paul Weber. He has cast over 75 features and shows and has 20 years in the casting profession. Paul has worked with most of the major studios and networks on numerous television series and features, the most prominent being MGM as in house casting director and executive.

We talk about:

• Paul's experience as an independent casting director post working at MGM.
• Why Netflix is doing so well.
• What Paul thinks it would have been like to cast at a studio like MGM now during the streaming era.
• The explosion of diversity and how casting have always wanted that.
• Why it is essential that actors create their own work.
• The importance of getting the Casting Directors attention in the first 10 to 15 seconds of your self-tape and what that looks like!
• What making a "bold choice" means.
• The traits of an actor that tend to make an impression for him.

If you'd like to find out more about Paul you can go to https://webercasting.com/

Enjoy the show!

On this episode I chat with actress Lucy Russell who's latest show "Atlantic Crossing" has recently won an International Emmy for Best Mini Series.  She started her acting career in her late twenties, having tried every other respectable job she could think of first and with a degree in Italian and Business from UCL in London. Her first feature was also Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas's first film, Following.

She then studied for at The Poor School, finishing in 1999 (Baz Luhrmann's 'Sunscreen' on constant replay - go on, it's worth a listen). She was cast as the 'Lady' in Academy Award Nominee Eric Rohmer's The Lady and the Duke, beginning a love affair with gorgeous period costume.

She has worked since then across genres with directors ranging from Terry Gilliam to Francois Ozon, from Paul Feig to Marc Forster and is featured in Academy Award Nominee and Golden Palm Nominee 'Toni Erdmann' (2016).

We talk about:

• The experience of being on Atlantic Crossing winning an International Emmy.
• The differences between working on screen versus working on stage.
• Re-framing the meaning of "doing too much" in a performance.
• Why it is essential to be interested in yourself and in humanity and your own instrument as an actor.
• Why actors are not 100% responsible for all the storytelling.
• Her journey from trying every other conceivable "proper" job before pursuing acting fully.
• The importance of being in a regular acting class.
• How she navigated the decision to have kids and a family and a thriving acting career.
• Why having an artistic tribe is essential.

You can connect with Lucy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucyrussellact/ and on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LucyRussellAct

Enjoy the show!

On this episode I chat with LA based Casting Director Jenn Presser who is Head of Casting at Break Away Casting. 

We talk about:

• The unique ability creatives have to go from crazy busy to "nothing" overnight.
• The benefit of being able to get out of the Hollywood "bubble".
• The impact of Covid costs on indie films and how that translated to casting.
• Experiences of working with Directors & Creatives on indie films who want an A List name attached.
• How casting is getting acknowledged more for its part in the creative process.
• Suggestions on how to make and build connections with casting offices.
• Why your personality matters just as much as your talent.
• The importance of being hands on with your career.
  
  

You can follow Jenn on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/jennpresser
And check out Break Away Casting here for all of Jenn's contests: https://www.instagram.com/breakawaycasting/

Enjoy the show!