Actually, all the actors who auditioned for my film were total pros who showed up prepared and claimed they loved my script. (And talented enough to convince me they weren’t lying.) Either way, I’m slightly less allergic to flattery than I am to cat dander.
Speaking of which, casting fellow actors feels much like a visit to the animal shelter – you just want to take them all home. Reading opposite each of them, I prayed they’d all crush their auditions. Meanwhile, Aina worked her butt off organizing them and dealing with the crazy Hollywood moms, and Bru, the director, was incredibly adept at making sure every actor left the room feeling good about what he’d done. If they stumbled during their first pass, Bru had them try again until they nailed a take. May we all be treated so compassionately in whatever we do for a living.
After a long day, two actors in particular stood out as our favorites for the roles. The casting director notified their agents, and details were worked out. One agent wanted top billing for her client, prompting me to ask, “Really? Ahead of me?” She quickly acquiesced. May we all have people who fight this hard for us in whatever we do for a living.
Next up: a tech scout, in which we’ll run through the script at the location and work out shots, make a list of props and determine call-times. This is happening. Too late to turn the ship around. Steering it right into the Somali pirates.
