Sarah Finn, a well-known casting director, has been Marvel’s hidden asset for years. She reviews countless auditions to fill the roles in one of Hollywood’s most significant film series. Through her efforts, she has persuaded prominent actors such as Robert Downey Jr. and Paul Rudd to put on spandex for Iron Man and Ant-Man respectively, while also launching new talents like Chris Hemsworth, who was previously a soap actor from Australia before his transformation into Thor, and Simu Liu, a Canadian sitcom actor prior to his role as Shang-Chi. Finn is almost equally responsible for the formation of The Avengers alongside studio head Kevin Feige and “Iron Man” director Jon Favreau, but she remains less recognized because her work takes place behind the scenes.
Finn notes that when a role is expertly cast, it seems as though the actor has descended from above, but in reality, they went through extensive auditions to find Tom Holland for the part of Spider-Man.”
This version maintains the original’s meaning while using more natural and easy-to-read language.
Casting directors often find themselves working behind the scenes, as their contributions may not always be recognized by the public. This is typically expected, since exceptional casting decisions should seem effortless and natural on screen – if viewers are questioning whether a particular actor was the right choice for the part, then they might have been mismatched with the role.
Anonymity is no longer the norm for casting directors nowadays. Once working behind the scenes, they are beginning to receive acknowledgement, with one even receiving an Oscar. After many years of campaigning, a new award for the best casting performance will be introduced at the 2026 ceremony, marking the first addition to this category in 25 years.
According to David Rubin, a veteran casting director and past Academy president, the institution has consistently taken pride in portraying filmmaking honestly. However, there was a mounting understanding that not featuring casting in this depiction was a significant oversight.
In the early days, particularly during Hollywood’s Golden Age in the 1930s and ’40s, casting was less crucial for movie production. Stars like Grace Kelly and Humphrey Bogart were tied to specific studios, and major companies such as MGM and Warner Bros. had a roster of character actors who filled out film casts. It wasn’t until the studio system began to disintegrate around the 1960s that someone else became responsible for discovering global talent and working with directors to fill their films.
It was during this period that a fresh team of talented talent scouts, such as Marion Dougherty, Lynn Stalmaster, Mike Fenton, and Juliet Taylor, emerged. They transformed the profession from merely practical to a creative one, unearthing lesser-known and non-traditional performers like Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, and Meryl Streep. Moreover, they were instrumental in assembling the casts for iconic productions such as “Grease,” “In the Heat of the Night,” and “Annie Hall.
Bernard Telsey, who recently oversaw the worldwide casting for ‘Wicked,’ muses with a touch of longing, indicates that Mike Fenton, Juliet Taylor, and Marion Dougherty might each have received five to ten Oscars by this point in time.
Casting directors aim to motivate upcoming generations to consider a career in their line of work by making the Oscar category influential. Many people who are successful in casting today began as aspiring filmmakers or actors and ended up in this profession due to a lack of formal education or specialized programs. Instead, they learned on-the-job through internships, fellowships, training programs at casting offices, the Casting Society (CSA), or by going through the audition process themselves – eventually discovering their true vocation.
Finn states that winning an Oscar will significantly boost the profession’s profile and clarify the workings of the process,” says Finn.
It’s important to clarify that casting directors are not the same as talent agents. While talent agents handle contract negotiations for actors, casting directors do not earn a commission from the act of hiring. Furthermore, casting directors do not receive a share of the film’s profits; instead, they are compensated with a fixed fee for their services.
There are other misconceptions that come with a job that’s mysterious.
Avy Kaufman, known for his work on Ang Lee’s ‘Life of Pi’ and M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘The Sixth Sense,’ expresses his annoyance: ‘People seem to believe they are casting directors,’ he says. It happens frequently that someone will contact him suggesting actors, much like a casting director might suggest costumes to the costume department.
Filmmaker Jon M. Chu views casting directors as essential storytellers, stating that assembling a cast determines the film’s overall atmosphere. He explains, “Casting directors understand the impact an actor has on a production, extending far beyond just their fame.
A successful casting director needs a keen interest in people (curiosity), understanding of their feelings (empathy), and good communication skills (diplomacy) to manage the varying demands from directors, executives, agents, and investors. Being patient is also essential since it’s possible to need to restart the casting process if an actor leaves due to scheduling issues.
Destiny Lilly, a casting director at The Telsey Office and CSA president, mentioned that they are on a mission to discover an individual who can effectively build agreement among many parties and meet multiple requirements. Essentially, they seek someone exceptional with a knack for ticket sales, as they continue to balance the delicate act of artistic expression and commercial success.
Working as a casting director is essentially an all-day, every-day job. They’re not just watching audition tapes or arranging chemistry readings for potential co-stars; they’re also attending film festivals, reading movie critiques, keeping up with TV shows, networking with talent agents, scouting acting performances at showcases, and even going to the theater. It’s a non-stop job!
Rich Delia expresses that his casting mindset is always active, stating, “I simply can’t switch it off.” His latest works are “King Richard” and “No Hard Feelings.” As he walks down the street, if he comes across someone with an intriguing appearance or vibe, he finds himself mentally noting, “Could this person be a potential candidate for an audition?” For him, the casting process is a continuous endeavor.
Casting directors, just like everyone else in the entertainment industry, aren’t exempt from the difficulties it currently faces. With fewer movies and TV shows being produced by studios and networks, there are limited chances for work. Additionally, when a project is given the go-ahead, executives are striving to cut costs due to increasing production expenses. As for casting directors, they’re often left with just six weeks to find suitable actors before filming begins, whereas previously they had around 12 weeks.
Lilly points out that acting isn’t an easy, comfortable profession,” she explains. “You constantly move from one production to another. If the series you’re currently working on is canceled, you find yourself, like everyone else, in search of the next opportunity.
He should be in this movie,” Telsey scrawls on his notepad.
This windy winter afternoon, Telsey has been in a Zoom meeting with three prospective actors for Sian Heder’s upcoming film as “CODA” director. He tells one of the finalists warmly, “We really appreciated your audition tapes and we wanted to get better acquainted.” In these discussions, Telsey is juggling several tasks at once — making notes, nodding approvingly at the actor on the screen, and texting back and forth with Heder, who’s also on the call.
In today’s world, it has become common practice for casting directors to conduct their work digitally, a shift that began during the pandemic. Instead of waiting in physical office lobbies, actors now find themselves in Zoom breakout rooms, experiencing pre-audition jitters from the comfort of their homes.
Technology expands the options for talent, allowing individuals to vie for roles beyond the conventional cities like New York, Los Angeles, and London. It also provides flexibility for those who have day jobs or lack childcare. For instance, in Heder’s film “Being Heumann,” a drama about Judy Heumann – a significant figure in disability rights activism – the casting process is more inclusive since actors with disabilities can participate without having to travel for auditions.
In a typical day, I’d only get to witness a handful of performers,” Telsey admits, “but with this production, it brings on a multitude more for me to appreciate.
From another perspective, casting directors view themselves as champions for actors. However, the shift to using Zoom has limited their capacity to provide immediate feedback, making it challenging for them to offer guidance to numerous performers before deciding who doesn’t make the cut.
During our latest casting call, we received a total of 22,000 emails. Every single one was carefully reviewed by Jenny Jue, who has worked on films such as Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds” and Bong Joon Ho’s “Okja.” Actors may feel like their submissions are lost in the void without any response. However, she emphasizes that each submission is given careful consideration to find ‘the one.’
When it comes to auditions, each casting director may have their unique approach and preferences. However, many of them suggest that selecting the outstanding performance among numerous takes in a single scene is less challenging than one might initially assume.
According to Kaufman, there’s an intuitive feeling akin to a sixth sense. When several individuals recite the same passage, this sensation intensifies. Either one trusts their judgement or not. It’s quite straightforward, he adds.
Delia enjoys unexpected twists, so he rarely adheres strictly to the character portrayals outlined in the script. As he puts it, “I prefer keeping an open mind at all times.” In other words, a character’s ethnicity, age, or gender as written might not always be how he interprets the role. However, if the plot necessitates specific characteristics, he follows them accordingly.
It’s a fact that Andrew Barth Feldman, who was discovered by Delia for the 2021 comedy “No Hard Feelings,” has gained this insight from auditioning. He often finds himself in the callbacks for the same roles as other rising Gen Z stars like Cooper Hoffman, Gabriel LaBelle, and Joshua Bassett.
Feldman finds it amusing that we’re all unique, he points out. This diversity shows that casting directors aren’t trying to follow a specific template.
Jue seeks performers who are open to her suggestions. “I can quickly tell if someone is inexperienced but able to follow instructions,” she explains. “That’s crucial because when I ask, ‘Can you adjust this?’, and they fail to do so, it makes me uneasy about sending them to the set. Actors should be adaptable.
In the course of events, there’s often discussion about whether a person can immerse themselves fully in a movie’s universe. For instance, during the production of Marvel’s “Eternals,” Finn and her team employed abbreviated expressions to identify actors who might convincingly portray immortal characters.
As a seasoned movie reviewer, I’d put it this way: “Finn revealed that we dubbed our project ‘The Babylon Test.’ We were on the hunt for performers who exude an ageless charm, while also being in tune with the current zeitgeist. In essence, we sought actors capable of convincingly portraying characters across various time periods.
There’s debate among casting directors over the necessity for actors to wear costumes and utilize props during auditions.
Finn expresses a preference for straightforwardness, sincerity, and genuine qualities. He emphasizes that there’s no requirement for applicants to wear spandex during the Marvel auditions.
Lilly suggests dressing appropriately, “Opt for something that hints at the era rather than going too casual like wearing shorts and a tank top for a historical setting.
In certain movies, casting directors assemble an ensemble around established stars who are associated with the project. For instance, Margot Robbie was a producer for “Barbie” and recruited director Greta Gerwig, who then included Ryan Gosling in the script. However, it fell to someone else to find the rest of BarbieLand’s inhabitants. Lately, Jue has been given the job of finding several actors to work alongside Vince Vaughn and James Marsden in the upcoming comedy “Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice.
Jue wonders, how do we ensure that our production has a diverse cast while still maintaining an entertaining and modern feel, given that our main characters are of a specific age? After all, casting isn’t done without considering the bigger picture.
Therefore, according to Rubin, films featuring established leads should not be any less worthy of consideration for awards.
He notes that when many characters appear on screen, it’s called ‘casting.’ A movie starring top-tier actors can still fail if the secondary actors don’t fit the narrative well.
Before the Oscars, casting directors are conversing with Academy members to enlighten them about the significance of an ensemble cast being more than just individual elements. They emphasize that achieving a flawlessly cast character demands a systematic approach, making the final outcome appear effortless and natural.
Finn remarks, “Many people believe, ‘I’ve read this book, so I know who would be perfect for ‘The Hunger Games.’ That’s part of the excitement. But it’s a skillful process. It’s not as simple as, ‘I have an idea for a character name. Let’s cast that person in the film.’ There’s a thorough comprehension of characters, scripts, and the art of creating a cohesive ensemble.
In terms of an exhaustive search, it’s indeed valuable as it holds the possibility of uncovering the next big name in Hollywood.
As a movie enthusiast, I can confidently say that I cherish my children dearly, but the moment I laid eyes on Tom Holland stepping out of a car, met with an uproar from hundreds of fans, I couldn’t help but feel the same warmth and pride a mother feels when her child makes a grand entrance.
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2025-05-30 18:49