Director Tim Kashani explains how casting changes depending on the project. For obvious fits, he makes direct offers. For others, he asks writers who their dream actor is for a role. If a writer says Hugh Jackman and he's thinking Danny DeVito, they need to talk. He wants actors excited to collaborate, not just collect a check.
Chapters
Casting. You mentioned you're looking for pieces that help for actors to do their best at. How do you cast the right people? It really depends on the show and the process. You know, there are some things that it is an offer situation, and those are the easiest. When you read a script and you go, oh my God, this person I've worked with or been dying to work with would be perfect for this, and I want to call them up and take a meeting and see if we can make this happen because just my gut tells me that it's the perfect material for them and the perfect collaboration and opportunity to work together. But then, you know, sometimes it goes into really extensive audition processes. I try to make sure I have the same vision as the writer, or at least close to it, because if you're coming into an audition process looking for opposite things, you're never gonna find the person you want. And I've seen too many casting processes that are just really messy because of that. And, you know, I sometimes say to authors, if you had your movie star pick of actors. This isn't for the purpose of casting. This is for the purpose of me getting into your head. Who do you see in this role? And I might sometimes say, really? Then tell me why. And sometimes we discover we may not be the right collaborators because of that. Because if you're seeing Hugh Jackman and I'm seeing Danny DeVito, they're both wonderful actors, but clearly there's some kind of disconnect going on. And what's— Danny DeVito is Wolverine. Exactly. And sometimes that It makes, though, for a really interesting discussion about what it can be, and you end up on exactly the same page. And when that person walks in, you just know. You may not be able to articulate it until they come into the room. But I always want to work with people who want to be a part of the project. There are plenty of actors in this business who just want a job. And I'm less interested in working with them, particularly if it's a new role and they're creating something, because they become a part of that collaborative process and that writing process. Process even. And, um, I want someone who's excited to show up, not just for the paycheck.
