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Daily Blog

June 27, 2009

I arrived on Oahu last week and hit the ground running. Casting on location is always a challenge. First of all, unlike Chicago, Baltimore, New York City or London, I have never been to Kailua, HI and so I didn’t have any idea of what I was getting into with available talent, local idiosyncrasies and the way things work here. I assumed that things would take a little more time and it would take me a few days to get myself organized. I was right about that!

At baggage claim, I was greeted by one of our P.A’s; he picked me up and took me to the car rental company, where I am given my Toyota Yaris. I did beg for the Jeep, but that was $400 more per month and since production was paying for the car, I got acquainted with my new ride. Let’s just say everything is MANUAL on the Yaris except the transmission. It gets great gas mileage, but sadly the “tire pressure” light and “maintenance required” light came on two days ago and I had to return the car. The nice man at the car rental company upgraded me, no, not to the Jeep, which I did beg for, but a Toyota Carola. This car has automatic locks and windows and a Panic button on the key ring – just in case.

So, I arrive at the Production office and am greeted with a big hug from all and basically told “get to work!” which is why I am here. And so, I did. The great thing about casting a film on a location with very few productions going on is that most actors are aware that there is a production coming and I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of emails I was getting from actors requesting information. I cast five roles in Los Angeles and there are about 30 roles to cast in Hawaii. The Director has written the script with some of his friends in mind to play some of the roles. His friends have never acted before and while I am totally open to the idea, I also want to audition actors who are here (who are SAG) who may also fit the bill and give the Director options. Although, I know where his heart lies creatively (this is a local story) and he will probably go for the people he wants that he had in mind when he wrote the script, it is my job to find the best actor for the role. I won’t put up too much of a fight about it. It is his baby after all and I am here to give him options. I don’t dictate. Unless I think there is a clear error in casting then I let the Director or Producer know, but ultimately it is not my decision.

Friday was more of the same. Figuring out how and who to reach out to find actors. There are two main agencies on Oahu, one manager and a few modeling agencies and a sprinkle of agents who are trying to start a talent division. There are 600 SAG actors in Hawaii. I have an assistant who has cast on Oahu before and she gave me the heads-up on who is who and how things work here. Firstly, no one submits on Breakdown Services. I put the breakdown out anyway, as you never know who is reading it. I emailed the breakdown to all of the talent reps, put a notice on Craig’s List, and found some local acting coaches and acting websites where I was able to get the word out and get good advice on casting here. So far everyone has been helpful and the one thing about actors is that they will find you, even if their agent doesn’t think of them for the film, they will figure out how to find you. The UPM also knows a lot of local actors and has been a great source of information.

By yesterday, I had had three casting sessions and seen about 50 actors. I have gone to one high school and I have appointments with drama teachers around the island to find some of the younger actors I am looking for. Sadly, in the public schools budgets have been cut and music/drama programs seem to be the first to go. I have found the local theater company that specializes in Hawaiian actors (non-white) and as I have a lot of roles for Pacific Islanders, I am hoping to also find actors there.

The only roadblock I have experienced, is one of the agents here has not returned my phone calls and she has many of the actors I am looking for. I have seen many of her clients, because as I mentioned they find me. Apparently she was confused as to why I didn’t just send her the breakdown and not to everyone I can think of…Anyway, be that as it may, and I am sure she will get over it, I am here to hire actors and make the Directors vision a reality.

Next up, street casting and finding background/extras. Also I am looking for pregnant 17-21 year olds! My assistant is in charge of that but I am helping her out while I am here for the next few weeks to make sure it is going smoothly. A Gynecologist did call me yesterday afternoon to tell me she knew a girl who would be interested in being in the film. This job makes me laugh sometimes…

The Producer wants me to workshop with some of the less experienced actors (friends of the director) who may need a few pointers on acting. So, I have some time scheduled over the next few weeks to talk about acting and introduce the craft and talk about what they should expect when they get on set.

All in all, the hardest part about this job is being away from home. My partner adopted a female Golden 2-year old this week. A car hit her, just as Austin was, and the adoption agency was desperate to place her with us. How could he say no? Anyway, Zsu Zsu (I call her Zoo, even though I have not met her yet and Steve wants to re-name her) is now assimilating while I am away from home. Don’t get too used to my side of the bed! Off to the beach, it is Saturday after all…Aloha!

June 17, 2009

It’s Tuesday. I was supposed to be in Hawaii today, but my producer likes to buy tickets last minute and then decides the tickets are too expensive so I should come on Thursday. This happens a lot with this Producer. Which was fine with me because I knew as soon as the ticket was issued I would be able to upgrade to First for little money or points, which I did do, so now I get to fly First, which to be honest makes me happy. In the meantime I have not been told where I am staying when I get there, but I don’t really care, I have decided to be Zen about the things that I usually get frustrated, irritated and upset about…I’ll let you know how that goes for me!

In the meantime, I have had time to close the deal points on some of the cast in L.A, create the deal memo template for approval and start making contact with actors based in Hawaii. I am really happy with the actors we made offers to, I am hoping that everyone does it, because even though they may not be names, it is potentially, a fantastic acting piece and will show off the talent in a way that they have not been seen before. The deals for the actors are straightforward, Modified-Low budget scale, favored nations on all deal points. It is what it is and what it is, a job, in Hawaii. Life sucks.

On the dog front: The doggy adoption agency came to visit us yesterday to assess our home. We put the word out that we want another dog. The caseworker came with her 2 year-old Golden, Peanut, to check out the house. As soon as Peanut walked in, I cried like a big girl. I am suppressing my emotions about Austin’s passing. I need to go to an African grief ritual and purge myself, or I could make that real tomato Bloody Mary that was described in this months ‘Departure Magazine,’ expertly crafted by Chinese bartenders in Beijing. Why do I even question myself?

Back to work tomorrow to clean up the office, pack things away and ship what I need to Hawaii.

June 12, 2009

What a week I have had! I was out of town from Friday to Tuesday in Houston seeing my niece graduate from High School (gulp) and my nephew’s birthday. Before leaving, I had to set up auditions for the director of ONE KINE DAY who was flying in from Hawaii with the actor who is playing the lead in the film. I always say this job is mobile and I could do it from anywhere and now was the time to prove it. The good news is that you really can be mobile and set up auditions on the phone, I don’t really need to be in the office to do that. However I do need to be in the office when auditions happen (obviously). With all of the family stuff going on, setting up auditions, talking to agents/manager via phone or on-line was sorted out in a timely manner and with the help of my new office mate, casting director Monika Mikkelsen – who substituted for me at the Tuesday casting session, sessions went smoothly and I am happy to say offers should be out today to our mainland based cast.
Tuesday, I fly to Honolulu and finish casting the film. I am going to be there for 3-4 weeks as I am looking for actors who are authentic to Hawaii. This will mean not only auditioning actors in Hawaii who are really actors, but also finding people who may have never acted in a film and casting them. For me, this is an amazing opportunity to do what I love: CAST A FILM. It is the nut and bolts of casting to me, to weave together a cast out of thin air, or at least that is how it feels to me right now.
I love the script, I like the people I am working with and the setting is pretty cool. I will miss my home, I’m not really good at being away from my creature comforts and husband, but as I said this is an amazing opportunity for me. So, if you know anyone in Hawaii who is an actor or wants to be one, have him or her email me!
On a sad note, my best friend, my loyal companion, my cherished baby boy, my dog, Austin, passed away Wednesday evening. I could probably write a book on why I loved him so much, but anyone who loves dogs, will know what I am feeling right now. There is a void in my life and by my bedside. We rescued Austin in 2003 when he was hit by a car. He came into our home with so much joy and love and he left with peace. I could see how much he loved us – I think that is what I will miss the most – his unconditional love that only a dog can bring.
All of this just reminds me of how fragile life really is and to not be so serious about everything. I think in this business I am in, I have worked with stressed out people/bosses/actors who have, well let me just say for lack of a better term, “issues,” and need an “Austin” in their life to chill them out. Austin did that for me. In fact, I have never felt so at ease as I have in my life as in the moment I am in now. A perfect moment for me to go to Hawaii, be open, be free to find a cast in an environment totally foreign to me and put together something amazing and inspired. At least that is what I hope to do; Austin would want me to do that…

Austin L. Flynn (a.k.a ‘His Royal Fluffiness’ ‘Mr. Magoo,’ ‘Snoopy’)

May 29, 2009

I have been on vacation for three weeks. I got back on Tuesday after a 20-hour journey from Damascus, Syria. Not an easy trip. I was in Israel, Turkey, Syria and Germany. My cell phone worked everywhere except for Syria, which was great because I didn’t think about work at all really, and I had a great time seeing, learning and experiencing new cultures. While in Israel I met up with a Casting Director there and we had dinner and talked about the industry in Israel and actors that she wanted me to know about. Lufthansa’s magazine had a great article on the hot young German actors and I watched eight films on the airplanes I was on! Traveling brings me a lot of perspective and opportunities, it opens my ideas up when casting, I get to see first hand what people really look like, feel and see the pulse of a new city, it all helps me when casting. I feel that this year has given me amazing opportunities to travel for work (Chicago, New York) & I truly feel after this trip that if someone said to me, I need an actor from the Middle East, I would be able to deliver.

On a side note, the trip was unique and fascinating. I loved Israel and everything it had to offer. Turkey & Syria were so different to anything that I had expected, especially Syria where the people where friendly and welcoming to such a high degree that it made me wonder if they knew that they were being accused of sponsoring terrorism around the world…something I forgot to ask our guide about.

I am still jet-lagged. I got to the office and opened piles of mail, bills to pay and jobs to figure out and organize. I have been casting a film called ONE KINE DAY and we are scheduled to start shooting in Oahu, Hawaii on July 6, and I am leaving June 15th to go do the local casting and oversee the acting and be a coach for some of the actors. I am very excited about the opportunity to cast there! At the same time I am casting VINYL with the same producer as whom I am going to Hawaii with. Before I left for my vacation I had five days to cast a short version of HALF-TRUTH which is part of the Netflix Find Your Voice Contest (http://www.netflixfindyourvoice.com/) go vote for it on June 5th!
I am also working on 5 other films and actively trying to attach cast to them. When I sat down at my desk on Wednesday, I had a minor meltdown, I am not the most organized person and between the phone calls to return and general office work, lists, etc…I felt a tiny bit overwhelmed. I just needed a good nights sleep. The nice part about work is, I am now sharing an office with some producers and another casting director. We are all getting along and it is nice to have people around me and not feel like I am in solitary confinement.

TGIF!

April 25, 2009

This week flew by at a rapid pace:

Monday: Juilliard & University of Washington actors showcase. It was fine. I go to these showcases to see how the actors are being trained more then trying to discover an actor. The actors were very enthusiastic and in general, were all good. I love trained actors (after all I am one), but what I don’t like are actors who are trying too hard, which ruins any potential spark that they may have, any creative ability. Showcases can feel a little desperate as all of these actors are hoping for discovery by an agent or a casting director, but in reality what they should be thinking about is their craft. Let their training be their guide, the rest will come…hopefully. After the showcase (no food, by the way and I was hungry) I drove back to my office to set up auditions, answer calls and read a script for a meeting this week.

Tuesday: Two general meeting with actors and more sorting through suggestions for upcoming auditions. I have had over 3,000 submissions for 2 roles! Casting a film that shoots in Hawaii in July, made offers and sorting through submissions (on-line) and scheduling auditions. Why can nobody ever come the first day of casting?

Wednesday: Figure out whom we (productions) are interested in and what the status is of offers on films I am casting: VINYL, ONE KINE DAY, HALF-TRUTH, AUDREY & OLD SCHOOL STORY. Get everyone on the same page, meaning speak with the directors, get the producers to respond to my emails and talk to the agents about who I can really get in the film versus who the producers thinks they can get in the film and try and negotiate the realities of all of this so that I don’t appear negative and nobody gets upset when talking about potential talent and the reality of the situation. Manage agents and managers expectations, meaning, “don’t expect money offers” – not these days – and see who comes to you, who tells you that they need a job. This can be a surprise and a gift all at the same time. Say to yourself, “Matt, think outside of the box, who is everyone going to get excited about?” Wednesday night go to the Cricket Feet Showcase in Burbank…very well done (awesome job Bonnie!) and go home, sleep and try not to think about anything.

Thursday: 9am – Meeting on an ultra-low budget script with the producer and director. They were in my office for 1 hour and 45 minuets. I really do like the script and the director seemed very nice and excited about his film. Hope that it all works out. They leave keep setting up auditions for Friday on Half-Truth. Schedule 4 actors every 15 minuets because there is no way half will show up. 1230pm: Lunch with my actor friend who is also going to paint my office for me. All this week I have been moving from the 12th floor to the 5th floor because I am now sharing office space with a casting director and a writer/producer. Try to clean up the 12th floor office and prepare that office for turning it into a proper audition space (yeah!!!). 330pm General with a lovely actress from New Zealand. Go home late after talking to all of my directors and producers getting everyone updates. Pass out….

Friday: Wake up with a throbbing headache. I have a casting session at 3pm. I was right, about half of the actors scheduled want to reschedule. Set up and book actors for a reading next Friday on a fabulous pilot I am helping the writer cast. Get A-list actors to the reading (not an easy thing to do) and have back-ups ready, just in case the A-list can’t do it. Director arrives on time for his session (good sign, I love him already). Actors sign in and the director is amazing with the actors, he has notes, knows what to say and loves the process. My headache is still throbbing and I am thinking to myself that I have meningitis. Session ends, director is happy. Up-load session to computer. Update my to do list, make sure my phone sheet is updated and I know who to call on Monday. Turn off phone go home lie down and go to sleep. Everything will be waiting for me to tackle next week…

Over the weekend, read scripts, eat, go to the gym, review lists, come up with new ideas, go over the 200 unanswered emails and try not to inhale the fumes from the varnish and paint in my house that is coming from the construction that is going on in my home.Walk the dog.

I am thankfull and blessed for all of the work, I love being busy!!!

I am happy…going on vacation in 2 weeks…even more happy…