Ep 62: Casting Virtual Roundtable: CDs tell it like it is

Casting Virtual Roundtable: CDs tell it like it is 

~A conversation with 6 brilliant Casting Artists~ with (in alphabetical order) Juel Bestrop, Randi Hiller, Billy Hopkins, Hedi Levitt, Bernie Telsey, Mary Vernieu & Risa!

‍We have wanted to do this for a while…to share what these, and most CDs, think and feel about the work, the Industry, self-tapes, all of it. To tell it like it is! So, I met on Zoom with this group of my favorite people/artists/Casting Directors to do just that. They are connected to each other in having established their careers working with me and my former casting partner, Billy Hopkins, decades ago. They are forever family. And they have become the most formidable Casting Artists in the world.

We assembled. We reminisced about the good old days of Casting, when it felt like art, and told a couple of stories of how some iconic roles were cast.

We complained (just for a bit) about the current state of the Industry, its radically changing financial structures, and the reliance on Zoom and self-tapes that have thoroughly changed how we work and disconnected us from our collaborators, especially from actors. We acknowledged what we miss, what we love, and what we crave. We talked about what we want from actors and how all Casting Directors ferociously combat the obstacles that get in the way of doing our best work.

In the end, we are all fighting the good fight…for the work, for art, for actors…every day!

Listen in, and let us know what resonates for you. Most of all, I hope that this reminds you that we are all in this dance, this fight, this art…together. And that we must all be accountable to protect it.

- Risa

Watch the video version on the episode webpage; it’s fun!
https://www.bramongarciabraun.com/the-acting-podcast/ep-62-casting-virtual-roundtable-cds-tell-it-like-it-is
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Read more about each Casting Director featured in this episode HERE on the BGB website!
https://www.bramongarciabraun.com/the-acting-podcast/ep-62-casting-virtual-roundtable-cds-tell-it-like-it-is

Listen to other related The Acting Podcast episodes:

Episode 23: Mary Queen of Casting: A Candid Conversation w/ Mary Vernieu

Episode 12: Bernie Telsey: The King of Casting

Episode 20: Sarah Finn: Superhero of Casting

Episode 18: Talking Shop w/ Our BGB Casting Family: Risa, Leah, & Billy

Episode 38: Richard Hicks, CD: We’re All In This Together

Episode 40: Opening the Door to Commercial Casting: with Danielle Eskinazi & Renita Gale