Diversity in Casting: The Inherent Challenge
The casting landscape has changed over the years. Authenticity and diversity have taken center stage to the near-monochromatic roles casting directors were tasked to fill in the past. And thank goodness! Not only are today’s scripts a more honest representation of our world, from a casting director’s perspective, their diversity is simply more fun to cast! But casting them is not necessarily as easy as scheduling more auditions for diverse talent. Finding a cast that’s authentic to a project can have its challenges.
A common hurdle for a diverse cast is the limitations of agents’ rosters. Some communities of people are well-represented by talent agencies while others are not represented at all. For less represented roles of any ethnicity, skill or trait, sometimes we need to go beyond standard casting methods. It can take out-of-the-box thinking to reach a deeper talent pool.
One example is an interesting commercial we recently cast. The script called for several talent who were blind or visually impaired, and were also good with dialogue. They had to be from diverse backgrounds and local hires in New York City. It was a fun challenge! The local agents and SAG database had very limited options, so we started looking under proverbial rocks. From the Council for the Blind to Arts Organizations for the Visually Impaired, we scoured every avenue. Early on, it became apparent that we also needed to lend support to talent throughout the audition process, so we let the talent’s needs guide how we worked. Many preferred virtual rather than in-studio auditions, which was an easy switch. For some however, self-taping was easier than scheduling a Zoom audition. Others were more comfortable with Zoom but needed a sighted friend’s help, so we offered flexible time frames to audition at their convenience, when their friend was also available. Several of the talent who booked the job were concerned about traveling to and from the set safely. We were able to coordinate with the client to provide a ride service and additional PAs to meet and greet them at the door. By being sensitive, flexible and thinking outside the box, we found exactly the cast that our clients were hoping for (and the talent had a great experience, too).
Of course, not all diverse casting requires that much forethought but if you have a role that might not be well-represented by agents, this kind of digging for ‘talent treasures’ can be very fruitful… and it can take longer than your average casting prep. Doing the leg work to find the right people is often just the first step. Inherently, in our scam-filled world, both ‘real people’ and non-represented actors are often leery when contacted by a casting company they don’t know. Without an agent to validate a project, we casting directors have to overcome the scam factor and give these potential talent time to do their own due diligence to be sure we’re trustworthy. A producer’s brain will likely equate this additional time with substantially more money, but that’s not necessarily the case. Your casting director might be open to working with you at a flat or reduced rate. Some casting directors would rather be thought of as part of your production team rather than just a subcontractor who bills you at a standard day rate.
So when you have unusual roles, talk to your casting team early in your pre-production process to assess any additional scheduling or budgetary needs. Your final cast may end up being your most compelling yet!
For more information about O’Haver + Company Casting, email Jenny O’Haver, CSA at: jenny.ohaver@gmail.com or call 413-528-6728.
O’Haver + Company… Casting the Human Story.
Los Angeles – New York – Nationwide
