by Bailey Gregory
The “Below the Line: Casting” panel began at noon, Nov. 1. Students and aspiring actors filed into Gutstein Gallery, away from the chilly weather. Chatter filled the room as people waited for the casting directors to arrive. Panelists included Meredith Tucker of “Eighth Grade,” Rich Delia of “IT” and “Disaster Artist,” Margery Simkin of “Avatar” and “Star Trek Discovery” and Eric Goldberg of “Criminal Minds” and “NCIS.”
After the panelists briefly talked about their break into the industry, they discussed the qualities they look for in auditioning actors. Goldberg started the conversation revealing he’s interested in actors who are special or unique. “If someone is slightly askew to what you’ve seen before, that makes me want to see more,” Goldberg said.
Delia had a different take on the question; he spoke about his experience casting kids for the movie “IT.” The process of casting kids is different because they have little to no experience, so auditions are usually based off of their energy. “I look for people who embody characters and ones who can create the world through their eyes,” Delia said.
Simkin responded by giving advice on what to do in auditions. She looks for actors that stay in the scene even if they flubbed a line and actors who are able to communicate a story through facial expressions.
Since self-tapes are becoming the primary way to audition nowadays, they talked about what they want to see. Each director stressed that the actor should know the context of their character and to practice with someone beforehand. “Actors shouldn’t be afraid to ask the director about the character in order to get the full context,” Tucker said. That only helps them portray the role more accurately. Another piece of advice encouraged actors to perform their lines in different ways even if they only have one line because it helps the casting director gauge if they are right for the role.
In regards to putting together film reels, Margery told the audience about her expectations. Rather than a montage, she wants to see a performance. “I want to see that you can be a normal person,” Margery said. She wants it to be natural in order to sell the character to the audience.
Casting directors often search for people in different countries. Knowing that thousands of other aspiring actors are sending in self-tapes for the same role, can lead to a daunting process for both the casting directors and actors. Goldberg relieved some of those anxious thoughts, reminding students that since anyone can audition, people in Savannah have the chance to fight for their spot as well. “Every opportunity is an opportunity,” Goldberg said. “Remember,” Margery said. “Any day to act is a good day.”
