Lately we’ve been thinking about how integral casting and directing are to producing an incredible Video. So, we turned to Tongal all-stars, Brendan Beachman, David Brashear and The Norman Invasion to get some tips to help you cast and direct a winning Video!
Post a casting call
- Craigslist – “For our quirkier comedy pieces, craigslist people are absolutely perfect.” – The Norman Invasion
- LA Casting – “LA Casting is a great resource.” – Brendan Beachman
- Rent a room at a casting office – “It’s usually pretty reasonable and the actors feel comfortable going to those type of places." – David Brashear
- Hire a casting director – “I use a casting director for Projects with a lot of roles.” – BB
- Focus on actors with a solid reel – “…it shows that they are experienced and you can also get a good idea of their range.” – DB
Use your resources
- Film the casting – “…so you can go back and review performances.” – DB
- Cast your friends – “We cast our friends in most of our Projects.” – TNI
- Cast the same actors that your filmmaking friends do – “I will contact them to get the actor’s contact info and then I'll email them to introduce myself.” –BB
Be selective
- Put in the effort – “…it’s worth it to find a great actor who not only fits the role, but brings their own ideas and creative energy.” – BB
- Narrow it down – "I can get upwards of 1,000 submissions [to a casting call]…I try to bring in 15–20 people for each role.” – DB
- Be resourceful – “It was worth it to me to find a cheap flight to have the perfect actor. When my instinct tells me a specific person would be the absolute best fit for a role, I do my best to make it happen.” – BB
Encourage creative freedom
- Let your actors make choices – “I like to sort of let them take the lead and just steer them along gently.” – TNI
- Improv – “I’ll usually have them stick to the script on the first read-through and then I’ll tell them to improvise.” – DB
- Be open to change – “…we’d latch onto a few funny things that came out of the improv and give them some direction to make it even funnier...it turned out to be our most successful piece.” – TNI in reference to their Video The Cookie Air Diet for the Post Great Grains “I Am Nutrition You Can See” Project.
Think ahead and be organized
- Give your actors context – “I’ll give them context for what they are doing and give them actions to take in the scene.” – TNI
- Know what you want – “[An] issue I sometimes have is the actor will start trying to act funny. Wouldn’t you want that in a comedy spot? Not really. You want them to be the character. The humor will arise from the dialogue and the situation." – DB
- Plan everything out in pre-production – “…so that you can set the frame, chat with the cinematographer and art director about what you need, and then turn the bulk of your attention to the actors.” – BB
Create a positive atmosphere on set
- Your actors should trust you to be honest – “…they are the people everyone will be seeing onscreen, so it helps if they know that you’re going to be honest with them, and that you are there to prevent them from failing.” – BB
- Don’t ignore your actors – “It's easy to get wrapped up in the tech-related aspects in filmmaking, and as a result, ignore the actors.” – BB
We think David really hit the nail on the head when he told us that for him, “casting is one of the most important parts of the filmmaking process. It doesn't matter how good your script is or how good your spot looks, if the acting isn't there, your Video will most likely not work.”
Armed with that mindset and these awesome tips you’re totally prepared to cast and direct a great Tongal Video! Go get ‘em, Tongalers!
