Choosing a cast is like choosing ingredients for a special dinner. Leonard Guercio explains why every part deserves the care of a major role.
Making a movie is not unlike creating a special dinner for a large, festive social celebration. And, choosing the right cast is not unlike selecting the essential ingredients for a good, nutritious meal. If the chemistry isn’t right, it just won’t turn out the way you planned.
Focusing too much on selecting the main actors for a film I was directing, I put off casting one of the minor parts until almost too late. Although I should have known better, I had overlooked the fact that every role, large or small, is as important as every component in a gourmet meal.
Early on in pre-production, a radio DJ friend of mine called to tell me about her brother who had done some acting. She asked if he could read for a minor part in the film and, trusting her judgment, I readily agreed. Considering how much my friend talked up her brother’s acting skills, I assumed he had the requisite experience to play the part. So less than a week before the shoot, I gave him the sides then made a video screen test of him with another actor.
To my chagrin, I discovered that, as an actor, he didn’t have what I was looking for. But since it was a cold read, I convinced myself that, with some practice, he would grow into the role. Two days before shooting his character’s scene, I re-tested him and saw he had not improved. Now, I was in a slight panic. He was so ecstatic about being in a film that I didn’t have the heart to let him down at that moment. Moreover, I didn’t have a replacement for him.
That night I slept terribly. About 3 a.m., I awoke in a panic. Even my subconscious mind rejected the idea of casting him in that role. I had to be honest so I called the same morning to inform him. I explained he just wasn’t right for the part and the integrity of the project had to come first, even before friendship. As a consolation, I asked him if he would consider being one of the background actors. Thankfully, he was so excited about just being in the film that he accepted.
Next, I made a phone call to a local talent agency and, miraculously, the first actor who came turned out to be the perfect replacement. I lucked out that time so, to avoid that situation in future projects, I made the following casting checklist.
- Start casting for every role as early as possible.
- Remember to cast every part as if it were a major role.
- Allow enough time for auditions and screen tests.
- Rehearse all the actors as thoroughly as possible.
- The unity and integrity of the project is of primary importance.
- Trust your gut instincts about the on- screen chemistry of actors.
Leonard Guercio is an independent filmmaker and an adjunct film professor at Temple University in Philadelphia.
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