Welcome to My New Friends/The Horrors of Casting

My Hopes and Visions for the Blog

The purpose behind me creating this blog began simple enough, as a way for me to connect with other young filmmakers. I wanted to create a space where I could not only share creative thoughts and experiences but take the average student, like myself, through the process of making a student film.

My hope was to inspire and encourage other young film makers by taking them on this journey with me. I felt that by documenting my experiences in steps and stages it would be less intimidating and more beneficial. I wanted to debunk the myth that creating a film that you’ve not only created, envisioned and believed in was out of your reach.  

So for all my new readers, welcome! And to all of my loyal readers, thanks for taking this journey with me!

The Horrors of Casting

When creating a student film, it is very easy to get caught up in all the minute details that have to be dealt with, especially when you’re the person in charge.  One important factor that must be handled with the utmost care and detail is that of casting.

The actors and actresses that you cast are elemental to your final piece. These are the people who will be bringing your visions of these characters to life. When you create a character in your head, you also create a personality and traits for them. It’s important that you choose actors who convey those attributes that you have created otherwise your film will not have the intended meaning that you want it to have.

Most student film makers are working with little to no budget. So you’re wondering, how are we supposed to find actors?

There are several options you could use. “Holding auditions in your schools is often very beneficial,” says my colleague and fellow film maker Emily Frisbie. “It’s been my experience that many theater majors are itching to act and enjoy working on their peers productions.”

Some other alternatives would be trying to involve fellow classmates in your project. Make a trade off. Offer your services and expertise, in exchange for them helping you with your film.

Another option would be asking friends to act in your films. Although this is certainly a convenient option, I wouldn’t necessary recommend it as the best option. While working with friends may be fun, it doesn’t always make for a conducive and professional work environment.