Casting A Big Net

See what I did with that title? Because this post is about casting! Big budget filmmakers would use a casting director--often someone that has an agency of associates working with them. For the zero budget filmmaker the casting director is you!

My first job was to find someone to play Slim. This performer had to fit several requirements 1) Be willing to wear an uncomfortable "fat" costume, 2) Be available for most scenes, and 3) Learn lines quickly. I searched and scoured my list of friends. Most could fit two of these requirements, but who would be around almost all the time? Me!!

That is the truth with casting for a zero budget film. Cast the people willing to do the job the way it is. I know the impressions of movies that star the director are of vain, ego-stroking projects. But that was not the case with me. I have very little confidence in my acting abilities. I simply knew that Slim would always be available if Slim were me.  So next time you find an acting director, consider that maybe no one else was willing to take the role!

To Be Continued...