Hi Friends,
How've you been? Trust all's well at your end.
I've always fancied at the excellent choice of casting that English films and television series (particularly by BBC) have lived up to over the years that so much so it's often crossed my mind that if given an opportunity, I would not hesitate for a moment to take up an assignment as a casting assistant in Hollywood...I know it's not easy...but pray which job in the world was ever a cakewalk! So, today I thought I'd write about my observations and understanding on yet another most vital aspect of film making, which is the casting.
Now, you must be wondering on how and why this idea has stemmed up all of a sudden. Well, some years ago when I was studying for my Masters degree and had completed the film appreciation module, my outlook and approach towards films grew manifold.I no longer looked at films merely for entertainment to be munched over a bucket of pop corns; it began to mean more to me. I then started to watch and understand the different aspects of film making- like direction, art direction, photography, production designing etc and made notes of it which I later began to write about in my blog. And this time was no different either.
In the last fortnight itself I must have watched nearly a dozen of films (mainly dramas) where I keenly observed each of them intently vis-a-vis the casting and the choice of actors for the respective characters.I was in awe at the perfection they achieved in not just getting the look of the actors right (of course, courtesy the make-up artistes) but the ability to imagine and visualize the right artistes to play the role - be it portraying real-life personalities or even a fictional character.
The reason why I make a mention of characters that are a work of fiction is because when I watch a well-etched character on-screen, the director has definitely succeeded in making me believe that such a person with those traits exist somewhere.After all the more you come to observe people closely, more characters are born.
Then comes the casting for an adaptation of a novel to the big screen which is also an art in itself. Now take for instance some of Jane Austen's novels (and if you've read them,even better...you'd be able to picture an actor to play the given character) that are adapted for television and films,the casting is just so perfect.When you see Jennifer Ehle you are convinced that Elizabeth Bennet might have looked something like her and likewise the handsome,snobbish yet endearing Mr. Darcy might have looked just the way Colin Firth did in the televised series of Pride and Prejudice.
Tom Hanks (one of my favorite actors) has come up with so many commendable performances and his preparations into the diverse characters he has portrayed so far is laudable. Look at how different Forrest in Forest Gump was from Viktor Navorski in The Terminal to Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia and Chuck Noland in Cast Away! Here again it is important to credit the job of the casting agent/ director who have done their homework to have been able to visualize Tom Hanks in these varied roles.
This list would be incomplete without the mention of some stellar and noteworthy performances by actors who truly lived their characters like Peter O'Toole as T.E. Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia, Charlton Heston as Moses and Yul Brynner as Rameses in The Ten Commandments,Liz Taylor as Cleopatra, Ben Kingsley as Gandhi in Richard Attenborough's Gandhi, Vivien Leigh as Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire, and of course Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather among many others. As an exercise, you could list out some present day actors and actresses to play the above mentioned roles and why you think they'd suit the part. Do share it with us in the comment section of the blog,through your responses it'd be interesting to see the names of different artistes you come up with.
As it is I admire directors (since I'm working towards being one myself!) for the wide ranging genres they attempt to explore and showcase on celluloid and I've the greatest regard for actors too for the range and caliber they exhibit in their performances as they flawlessly pull of their part so convincingly not before months and years of hard-work they put to get into the skin of the characters - be it their diction,their mannerisms and even getting their traits right (more particularly if the character they are essaying happens to be on the shadow of a real life personality).
Take for instance, playing the iconic leader of America, Abraham Lincoln was by no stretch of imagine any mean feat and see how flawlessly the versatile Daniel Day-Lewis did justice to it. Even though I may not have watched the film since it has not yet been released in my country, but the trailer of the film says it all! Of course people were initially skeptical about the English actors' accent since he was portraying one of America's tallest leaders...but the glowing reviews and people's positive reaction to the film attest the genius of Steven Spielberg and Daniel Day Lewis.
Last year we had the talented Michelle Williams and the seasoned Meryl Streep beautifully slip into the roles of Marilyn Monroe and Margaret Thatcher respectively. Again two very different characters - one a sex symbol of her time and the other, the first woman Prime Minister of Britain. Again what a marvel piece of casting! For the part of The Iron Lady...I couldn't think of anyone but Meryl Streep even though her situation was akin to Daniel Day Lewis when an American actress played the part of a British politician. But, ultimately it is the triumph of the actor and his/ her extensive preparation for the role that a thing as nationality etc becomes trivial!
In the past we've even had hosts of talented actors play some real life personas with such precision,like Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles, Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash, Reese Witherspoon as June Carter, Colin Firth as King George VI etc. Now in the coming year, I look forward to watching the charismatic life of Princess Diana played by Naomi Watts unfold on screen. Speak of showbiz and you have the lives of two divas - Grace Kelly (yet another princess!) and Liz Taylor readying to come alive with Nicole Kidman and Lindsay Lohan playing the parts. And it doesn't end here,we have films on the director of suspense - Alfred Hitchcock, IT entrepreneur- Steve Jobs and a TV film on politician,Sarah Palin...I'm definitely intrigued to know on what aspect of their lives are they going to focus on even as I'm absolutely convinced about the choice of actors playing the part with Anthony Hopkins as Alfred Hitchcock, Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin and of course, Ashton Kutcher has an opportunity here to fill in the big boots of Steve Jobs!
Technically, the whole thing about casting is getting the right actors to play the respective characters and that's the first step.If the actor is not a fraction close to looking/ resembling the part of the character he/she is portraying or nothing close to what the script and story demands, then it's a piece of miscasting. In casting, the more the details, descriptions and discussions you have about any given character the more likely it is you are going to nail the right artistes for the respective roles. Of course there's a lot more to the job of a casting director...but for the moment we'll halt here.By the way, did you know that even today A-list Hollywood actors and actresses audition for their roles?
Is there something you have to add here? Do we have any casting directors who can give us further insights into this? I shall be glad to hear from you. You can email me the same at sonyaa.random.musings@gmail.com or write in your comments.
Take care and ciao next year! :)
Love,
Sonyaa
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