Fiona Weir and Nina Gold talk about the process of casting Room and The Martian

As much as the modern franchise era has introduced a certain algorithmic predictability to Hollywood, the art of making movies is still, at its heart, more an alchemy than a concrete science — and few people in the business have learned that lesson better than casting directors. How do you cast a couple whose chemistry must carry a film? How do you find actors who can embody a particular period? And how do you make sure the kid you’re looking at can actually act?

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The Act for Change’s first Newsletter

The arts are for everyone, regardless of race, gender, class, sexual orientation, age or disability, and they should reflect the societies we live in.  THE ACT FOR CHANGE PROJECT campaigns for better representation across the live and recorded arts. The broader and more diverse their membership, the more empowered they are as a group of campaigners will be.

THE ACT FOR CHANGE PROJECT has a simple mission: to strengthen diversity in the live and recorded arts, and to communicate to the unrepresented audiences that a future exists with them firmly featured in it. To that end we’re campaigning to ensure that the live and recorded arts – honestly and without prejudice – represent the Britain we live in today. They have launched their first newsletter, which we encourage you to view … READ MORE

Some lovely tributes from Idris Elba to some fine Casting Directors…

Idris Elba has posted the full text of his powerful address to the UK’s Parliament yesterday about the need for greater diversity and representation on our screens. Ironically, Elba’s address comes slap bang in the middle of a wider debate on the lack of representation at this year’s Academy Awards – Elba’s stirring performance in Cary Fukunaga’s Beasts of No Nation being among the notable absentees- but the truth is the speech was set months ago with Elba writing much of the text weeks ago. Nevertheless, Elba’s speech stands as an important and vital contribution.

Originally published in deadline.com read the full article here or download the article here

Star Wars: The Force Awakens casting director Nina Gold on bringing in a new generation of acting stars

Who are you?” “I’m no one.” These six tantalising words will be lodged in the brain of every Star Wars fan who has watched a trailer for The Force Awakens. But what I’m wondering, as I approach the north London house that doubled as casting HQ for the film, is whether the same question will be asked of Nina Gold’s discoveries come next year’s awards season.READ MORE

Cast members are the biggest draw for audiences to buy theatre tickets, says survey

Cast members are the biggest draw for audiences when buying theatre tickets, according to a new survey of theatregoers.

More than 3,000 people took part in the survey of Whatsonstage readers, which revealed the price of tickets is the biggest factor is preventing people from attending the theatre more frequently.READ MORE