No man is an island. As much as we hate to admit it, sometimes, no one gets anywhere in life without someone believing in them. The same is true for Hollywood. It takes the stars aligning (pun intended) for any success story for anyone to really make it, and especially to escape the shadow of how they may be initially perceived.
There may be no better example of that than Mr. Channing Tatum. He told GQ in 2009, “I got crazy lucky. Like, sometimes I think I won the lottery or something. I don’t really know how I got here. But I just keep moving forward, and it just keeps getting better and better.” Had the stars aligned differently, he could have been just an exotic dancer and never entered the public consciousness. Or just a model. Or just played a jock. Or just played generic romantic leads. Or just played generic action roles.
There may be no better example of that than Mr. Channing Tatum. He told GQ in 2009, “I got crazy lucky. Like, sometimes I think I won the lottery or something. I don’t really know how I got here. But I just keep moving forward, and it just keeps getting better and better.” Had the stars aligned differently, he could have been just an exotic dancer and never entered the public consciousness. Or just a model. Or just played a jock. Or just played generic romantic leads. Or just played generic action roles.
- 5/10/2024
- by Derek Mitchell
- JoBlo.com
Walt Disney Studios has made made two significant promotions to bolster its film group, following the exit of 20th Century Studios vice chairman Emma Watts in January.
Steve Asbell, 20th’s executive vice president of production, has been promoted to president. He will report directly to Walt Disney Studios co-chairman and chief creative cfficer Alan Horn and co-chairman Alan Bergman. Asbell has been with the company since 2002, before Disney acquired Fox’s film and TV assets, and has fulfilled his Evp role since 2012.
Vanessa Morrison, the president of the Fox Family division, has been promoted to head of all streaming production under the Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures label. She will oversee development and production for Disney Plus films, fed by the Disney live action label and the 20th Century label. Morrison will report to Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production president Sean Bailey. Prior to her Fox Family role,...
Steve Asbell, 20th’s executive vice president of production, has been promoted to president. He will report directly to Walt Disney Studios co-chairman and chief creative cfficer Alan Horn and co-chairman Alan Bergman. Asbell has been with the company since 2002, before Disney acquired Fox’s film and TV assets, and has fulfilled his Evp role since 2012.
Vanessa Morrison, the president of the Fox Family division, has been promoted to head of all streaming production under the Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures label. She will oversee development and production for Disney Plus films, fed by the Disney live action label and the 20th Century label. Morrison will report to Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production president Sean Bailey. Prior to her Fox Family role,...
- 3/12/2020
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Philip Steuer, Randi Hiller also rise amid executive reshuffle.
Steve Asbell has been named president of production at 20th Century Studios following the recent departure of Emma Watts.
Asbell has served as executive vice-president of production, at the studio since 2012 and joined in 2002. He reports to Walt Disney Studios co-chairman and chief creative officer Alan Horn and co-chairman Alan Bergman.
Vanessa Morrison has been named president of streaming at Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production and will oversee development and production of Disney+ film content from The Walt Disney Studios for both Disney Live Action and 20th Century Studios.
Morrison...
Steve Asbell has been named president of production at 20th Century Studios following the recent departure of Emma Watts.
Asbell has served as executive vice-president of production, at the studio since 2012 and joined in 2002. He reports to Walt Disney Studios co-chairman and chief creative officer Alan Horn and co-chairman Alan Bergman.
Vanessa Morrison has been named president of streaming at Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production and will oversee development and production of Disney+ film content from The Walt Disney Studios for both Disney Live Action and 20th Century Studios.
Morrison...
- 3/12/2020
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Disney has finally found a successor to lead 20th Century Studios, tapping 18-year vet Steve Asbell, according to an individual familiar with the leadership change.
Asbell’s appointment comes after former head of the studio Emma Watts stepped down in February. He’ll take over as president of production for 20th Century Studios, reporting to Walt Disney Studios Co-Chairman and Chief Creative Officer Alan Horn and Co-Chairman Alan Bergman.
Watts, who spent two decades at Fox, left the studio after Disney acquired the TV and film entertainment assets from Fox last March for $71.3 billion.
Also Read: Inside Bob Iger's Sudden Disney Departure as CEO and Hollywood's Surprised Response
An individual familiar with Watts’ thinking told TheWrap at the time that the executive wasn’t forced out or asked to leave, but instead realized that the culture and focus at Disney was different and that the job she was promised,...
Asbell’s appointment comes after former head of the studio Emma Watts stepped down in February. He’ll take over as president of production for 20th Century Studios, reporting to Walt Disney Studios Co-Chairman and Chief Creative Officer Alan Horn and Co-Chairman Alan Bergman.
Watts, who spent two decades at Fox, left the studio after Disney acquired the TV and film entertainment assets from Fox last March for $71.3 billion.
Also Read: Inside Bob Iger's Sudden Disney Departure as CEO and Hollywood's Surprised Response
An individual familiar with Watts’ thinking told TheWrap at the time that the executive wasn’t forced out or asked to leave, but instead realized that the culture and focus at Disney was different and that the job she was promised,...
- 3/12/2020
- by Trey Williams
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Following the departure of Emma Watts at 20th Century Studios last month, the label’s 18-year vet Steve Asbell has been named President, Production, of the Disney-owned film division, Deadline has learned. He’ll report to Walt Disney Studios Co-Chairman and Chief Creative Officer Alan Horn and Co-Chairman Alan Bergman.
Asbell previously served as Evp, Production, 20th Century Studios (20th Century Fox), since 2012 and has been with the studio since 2002. He is deeply respected by filmmakers including James Mangold, with whom he worked on The Wolverine, Logan, and the two-time Oscar-winning and $225M+ grossing Ford v Ferrari, and Ridley Scott, with whom he has worked on the 7x Oscar nominee The Martian and the upcoming The Last Duel, currently dated for a Christmas release.
More from DeadlineDisney Closes California Theme Parks From March 14 Through End Of MonthDisneyland To Close Through March Over Coronavirus Fears - UpdateNBA, Sports Risk Spark...
Asbell previously served as Evp, Production, 20th Century Studios (20th Century Fox), since 2012 and has been with the studio since 2002. He is deeply respected by filmmakers including James Mangold, with whom he worked on The Wolverine, Logan, and the two-time Oscar-winning and $225M+ grossing Ford v Ferrari, and Ridley Scott, with whom he has worked on the 7x Oscar nominee The Martian and the upcoming The Last Duel, currently dated for a Christmas release.
More from DeadlineDisney Closes California Theme Parks From March 14 Through End Of MonthDisneyland To Close Through March Over Coronavirus Fears - UpdateNBA, Sports Risk Spark...
- 3/12/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
“For all of our success in all of the films, it comes down to characters,” Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige told IndieWire. “We always say that ‘Endgame’ worked, not because it had more special effects than the other movies, not because it had more battles than the other movies, but because it had more characters that you care about than the other movies. The reason you care about those characters is because of the actors who portray them, and the reason those actors portray them is because at some point, Sarah Finn brought them to our attention.”
Finn was an early McU adopter, coming on board with her then-partner Randi Hiller to cast “Iron Man” way back in 2008, long before anyone could possibly see how far a single superhero film would carry a fledgling franchise. In the decade-plus since, Finn hasn’t strayed: she’s cast every single McU film.
Finn was an early McU adopter, coming on board with her then-partner Randi Hiller to cast “Iron Man” way back in 2008, long before anyone could possibly see how far a single superhero film would carry a fledgling franchise. In the decade-plus since, Finn hasn’t strayed: she’s cast every single McU film.
- 12/3/2019
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Disney’s magic carpet ride has hit a bit of turbulence.
The studio and Aladdin director Guy Ritchie launched a global casting call in March to find the stars for the musical based on the hit 1992 animated film about a street kid who teams with a genie to woo the princess Jasmine. Disney, Ritchie and casting director Randi Hiller brought on casting directors around the world, from London to Egypt to Abu Dhabi and India, for what sources say is a massive global search: Around 2,000 actors and actresses have read for the lead roles of Jasmine and Aladdin.
But...
The studio and Aladdin director Guy Ritchie launched a global casting call in March to find the stars for the musical based on the hit 1992 animated film about a street kid who teams with a genie to woo the princess Jasmine. Disney, Ritchie and casting director Randi Hiller brought on casting directors around the world, from London to Egypt to Abu Dhabi and India, for what sources say is a massive global search: Around 2,000 actors and actresses have read for the lead roles of Jasmine and Aladdin.
But...
- 7/11/2017
- by Rebecca Ford,Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Heath Ledger.
Applications are now open for the eighth annual Heath Ledger Scholarship run by Australians in Film.
Established in memory of Australian actor Heath Ledger, who served as an ambassador for AiF, the scholarship is open to emerging Australian actors 18-35 years old.
Since the prize was established in 2008, $230,000 in scholarship prizes have been awarded to date.
"The judges will be looking for an extraordinary young Australian actor with raw talent and charisma — someone who has the potential for real career longevity in Hollywood, not just [to be] the .next big thing., said AiF President Simonne Overend.
The recipient will obtain a Usd $10,000 cash fund, a two year scholarship at the Stella Adler Academy of Acting and Theatre in Los Angeles, two flights on Virgin Australia - one to attend the announcement ceremony and a second flight when the winner is ready to transition their career to the United States -...
Applications are now open for the eighth annual Heath Ledger Scholarship run by Australians in Film.
Established in memory of Australian actor Heath Ledger, who served as an ambassador for AiF, the scholarship is open to emerging Australian actors 18-35 years old.
Since the prize was established in 2008, $230,000 in scholarship prizes have been awarded to date.
"The judges will be looking for an extraordinary young Australian actor with raw talent and charisma — someone who has the potential for real career longevity in Hollywood, not just [to be] the .next big thing., said AiF President Simonne Overend.
The recipient will obtain a Usd $10,000 cash fund, a two year scholarship at the Stella Adler Academy of Acting and Theatre in Los Angeles, two flights on Virgin Australia - one to attend the announcement ceremony and a second flight when the winner is ready to transition their career to the United States -...
- 2/18/2016
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
Watch: Informative Wgaw Panel On Packaging Your Film Today ('Making Your Film Project Irresistible')
Stories and knowledge from the *western* front, where all isn't necessarily quiet. Some really good, interesting stuff here, I found. For all you out there (especially writers) chasing Hollywood dreams (or if you just want some insider knowledge on how the industry works when it comes to packaging your film project), you should appreciate this recent 100-minute panel discussion, brought to you by the Wgaw Writers Education Committee, titled Check Out My Package: Making Your Film Project Irresistible. Moderated by Billy Ray (co-writer, The Hunger Games), the panelists include Erik Feig of Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate, manager David Greenblatt, Randi Hiller (VP of Casting at Walt...
- 5/23/2014
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
James Mackay with Kim Ledger
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The pool of talented young Australian actors is so vast the judges of the Heath Ledger Scholarship presented by Australians in Film have named 20 finalists this year, up from the usual 15.
That.s a real stamp of approval considering the calibre of the judges: Collin Farrell, Miranda Otto, directors Gregor Jordan and Robert Luketic, casting director Ann Fay (Anzac Girls, Packed to the Rafters) and Randi Hiller, VP of feature casting at Walt Disney Studios.
The winner of the sixth annual scholarship, which fosters the education and career development of young Australian actors in the Us, will be announced in Los Angeles on June 12.
The prizes include $10,000 cash, a two year scholarship at Stella Adler Academy of Acting and Theatre in Los Angeles, two return flights to La. including attendance at the announcement ceremony and a second flight when he or she is ready to break into the market,...
.
The pool of talented young Australian actors is so vast the judges of the Heath Ledger Scholarship presented by Australians in Film have named 20 finalists this year, up from the usual 15.
That.s a real stamp of approval considering the calibre of the judges: Collin Farrell, Miranda Otto, directors Gregor Jordan and Robert Luketic, casting director Ann Fay (Anzac Girls, Packed to the Rafters) and Randi Hiller, VP of feature casting at Walt Disney Studios.
The winner of the sixth annual scholarship, which fosters the education and career development of young Australian actors in the Us, will be announced in Los Angeles on June 12.
The prizes include $10,000 cash, a two year scholarship at Stella Adler Academy of Acting and Theatre in Los Angeles, two return flights to La. including attendance at the announcement ceremony and a second flight when he or she is ready to break into the market,...
- 5/6/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
The prize package for the 2014 Heath Ledger Scholarship has increased by $5000 to $25,000 while this year's judging panel for the award was named by organizers, Australians In Film, on Friday. The judging panel for the sixth annual scholarship honoring Heath Ledger will include actors Colin Farrell, Miranda Otto and Wes Bentley, Australian directors Gregor Jordan and Robert Luketic, Australian-based casting director Ann Fay and vp feature casting at Walt Disney Studios, Randi Hiller. Story: Nicole Kidman's 'Strangerland' Begins Shooting in Australia For the 2014 Scholarship, the prize package increase includes $5,000 worth of visa and immigration services from
read more...
read more...
- 3/27/2014
- by Pip Bulbeck
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Interested in becoming an actor for a living or an extra on your favorite TV show or movie? If you’re attending Comic-Con next month, you’ll want to make time for The Casting Directors panel that will be taking place. A number of top casting directors will be on the panel, including The Walking Dead‘s Sharon Bialy.
The panel will be taking place on Friday, July 19th at Marriott Hall 2 from 2:20pm – 3:20pm. It will be moderated by Lora Kennedy (Warner Brothers, Evp, Features Casting. CD, Man of Steel) with the following panelists: Roger Mussenden (X-Men: Days of Future Past), Sharon Bialy (The Walking Dead), David Rapaport (Arrow) and Randi Hiller (Walt Disney Studios, VP Casting. CD, The Avengers).
New Comic-Con panels are being announced daily and we’ll have the full Comic-Con 2013 schedule in early July. We’ll be covering the event live from the...
The panel will be taking place on Friday, July 19th at Marriott Hall 2 from 2:20pm – 3:20pm. It will be moderated by Lora Kennedy (Warner Brothers, Evp, Features Casting. CD, Man of Steel) with the following panelists: Roger Mussenden (X-Men: Days of Future Past), Sharon Bialy (The Walking Dead), David Rapaport (Arrow) and Randi Hiller (Walt Disney Studios, VP Casting. CD, The Avengers).
New Comic-Con panels are being announced daily and we’ll have the full Comic-Con 2013 schedule in early July. We’ll be covering the event live from the...
- 6/27/2013
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
One of the CW's top casting directors was honored for his work by the Talent Managers Association Tuesday. David Rapaport, of David Rapaport Casting, was given a Heller Award for television casting by the Tma for his work on series such as "90210," "Gossip Girl," and "Arrow," all of which air on the CW. Rapaport was among several casting directors who were awarded a Heller, including Randi Hiller, of Walt Disney Studio Motion Pictures Production Casting, for feature casting, and Francene Selkirk, of Shooting From The Hip Casting, for commercial casting. Eric Souliere, of Ulrich/Dawson/Kritzer Casting, was also honored for work as an associate casting director. Jake Azhar took home top honors at the ceremony, which was held in Universal City, Calif. Azhar, of Hollywood Management Company, was given the “Manager of the Year” award, while Clint Eastwood’s longtime rep, Leonard Hirshan, was honored with “Lifetime Achievement in Management.
- 10/3/2012
- backstage.com
Stories and knowledge from the *western* front, where all isn't necessarily quiet. Some really good, interesting stuff here, I found. For all you out there (especially writers) chasing Hollywood dreams (or if you just want some insider knowledge on how the industry works when it comes to packaing your film project), you should appreciate this recent 100-minute panel discussion, brought to you by the Wgaw Writers Education Committee, titled Check Out My Package: Making Your Film Project Irresistible. Moderated by Billy Ray (co-writer, The Hunger Games), the panelists include Erik Feig of Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate, manager David Greenblatt, Randi Hiller (VP of Casting at...
- 6/6/2012
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
Veteran casting director Randi Hiller has been named VP Casting at The Walt Disney Studios. She will report directly to production president Sean Bailey. Disney hasn’t had an in-house casting executive since Evp Marcia Ross left last spring. Hiller’s job is to advise on casting for Disney’s live-action films. She has been in the casting game for over 20 years and most recently was owner of Randi Hiller Casting. Her recent film-casting credits include Warrior, HBO’s Cinema Verite, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger.
- 9/13/2011
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
In chatting exclusively with Comicus, actor & stuntman Troy Brenna, whose portraying a Shield Agent & presumably a Frost Giant in Marvel & Kenneth Branagh's epic tale of Thor, speaks on his role, the overall experience, and his director's impressions. On how he joined the cast... "How did I get into Thor's Cast:i was asked to come in as a stunt performer because of my size (6'9", 275lbs). After rehearsing for a couple weeks, I received a call to go in and read for a part in the movie. One week after auditioning for Kale, I got a call from Randi Hiller, the casting director. She told me over the phone that I got the part as Kale." On the time devoted to the movie... "I began working on Thor in October of 09. We continued to do pick up shots and reshoots all the way until just recently, Feb.
- 3/30/2011
- ComicBookMovie.com
Playwright Tony Kushner, producer Marcy Carsey, and casting director Ellen Chenoweth will be honored by the Casting Society of America at this year's Artios Awards. The nominees for this year's awards—to be presented Nov. 1 in dual ceremonies at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles and the American Airlines Theatre in New York—were announced today. Kushner, Carsey, and Chenoweth will be presented with special awards. The complete list of nominees follows.Big budget feature, drama"Avatar," Margery Simkin and Mali Finn (initial casting)"Inglourious Basterds," Johanna Ray and Jenny Jue"Nine," Francine Maisler"Sherlock Holmes," Reg Poerscout-Edgerton"Shutter Island," Ellen Lewis and Carolyn Pickman (location casting)Big budget feature, comedy"Couples Retreat," Sarah Halley Finn and Randi Hiller"Date Night," Donna Isaacson"Julie and Julia," Francine Maisler"The Proposal," Amanda Mackey Johnson, Cathy Sandrich Gelfond, and Angela Peri (location casting)"Valentine's Day," Deborah Aquila and Tricia WoodFeature,...
- 9/15/2010
- backstage.com
If you’re an actor or casting professional, or aspire to be one, then you should get to know Tom Donahue!
Why? Because his latest documentary film, "Casting By," is going to give you an in depth look at the history of the Casting profession. Tom has interviewed Marion Doughtery, Norman Lear, Lynn Stalmaster, Robert Duvall, Jon Voight, Channing Tatum, George Lucas, Brooke Shields, Glenn Close, Deborah Aquila, Randi Hiller, David Rubin, Richard Hicks, Richard Donner, and a number of other casting directors, filmmakers, and actors for Casting By.
Iae caught up with Tom to not only discuss "Casting By" and his other documentary "Guest of Cindy Sherman," but also to learn more about his awesome journey as a filmmaker.
Iae: Please tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to pursue a career in entertainment?
Td: I was born in the Hudson River Valley of Upstate New York,...
Why? Because his latest documentary film, "Casting By," is going to give you an in depth look at the history of the Casting profession. Tom has interviewed Marion Doughtery, Norman Lear, Lynn Stalmaster, Robert Duvall, Jon Voight, Channing Tatum, George Lucas, Brooke Shields, Glenn Close, Deborah Aquila, Randi Hiller, David Rubin, Richard Hicks, Richard Donner, and a number of other casting directors, filmmakers, and actors for Casting By.
Iae caught up with Tom to not only discuss "Casting By" and his other documentary "Guest of Cindy Sherman," but also to learn more about his awesome journey as a filmmaker.
Iae: Please tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to pursue a career in entertainment?
Td: I was born in the Hudson River Valley of Upstate New York,...
- 8/30/2010
- I Am Entertainment Magazine
FeatureFilmCasting.com have revealed the casting call sheet for the supporting cast of Marvel Studios The First Avenger: Captain America. The casting call also reveals the shooting dates, and the list of just exactly who has auditioned for the pivotal role of Captain America:
Marvel Studios “The First Avenger: Captain America” Auditions and Casting Information
Paramount Studios, Arad Productions, and Marvel Studios have teamed up to begin production on the feature film “The First Avenger: Captain America.”
Chace Crawford, John Krasinski, Scott Porter, Mike Vogel, Michael Cassidy, and Patrick Flueger have screen tested for the lead role of Steve Rogers. An announcement on the casting decision is expected within the next few weeks. Auditions and casting for the remaining supporting actors, day players, and extras will be ongoing.
Filming begins June 28, 2010 and the release date is scheduled for July 22, 2011.
Please submit photos and resumes by mail only. No phone calls or personal drop-offs.
Marvel Studios “The First Avenger: Captain America” Auditions and Casting Information
Paramount Studios, Arad Productions, and Marvel Studios have teamed up to begin production on the feature film “The First Avenger: Captain America.”
Chace Crawford, John Krasinski, Scott Porter, Mike Vogel, Michael Cassidy, and Patrick Flueger have screen tested for the lead role of Steve Rogers. An announcement on the casting decision is expected within the next few weeks. Auditions and casting for the remaining supporting actors, day players, and extras will be ongoing.
Filming begins June 28, 2010 and the release date is scheduled for July 22, 2011.
Please submit photos and resumes by mail only. No phone calls or personal drop-offs.
- 3/2/2010
- by Phil
- Nerdly
Casting directors came out from behind the curtain to be honored by their peers last night at the 25th Annual Artios Awards. The bi-coastal awards, which were held simultaneously at the new Times Center in New York City and the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, are presented yearly for outstanding achievement in casting in theater, film, and television categories on the criteria of originality, creativity, and contribution of casting to the overall quality of a project.Celebrity awards presenters in New York were Patrick Wilson ("Little Children," "Angels in America"), Carrie Preston ("True Blood"), Michael Shannon ("Revolutionary Road"), Jennifer Morrison ("House"), Bill Pullman ("Oleanna"), Christine Ebersole ("Grey Gardens"), Vincent Kartheiser ("Mad Men"), and Elizabeth Reaser ("Twilight"). Stanley Tucci and producer Daryl Roth presented the New York Big Apple Award to Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron, whose "Love, Loss and What I Wore" recently opened Off-Broadway to rave reviews.
- 11/3/2009
- backstage.com
Producer Laura Ziskin, writer-director Nora Ephron, writer Delia Ephron and casting director John Frank Levey will be honored at the Casting Society of America's 24th annual Artios Awards.
Simultaneous awards ceremonies will be held in at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles and the New York Times Building in New York on Nov. 2.
Ziskin is set to receive the group's Career Achievement Award. The New York Apple Award will be presented to Nora and Delia Ephron. Levy is this year's recipient of the Hoyt Bowers Award.
Representing 425 members in the United States, Canada, England and Australia, Cas also announced its nominees in film TV and theater on Thursday.
In the category of big budget feature drama, Ellen Chenoweth scored two noms for "Changeling" and "Duplicity." The category nominees are John Papsidera for "The Dark Knight"; April Webster and Alyssa Weisberg for "Star Trek" and Avy Kaufman for "State of Play.
Simultaneous awards ceremonies will be held in at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles and the New York Times Building in New York on Nov. 2.
Ziskin is set to receive the group's Career Achievement Award. The New York Apple Award will be presented to Nora and Delia Ephron. Levy is this year's recipient of the Hoyt Bowers Award.
Representing 425 members in the United States, Canada, England and Australia, Cas also announced its nominees in film TV and theater on Thursday.
In the category of big budget feature drama, Ellen Chenoweth scored two noms for "Changeling" and "Duplicity." The category nominees are John Papsidera for "The Dark Knight"; April Webster and Alyssa Weisberg for "Star Trek" and Avy Kaufman for "State of Play.
- 9/17/2009
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The following is a list of the top 25 Power Casting Directors in film and television (including Casting Director of the Year, Debra Zane; see page 9). We began with more than 100 candidates. In some cases, collaborations were so closely tied that we considered multiple people as one entity. Several drafts later, all 25 spots were cast.Notably omitted from the list are in-house casting executives at studios and networks, the inclusion of whom would have ballooned our list to 50 or more. But read about them online at www.backstage.com/spotlight. Focusing on independent casting directors leveled the playing field and highlighted people whose puissance is not affected by one scale-tipping affiliation. Now, on to the top 25!Kerry BardenCan you imagine Monster's Ball starring Erykah Badu, or American Psycho starring Leonardo DiCaprio? Kerry Barden can, because he saw them read the parts. "There are so many great actors that sometimes it's a...
- 4/2/2009
- backstage.com
Sarah Halley Finn and Randi Hiller took home the award for feature film drama casting for their work on Crash at the 21st annual Artios Awards, while John Jackson and Ellen Parks were recognized for feature film comedy casting for their work on Sideways. The Casting Society of America's honors were handed out at simultaneous events held Tuesday evening in Beverly Hills and New York. The CSA's coveted Hoyt Bowers Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Casting Profession was presented to Marcia S. Ross by Jennifer Garner.
- 11/3/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Samuel Goldwyn Films said Monday that it has acquired North American rights to Randall Miller's Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School. The film, which premiered in January at the Sundance Film Festival, stars Robert Carlyle, Marisa Tomei, John Goodman, Mary Steenburgen, Sean Astin, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny DeVito. Samuel Goldwyn Films will release the film in September. Based on a short film created 15 years ago by Miller and wife Jody Savin, Dancing centers on a widowed man's life that is turned upside down when he embarks on a journey to find a dying man's long-lost love. The film also stars David Paymer, Adam Arkin, Sonia Braga, Ernie Hudson, Miguel Sandoval, Elden Henson and Camryn Manheim. It was produced by Miller, Savin, Morris Ruskin and Eileen Craft. Executive producers are Art Klein, Ronald Savin, Eduardo Castro, Carlos Gidi, Kevin Reidy, Lon Bender and Jeffrey Lampert. Co-producers are Randi Hiller and Sarah Finn. The deal was brokered by Samuel Goldwyn Films president Meyer Gottleib and head of acquisitions Peter Goldwyn. CAA and Shoreline Entertainment brokered on behalf of the filmmakers.
- 3/29/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
He's the "Babe" of birds.
The title character of the delightful "Paulie" is a precocious blue-crown Conure who doesn't merely parrot but can carry on entire conversations in Brooklynese with Joe Pesci-style intonations.
An all-ages audience-pleaser that puts a smile on the lips and a lump in the throat, the handsomely assembled picture dispenses sentimentality without the syrup. It's moving but never mawkish.
The payoff should amount to a whole lot more than birdseed for DreamWorks, which could see "Paulie" best its "Mouse Hunt" at the boxoffice.
Gracefully directed by John Roberts (who previously helmed the underrated "The War of the Buttons") from a winning script by novice screenwriter Laurie Craig, the bird-meets-girl, bird-loses-girl, bird-gets-girl adventure begins in a research lab, where a caged and clipped Paulie (voiced by Jay Mohr and played by an assortment of real-life and animatronic parrots) stuns Russian immigrant janitor Misha (Tony Shalhoub) with his no-nonsense approach to the English language.
Contending that his mouth has always gotten him in trouble, Paulie proceeds to tell Misha his story, beginning with the day little stuttering Marie Hallie Kate Eisenberg) raised him from a fledgling.
Concerned that she was becoming too attached to her pet, Marie's parents (Matt Craven and Laura Harrington) send Paulie out into the big, Cold World. Eventually landing in a pawn shop, Paulie is purchased by a lonely widow (Gena Rowlands), whom he convinces to embark on a cross-country journey in her long-dormant Winnebago in search of his beloved Marie.
Their association proves shortlived, but Paulie eventually reaches his goal -- give or take a few years -- with a little help from Misha, a fellow fish-out-of-water.
While the early pacing is somewhat slow to take flight and Roberts and Craig could have afforded to go funnier (especially where the younger viewers are concerned) without fear of upsetting the film's delicate balance, there remains a finely tuned timelessness to "Paulie" that it shares with those perennial family classics.
Rather than the going tendency toward broadly played cartoonish characters, Paulie's human supporting cast keeps it warmly low-key with affectingly defined performances from Rowlands, Shalhoub and young Eisenberg, as well as from Cheech Marin (as an East L.A. entertainer whose act is literally for the birds) and Bruce Davison (as a research scientist who sees Paulie as his ticket to a Nobel Prize).
Mohr gives Paulie's vocal chords the right blend of smart-alecky brashness and gentle innocence, and in addition he plays the part of Benny, a two-bit thief,
Technical attributes are equally impressive. Animal wrangler Boone Narr (who also corralled the rodents for "Mouse Hunt") coaxes fine work from his feathered friends while the more demanding stuff has been seamlessly handled by a Stan Winston Studio animatronic stand-in.
Cinematographer Tony Pierce-Roberts ("A Room With a View", "Howards End"), meanwhile, lends the Los Angeles and Arizona backdrops a classy vibrance as John Debney's thoughtful score quietly nudges -- but never tugs at -- the heartstrings.
PAULIE
DreamWorks
A Mutual Film Co. production
Credits: Director, John Roberts; Screenwriter, Laurie Craig; Producers, Mark Gordon, Gary Levinsohn, Allison Lyon Segan; Executive producer, Ginny Nugent; Director of photography, Tony Pierce-Roberts; Production designer, Dennis Washington; Editor, Bruce Cannon; Costume designer, Mary Zophres; Music, John Debney; Casting, Risa Bramon Garcia, Randi Hiller, Sarah Finn. Cast: Ivy: Gena Rowlands; Misha: Tony Shalhoub; Ignacio: Cheech Marin; Dr. Reingold: Bruce Davison; Adult Marie: Trini Alvarado; Voice of Paulie/Benny: Jay Mohr; Artie: Buddy Hackett; Marie: Hallie Kate Eisenberg; Warren Alweather: Matt Craven. Color/stereo. Running time - 91 minutes. MPAA rating: PG.
The title character of the delightful "Paulie" is a precocious blue-crown Conure who doesn't merely parrot but can carry on entire conversations in Brooklynese with Joe Pesci-style intonations.
An all-ages audience-pleaser that puts a smile on the lips and a lump in the throat, the handsomely assembled picture dispenses sentimentality without the syrup. It's moving but never mawkish.
The payoff should amount to a whole lot more than birdseed for DreamWorks, which could see "Paulie" best its "Mouse Hunt" at the boxoffice.
Gracefully directed by John Roberts (who previously helmed the underrated "The War of the Buttons") from a winning script by novice screenwriter Laurie Craig, the bird-meets-girl, bird-loses-girl, bird-gets-girl adventure begins in a research lab, where a caged and clipped Paulie (voiced by Jay Mohr and played by an assortment of real-life and animatronic parrots) stuns Russian immigrant janitor Misha (Tony Shalhoub) with his no-nonsense approach to the English language.
Contending that his mouth has always gotten him in trouble, Paulie proceeds to tell Misha his story, beginning with the day little stuttering Marie Hallie Kate Eisenberg) raised him from a fledgling.
Concerned that she was becoming too attached to her pet, Marie's parents (Matt Craven and Laura Harrington) send Paulie out into the big, Cold World. Eventually landing in a pawn shop, Paulie is purchased by a lonely widow (Gena Rowlands), whom he convinces to embark on a cross-country journey in her long-dormant Winnebago in search of his beloved Marie.
Their association proves shortlived, but Paulie eventually reaches his goal -- give or take a few years -- with a little help from Misha, a fellow fish-out-of-water.
While the early pacing is somewhat slow to take flight and Roberts and Craig could have afforded to go funnier (especially where the younger viewers are concerned) without fear of upsetting the film's delicate balance, there remains a finely tuned timelessness to "Paulie" that it shares with those perennial family classics.
Rather than the going tendency toward broadly played cartoonish characters, Paulie's human supporting cast keeps it warmly low-key with affectingly defined performances from Rowlands, Shalhoub and young Eisenberg, as well as from Cheech Marin (as an East L.A. entertainer whose act is literally for the birds) and Bruce Davison (as a research scientist who sees Paulie as his ticket to a Nobel Prize).
Mohr gives Paulie's vocal chords the right blend of smart-alecky brashness and gentle innocence, and in addition he plays the part of Benny, a two-bit thief,
Technical attributes are equally impressive. Animal wrangler Boone Narr (who also corralled the rodents for "Mouse Hunt") coaxes fine work from his feathered friends while the more demanding stuff has been seamlessly handled by a Stan Winston Studio animatronic stand-in.
Cinematographer Tony Pierce-Roberts ("A Room With a View", "Howards End"), meanwhile, lends the Los Angeles and Arizona backdrops a classy vibrance as John Debney's thoughtful score quietly nudges -- but never tugs at -- the heartstrings.
PAULIE
DreamWorks
A Mutual Film Co. production
Credits: Director, John Roberts; Screenwriter, Laurie Craig; Producers, Mark Gordon, Gary Levinsohn, Allison Lyon Segan; Executive producer, Ginny Nugent; Director of photography, Tony Pierce-Roberts; Production designer, Dennis Washington; Editor, Bruce Cannon; Costume designer, Mary Zophres; Music, John Debney; Casting, Risa Bramon Garcia, Randi Hiller, Sarah Finn. Cast: Ivy: Gena Rowlands; Misha: Tony Shalhoub; Ignacio: Cheech Marin; Dr. Reingold: Bruce Davison; Adult Marie: Trini Alvarado; Voice of Paulie/Benny: Jay Mohr; Artie: Buddy Hackett; Marie: Hallie Kate Eisenberg; Warren Alweather: Matt Craven. Color/stereo. Running time - 91 minutes. MPAA rating: PG.
- 4/14/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The wait has been worth it. DreamWorks Pictures has finally launched its first movie, and it's a smartly calibrated, mainstream entertainment.
Starring George Clooney and Nicole Kidman as a perfectly mismatched duo fighting world terrorism, "The Peacemaker" will certainly be a big moneymaker this fall on the domestic front, and down the line it should score winning international numbers and counter this country's sorry trade deficits.
Wired around the current, post-Cold War hot plot -- renegade terrorists hijack nuclear missiles within a dysfunctional Russia -- "The Peacemaker" is the cineplex equivalent of the airport paperback novel, Robert Ludlum's side of the rack. It's a crafty pasting of front-page reality, including the horrors in Bosnia, on top of well-proven story formulas. And it's torqued by the battling banter between Clooney and Kidman.
In screenwriter Michael Schiffer's complex but tightly compacted scenario, Clooney and Kidman step out in a variation of the battling-buddy movie. Except for the fact that they aren't exactly buddies: she's Dr. Julia Kelly, a straight-laced nuclear scientist and acting head of the White House Nuclear Smuggling Group, and he's Lt. Col. Thomas Devoe, an Army Special Intelligence officer. When a trainload of nuclear warheads is hijacked by terrorists in the Russian boonies, they're paired up to track down the terrorists before they can, say, deliver the nukes to Iran or, for instance, blow up the U.N. building. And, the clock is not just ticking, it's going fast-forward.
Although it may not beat out "L.A. Confidential" for the most subplots in a movie award, "The Peacemaker" is crammed with a heavy story-load, from geopolitics to the psychology of blue-collar women who have risen to the top of a male-dominated profession. Fortunately, Schiffer and director Mimi Leder don't allow the story to jam up, or for that matter, even slow down. Unfortunately, this full-throttle surge is somewhat akin to the traveler who doesn't stop to smell the roses along the way.
The best stuff is off the beaten plot: It's the human stuff, not the braininess of the narrative or the gadgetry of the effects, that's the highlight. In short, the movie's most refreshing and memorable moments involve the interplay between the loosey-goosey intelligence officer and the by-the-book nuclear scientist.
To be sure, even a movie as professionally scoped and intricately blueprinted as this one would fall flat if the chemistry between the leads wasn't there. And, Clooney, with his salt-and-pepper flair and seat-of-his-pants daring, is a believable and wonderfully appealing action hero.
Studio executives who are familiar with films before 1985 might recall a chap named Cary Grant who outwitted and outscrambled the bad guys in such winners as "North by Northwest" and didn't need a membership at Gold's Gym to do it.
Although his constant head tilting has become somewhat of a distraction, Clooney's suave edginess brings a welcome verve to a genre in need of tone rather than bulk. Similarly, Kidman's intelligent and appealing performance as, essentially, Clooney's brainy straightwoman, is refreshingly strong-spirited. She has the presence and confidence that makes one recall the best of strong-woman performers -- Rosalind Russell types who could dish it out and take it, no punches pulled.
Overall, Clooney and Kidman make an excellent pairing and could generate a franchise for DreamWorks, particularly if their battling banter is not shackled by overly busy plotting. Think William Powell and Myrna Loy.
Supporting players are well-selected and generally personalize some standard-issue roles. Armin Mueller-Stahl is particularly outstanding as an old-school Cold Warrior, and Marcel Iures remarkably manages to convey his terrorist character's psychology not in simplistic black-and-white tones but rather in the cracks of credible human frailties.
Technically, the film's Byzantine plotting is complemented by an appropriately murky look; credit cinematographer Dietrich Lohmann for the threatening tones. Editor David Rosenbloom's kinetic cuts bring thrust to the loaded story, while Hans Zimmer's stentorian music is a terrific blast in the great full-horned tradition of "The Guns of Navarone".
THE PEACEMAKER
DreamWorks Pictures
A Mimi Leder film
Producers:Walter Parkes, Branko Lustig
Director:Mimi Leder
Screenwriter:Michael Schiffer
Executive producers:Michael Grillo, Laurie MacDonald
Director of photography:Dietrich Lohmann
Production designer:Leslie Dilley
Editor:David Rosenbloom
Co-executive producer:John Wells
Costume designer:Shelley Komarov
Music:Hans Zimmer
Co-producers :Pat Kehoe, Leslie Cockburn, Andrew Cockburn
Casting:Risa Bramon Garcia, Randi Hiller
Visual effects supervisor:Michael Backes
Second unit director:Conrad E. Palmisano
Color/stereo
Cast:
Thomas Devoe:George Clooney
Julia Kelly:Nicole Kidman
Dusan Gavrich:Marcel Iures
Alexander Kodoroff:Alexander Baluev
Vlado Mirich:Rene Medvesek
Hamilton:Gary Werntz
Ken:Randall Batinkoff
General Garnett:Jim Haynie
Shummaker:Alexander Strobele
Appleton:Holt McCallany
CPN Beach:Michael Boatman
Senator Bevens:Joan Copeland
Santiago:Carlos Gomez
Dimitri Vertikoff:Armin Mueller-Stahl
Running time -- 122 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
Starring George Clooney and Nicole Kidman as a perfectly mismatched duo fighting world terrorism, "The Peacemaker" will certainly be a big moneymaker this fall on the domestic front, and down the line it should score winning international numbers and counter this country's sorry trade deficits.
Wired around the current, post-Cold War hot plot -- renegade terrorists hijack nuclear missiles within a dysfunctional Russia -- "The Peacemaker" is the cineplex equivalent of the airport paperback novel, Robert Ludlum's side of the rack. It's a crafty pasting of front-page reality, including the horrors in Bosnia, on top of well-proven story formulas. And it's torqued by the battling banter between Clooney and Kidman.
In screenwriter Michael Schiffer's complex but tightly compacted scenario, Clooney and Kidman step out in a variation of the battling-buddy movie. Except for the fact that they aren't exactly buddies: she's Dr. Julia Kelly, a straight-laced nuclear scientist and acting head of the White House Nuclear Smuggling Group, and he's Lt. Col. Thomas Devoe, an Army Special Intelligence officer. When a trainload of nuclear warheads is hijacked by terrorists in the Russian boonies, they're paired up to track down the terrorists before they can, say, deliver the nukes to Iran or, for instance, blow up the U.N. building. And, the clock is not just ticking, it's going fast-forward.
Although it may not beat out "L.A. Confidential" for the most subplots in a movie award, "The Peacemaker" is crammed with a heavy story-load, from geopolitics to the psychology of blue-collar women who have risen to the top of a male-dominated profession. Fortunately, Schiffer and director Mimi Leder don't allow the story to jam up, or for that matter, even slow down. Unfortunately, this full-throttle surge is somewhat akin to the traveler who doesn't stop to smell the roses along the way.
The best stuff is off the beaten plot: It's the human stuff, not the braininess of the narrative or the gadgetry of the effects, that's the highlight. In short, the movie's most refreshing and memorable moments involve the interplay between the loosey-goosey intelligence officer and the by-the-book nuclear scientist.
To be sure, even a movie as professionally scoped and intricately blueprinted as this one would fall flat if the chemistry between the leads wasn't there. And, Clooney, with his salt-and-pepper flair and seat-of-his-pants daring, is a believable and wonderfully appealing action hero.
Studio executives who are familiar with films before 1985 might recall a chap named Cary Grant who outwitted and outscrambled the bad guys in such winners as "North by Northwest" and didn't need a membership at Gold's Gym to do it.
Although his constant head tilting has become somewhat of a distraction, Clooney's suave edginess brings a welcome verve to a genre in need of tone rather than bulk. Similarly, Kidman's intelligent and appealing performance as, essentially, Clooney's brainy straightwoman, is refreshingly strong-spirited. She has the presence and confidence that makes one recall the best of strong-woman performers -- Rosalind Russell types who could dish it out and take it, no punches pulled.
Overall, Clooney and Kidman make an excellent pairing and could generate a franchise for DreamWorks, particularly if their battling banter is not shackled by overly busy plotting. Think William Powell and Myrna Loy.
Supporting players are well-selected and generally personalize some standard-issue roles. Armin Mueller-Stahl is particularly outstanding as an old-school Cold Warrior, and Marcel Iures remarkably manages to convey his terrorist character's psychology not in simplistic black-and-white tones but rather in the cracks of credible human frailties.
Technically, the film's Byzantine plotting is complemented by an appropriately murky look; credit cinematographer Dietrich Lohmann for the threatening tones. Editor David Rosenbloom's kinetic cuts bring thrust to the loaded story, while Hans Zimmer's stentorian music is a terrific blast in the great full-horned tradition of "The Guns of Navarone".
THE PEACEMAKER
DreamWorks Pictures
A Mimi Leder film
Producers:Walter Parkes, Branko Lustig
Director:Mimi Leder
Screenwriter:Michael Schiffer
Executive producers:Michael Grillo, Laurie MacDonald
Director of photography:Dietrich Lohmann
Production designer:Leslie Dilley
Editor:David Rosenbloom
Co-executive producer:John Wells
Costume designer:Shelley Komarov
Music:Hans Zimmer
Co-producers :Pat Kehoe, Leslie Cockburn, Andrew Cockburn
Casting:Risa Bramon Garcia, Randi Hiller
Visual effects supervisor:Michael Backes
Second unit director:Conrad E. Palmisano
Color/stereo
Cast:
Thomas Devoe:George Clooney
Julia Kelly:Nicole Kidman
Dusan Gavrich:Marcel Iures
Alexander Kodoroff:Alexander Baluev
Vlado Mirich:Rene Medvesek
Hamilton:Gary Werntz
Ken:Randall Batinkoff
General Garnett:Jim Haynie
Shummaker:Alexander Strobele
Appleton:Holt McCallany
CPN Beach:Michael Boatman
Senator Bevens:Joan Copeland
Santiago:Carlos Gomez
Dimitri Vertikoff:Armin Mueller-Stahl
Running time -- 122 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
- 9/22/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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