The Anatomy of Casting

Hey filmmakers. Welcome to Going Bionic #172!  I hope you had a wonderful week. Mine has been nothing less than remarkable, because not only did multiple projects of mine move forward, (projects I’ll surely discuss with you in the coming weeks), but the Los Angeles Lakers just upgraded my season tickets to center court. Now if only the Lakers were going to be as good as my new seats are, I’d be in Heaven.

Today we’re going to continue what we started last week and discuss five more casting strategies for your feature films. As always, these strategies are built to give you and your film the best shot at wrangling a great cast. So, without further ado, here’s part two of our miniseries on “The Anatomy of Casting.”

Side Note: When I use the term “actor,” I am referring to both male and female actors. 

An Actor’s ‘Last Reported Income’ Isn’t Always a Factual Number

An actor’s “last reported income,” as stated on IMDB or other sites, is just that, “reported,” and not confirmed. While the short list of actors who rest on top of the A list get their “reported amount,” everyone below their perch is probably earning less than their “reported income.” Inflating the amount an actor earns is beneficial to both the actor and the film. This is because it allows the actor to keep his or her value high and it allows the film to inflate its budget, which undoubtedly increases its international value. So, when you’re making an offer to an actor, you should use their “last reported income,” as a the highest number you would ever offer, not the starting number.

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To learn more about casting calls please visit the International Truffles Casting Fair