WMA Hosts Casting Access Project Workshops

Local members listening to advice from Casting Director Todd Thaler.

The Washington-Mid Atlantic Local was very pleased to have hosted two incredible SAG Foundation Casting Access Project workshops/seminars in mid-March.

Angela Mickey, managing director of Liz Lewis Casting in New York, conducted a hands-on workshop with an intimate group of approximately 20 lucky Washington-Mid Atlantic members on March 11. Mickey is a New York-based indie casting director at Liz Lewis Casting. In addition to casting commercials, she casts film and television. Some of her credits include 23 Blast, Love Sick Love, All Wifed Out, Mobster Confessions and more.

Her current projects include Roadrunner the Movie, Colored Lovin’ Brooklyn, Reverse Engineering Sofia, The Uncanny Valley and Ante Up.

“Angela was terrific,” said workshop-goer Susan Snyder. “She requested our headshots the day prior and picked out mock audition pieces for us to do in pairs. The scenes were humorous in parts, fun to do and kept everyone’s interest. Performing the scene in front of her was very relaxed due to her lovely personality.” 

Todd Thaler, whose notable credits include The Professional, Pollack, several John Turturro films, Because of Winn Dixie, Maid in Manhattan and more than 100 episodes of the TBS series Are We There Yet, told his story of having started his career as a production assistant on Woody Allen movies, later graduating to handling background casting for Allen under the tutelage of his casting guru Juliet Taylor. He was warm and witty while sharing details about his process with the approximately 60 members present at the March 13 event. Members told SAG-AFTRA staffers how “affirming” Todd was for them.

And finally, on March 14, Casting Director Jennifer Euston, who currently works on the series Girls and Orange is the New Black, rounded out this amazing series of workshops. She counseled members on what she looks for in actors. Euston was insightful and charming. She confided that one of the gifts that helps her do her job is an uncanny ability to recall the name of virtually every actor whose work she’s seen and the roles they’ve played. She thrilled the members present when she said that she is not looking for well-known actors or celebrities for any of her current projects.

Rochelle Rose and Todd Thaler pause for a photo.

Kim Tuvin, who attended all three events, stated, “These three casting directors were breaths of fresh air; they were down to earth [and] generous.”

We want to offer heartfelt thanks to Rochelle Rose and the SAG Foundation for putting this incredible lineup together, to the casting directors for coming to D.C. to share their stories and their insights with our membership, and to the Studio Theatre for graciously allowing us to use their great space for these CAP events.

Originally we were also scheduled to have Brette Goldstein as well, but unfortunately, she came down with the flu and was unable to make it. We are working now with the foundation to try and reschedule the event with Goldstein and another casting director “to be determined” very soon. Stay tuned and register to receive emails from sagfoundation.org!

This item was originally featured in the March 2014 local newsletter.