Casting director Melissa Kostenbauder joined The Studio halfway via the pilot, stepping right into a challenge that was already attracting buzz with scripts she calls among the funniest she’s ever learn. From wrangling schedules throughout all ten episodes to serving to collection creators Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg pitch roles on to A-list actors, Kostenbauder had her palms full in one of the simplest ways potential.
In our dialog, she talks about working with the inventive crew, getting stars like Bryan Cranston, Ron Howard, and Zoë Kravitz on board, and what makes an important audition tape and headshot stand out. This interview has been edited for size and readability. Watch the total dialog within the video above or on our YouTube channel.
That is a type of exhibits that I’d watch the day it got here out, and I by no means do this. The one factor I didn’t like was that it’s solely 10 episodes.
Melissa Kostenbauder: Yeah, I really feel the identical approach. Truthfully, I used to be a fan of the present earlier than it even aired as a result of these have been genuinely among the funniest scripts I’ve ever learn in my whole profession.
I do know you got here on board halfway via the pilot, however was the primary solid already set?
Melissa Kostenbauder: A few of them have been. A few of them I did. It’s all the time very unusual when a challenge is placed on a hiatus, particularly in the course of issues, however it was as a result of the strike. However fortunately, I’m shut with Francine and I had recognized the fellows from earlier than, so it was it was a reasonably straightforward transition to come back in.
What was probably the most difficult half about casting the entire thing?
Melissa Kostenbauder: I believe simply the magnitude of it. I imply, this isn’t an fascinating reply essentially, however it was simply retaining all of it collectively and arranged and ensuring you knew when individuals have been going to be taking pictures as a result of they shot all 10 episodes directly. It was not casting for every episode, it was casting per schedule.
I believe the most important problem was clearly simply attempting to verify we acquired these nice individuals and having that stress after which additionally retaining all of it organized and shifting ahead.
I believe I noticed that quite a lot of the identify actors, their names have been already written into the script. Did you must go and make contact with these actors and discover out in the event that they’re truly and obtainable?
Melissa Kostenbauder: Yeah, that’s precisely what we did.
They’d actors that have been type of ultimate in that state of affairs or for that joke or whatnot. And so, we simply took all of them out of the script and acquired availabilities on everyone and had curiosity conversations with their brokers simply to see if this was one thing they’d entertain. After which those that have been, we might arrange conferences with Seth and Evan in order that they might type of pitch the joke or pitch the episode to them. After which they’d ship them a script afterward. And hopefully, in any case of these steps, they’d have an interest. Generally they weren’t in any case these steps.
After which if the preliminary actors that they had in thoughts weren’t obtainable, or weren’t , then we needed to give you new concepts and new individuals to speak about who may match into these scenes.
There have been identify actors who we’re not occupied with doing it? I’m wondering in the event that they’re kicking themselves now.
Melissa Kostenbauder: , I believe it was extra simply that they didn’t wish to play themselves or it simply wasn’t essentially their factor. I imply, you’re an actor, that it’s a really private alternative that you just make whenever you tackle a task, proper? Are you mentally into what the calls for will probably be for that position to have the ability to entry all these factors as a way to play it efficiently.
Everyone seems to be, and rightfully so, speaking about Martin Scorsese’s half however Ron Howard was excellent. After which Bryan Cranston, clearly he’s not taking part in himself, however each time they got here on display, growth, knocked it out of the park.
Melissa Kostenbauder: I do know. They have been really fantastic. I imply, Bryan Cranston, each time I see him on display, laughter erupts from me.
However I believe everybody did a extremely nice job. There was by no means a time limit when somebody was on display, and I felt that they didn’t totally ship to absolutely the potential of what the scene was asking or what they have been able to.
And I cherished Zoe Kravitz in it, too. Zoe in these final episodes is the funniest factor.
Have been they straightforward to speak into doing the components?
Melissa Kostenbauder: , I must let Seth and Evan reply that. Our course of on this one wasn’t that we might ship a suggestion and a script, we might ship a suggestion and the chance to zoom or have a sit-down assembly with Seth and Evan, and they might simply pitch the thought and the premise of the script. After which in the event that they preferred how that sounded, they’d tailor the script to them somewhat bit, ship them that after which hopefully they’d do it. Generally they didn’t. Some acquired chilly ft on the finish.
Talking of Seth and Evan, what was your collaboration with them like all through the run?
Melissa Kostenbauder: They’re fantastic. They’re very hands-on, they’re very clever and really purposeful in what they do. The whole lot with them may be very intentional they usually’re actually good about their strategy with every part. So, it was actually pretty working with them.
For the primary solid, did they have already got individuals in thoughts?
Melissa Kostenbauder: They’d Ike [Barinholtz] in thoughts, and I believe that may have been it. And Seth, clearly.
I believe he was a reasonably good selection.
Melissa Kostenbauder: He was nice. I imply, he’s I believe he’s so humorous on this present.
And I believe Ike was excellent. And now he’s doing that Elon Musk film.
Melissa Kostenbauder: I’ve all the time been a fan of Ike. He’s so gregarious and simply has this glorious high quality about him as an individual that’s simply so sort and humorous and simple to be round. And I believe that simply all the time interprets into his appearing. And I simply discover him so watchable. That is such an important position for him and I snort each time I see him on display.
There’s that one episode about casting. Did that hit house for you?
Melissa Kostenbauder: Very a lot so. I felt very seen.
However it’s the entire collection. I get individuals asking me about it, particularly individuals who aren’t within the enterprise, as a result of they discover it actually outlandish. They usually’re like, “That doesn’t actually occur, does it?” It’s like, “Yeah, it actually does. All of that.”
There’s not a degree in any a part of the present that I’d have felt that both I hadn’t seen or heard of firsthand, or somebody had informed me, it’s all very plausible. I believe if you happen to work on this business, you completely agree.
The episode with the continual monitoring shot. How did you go about casting that? As a result of if one actor with even one little line screws up, they’ve to start out over. How did that play into discovering the suitable actors for that episode?
Melissa Kostenbauder: I actually do attempt to take care and who we’re casting, even for the smaller roles, even non-speaking typically we get entangled with. However that one particularly, we actually needed to verify individuals had on set expertise and had labored on some greater exhibits, in order that when these types of conditions have come up, they’d no less than have that foundation of information to work inside that it wouldn’t be like a studying curve.
I really like attempting new actors and people who find themselves fascinating and new. I really like that. However on this specific occasion, it actually was helpful to have individuals who type of knew their approach round a set.
I wish to ask you a few questions on appearing. For self-tapes, on the technical facet of issues, what are you searching for? Or not searching for?
Melissa Kostenbauder: Technically, I’m very easy. So long as I can see you clearly and listen to you clearly, that works for me. I don’t care if you happen to’re standing in entrance of a fridge, so long as I can see you and listen to you, that’s all I want.
After which efficiency clever, it’s identical to any audition, simply chill out into it. I believe quite a lot of occasions there’s a heightened power that comes into an individual earlier than they audition, so I’d simply chill out into it and be ready.
I believe you probably have these two elements able to go, then when you begin appearing, it’ll come throughout much more naturally and much more nuanced.
I’ve all the time needed to ask this query… Are slates actually that necessary?
Melissa Kostenbauder: Yeah, they’re. And I do know, they’re terrible and I’m so sorry.
I don’t assume they should be lengthy. I don’t assume they should be extra than simply your identify, your peak, possibly the place you’re primarily based.
As a result of, particularly on a self-tape, you’re sending this individual to different individuals who weren’t in a room with them. And since this can be a visible occupation, you actually type of have to get a full image, not even only for your self, however simply who within the scene you’re going to be with.
So, it truly is simply to get an thought of the entity that’s you, after which, , to go along with your efficiency.
For headshots, what stands out to you? I do know you guys look on Actors Entry, they usually’re actually little thumbnails. What makes you wish to click on onto an actor’s image?
Melissa Kostenbauder: That’s such a superb query. I’ve an actual factor with headshots, as a result of I do assume they’re necessary they usually’re the primary introduction to individuals typically.
I personally like them to be skilled wanting. And that doesn’t imply over Photoshop, it simply means like a pleasant picture of you that just about isn’t attempting too onerous. I simply wish to see what you appear to be.
Generally with the bells and whistles or the a number of costumes, that to me is only a bit distracting. I simply wish to get a extremely good thought of what you appear to be. So, if you happen to got here in, or if I noticed you in individual, I may very simply assign you to that picture. Whereas extra occasions than not, you wouldn’t imagine that it actually is sort of totally different.
And likewise, I believe actors understanding their model and understanding who they’re, and the place they type of match within the grand scheme of issues is actually necessary for a photograph as properly. Like, let’s say, you’re coming in for a physician position as a result of that’s what your picture type of lends to, and also you’re like actually regular chill, like can’t rise up straight… you’re simply not going to get that position, in all probability.
Have your headshot be towards roles that you’d have a extremely good shot of getting. There’s quite a lot of exceptions to the position with all of this, proper? You may actually get solid in opposition to kind and that’s all very fascinating, however if you happen to’re attempting to simply guide, assist your self by having a photograph that basically like exhibits who you might be and who you’re going to be whenever you stroll into the room.
Actors with out illustration, what’s one of the simplest ways to type of get in contact with you or have that they exist.
Melissa Kostenbauder: I do know that’s a extremely onerous one, proper? I imply, social media is nice. I all the time say you’ll be able to e mail me, however it’s powerful. I believe it’s best to simply do sufficient analysis to attempt to perceive how the business works with the intention to put your self into these alternatives once they come up for you, whether or not it’s on actors’ entry or no matter.
It’s good to have an agent and supervisor and people individuals do wish to discover individuals to signify. I believe it’s only a matter of getting a package deal that represents you properly, so that you just’re placing your greatest foot ahead.
My final query is, what’s the craziest factor that’s ever occurred to you in an audition room?
Melissa Kostenbauder: One time, a really very long time in the past, this one girl got here in and pulled hamburgers out of her bra. It was not a part of the scene. There have been hamburgers within the scene that they have been bringing in, however it had nothing to do with being in her bra. I all the time assume fondly about that one.
