Casting director Melissa Kostenbauder joined The Studio halfway via the pilot, stepping right into a mission that was already attracting buzz with scripts she calls a few of 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 arms full in one of the simplest ways attainable.
In our dialog, she talks about working with the inventive workforce, getting stars like Bryan Cranston, Ron Howard, and Zoë Kravitz on board, and what makes an incredible audition tape and headshot stand out. This interview has been edited for size and readability. Watch the complete dialog within the video above or on our YouTube channel.
That is a type of reveals that I might 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 had been genuinely a few of the funniest scripts I’ve ever learn in my complete profession.
I do know you got here on board halfway via the pilot, however was the primary forged already set?
Melissa Kostenbauder: A few of them had been. A few of them I did. It’s all the time very unusual when a mission is placed on a hiatus, particularly in the midst of issues, but it surely 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 simple transition to return 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, but it surely was simply protecting all of it collectively and arranged and ensuring you knew when individuals had been going to be taking pictures as a result of they shot all 10 episodes without delay. It was not casting for every episode, it was casting per schedule.
I believe the largest problem was clearly simply making an attempt to verify we obtained these nice individuals and having that stress after which additionally protecting all of it organized and transferring ahead.
I believe I noticed that loads of the identify actors, their names had been already written into the script. Did you need to go and make contact with these actors and discover out in the event that they’re truly and accessible?
Melissa Kostenbauder: Yeah, that’s precisely what we did.
They’d actors that had been type of ideally suited in that state of affairs or for that joke or whatnot. And so, we simply took all of them out of the script and obtained availabilities on everyone and had curiosity conversations with their brokers simply to see if this was one thing they might entertain. After which those that had 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 might ship them a script afterward. And hopefully, in spite of everything of these steps, they might have an interest. Generally they weren’t in spite of everything these steps.
After which if the preliminary actors they’d in thoughts weren’t accessible, or weren’t , then we needed to provide you with new concepts and new individuals to speak about who may match into these scenes.
There have been identify actors who we’re not eager about doing it? I’m wondering in the event that they’re kicking themselves now.
Melissa Kostenbauder: You understand, 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, you already know that it’s a really private selection that you simply make once you tackle a job, proper? Are you mentally into what the calls for might be for that position to have the ability to entry all these factors with a view to play it efficiently.
Everyone seems to be, and rightfully so, speaking about Martin Scorsese’s half however Ron Howard was good. After which Bryan Cranston, clearly he’s not enjoying himself, however each time they got here on display screen, growth, knocked it out of the park.
Melissa Kostenbauder: I do know. They had been actually great. I imply, Bryan Cranston, each time I see him on display screen, laughter erupts from me.
However I believe everybody did a extremely nice job. There was by no means a cut-off date when somebody was on display screen, and I felt that they didn’t totally ship to absolutely the potential of what the scene was asking or what they had been able to.
And I liked Zoe Kravitz in it, too. Zoe in these final episodes is the funniest factor.
Had been they simple to speak into doing the components?
Melissa Kostenbauder: You understand, I must let Seth and Evan reply that. Our course of on this one wasn’t that we might ship a proposal and a script, we might ship a proposal and the chance to zoom or have a sit-down assembly with Seth and Evan, and they’d simply pitch the thought and the premise of the script. After which in the event that they preferred how that sounded, they might tailor the script to them just a little bit, ship them that after which hopefully they might do it. Generally they didn’t. Some obtained 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 great. They’re very hands-on, they’re very clever and really purposeful in what they do. Every little thing with them could be very intentional they usually’re actually sensible about their method with every thing. So, it was actually beautiful working with them.
For the primary forged, did they have already got individuals in thoughts?
Melissa Kostenbauder: They’d Ike [Barinholtz] in thoughts, and I believe which may have been it. And Seth, clearly.
I believe he was a reasonably sensible choice.
Melissa Kostenbauder: He was nice. I imply, he’s I believe he’s so humorous on this present.
And I believe Ike was good. 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 straightforward to be round. And I believe that simply all the time interprets into his performing. And I simply discover him so watchable. That is such an incredible position for him and I snigger each time I see him on display screen.
There’s that one episode about casting. Did that hit dwelling for you?
Melissa Kostenbauder: Very a lot so. I felt very seen.
But it surely’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 might have felt that both I hadn’t seen or heard of firsthand, or somebody had instructed me, it’s all very plausible. I believe in the event you work on this trade, 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 proper 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 generally we get entangled with. However that one particularly, we actually wished to verify individuals had on set expertise and had labored on some larger reveals, in order that when these kinds of conditions have come up, they might not less than have that foundation of data to work inside that it wouldn’t be like a studying curve.
I really like making an attempt new actors and people who find themselves fascinating and new. I really like that. However on this explicit 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 performing. For self-tapes, what are you in search of? Or not in search of?
Melissa Kostenbauder: 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 in the event you’re standing in entrance of a fridge, so long as I can see you and listen to you, that’s all I would like.
After which efficiency sensible, it’s similar to any audition, simply chill out into it. I believe loads of instances there’s a heightened vitality that comes into an individual earlier than they audition, so I might simply chill out into it and be ready.
I believe when you have these two parts able to go, then when you begin performing, it’ll come throughout much more naturally and much more nuanced.
I’ve all the time wished to ask this query… Are slates actually that essential?
Melissa Kostenbauder: Yeah, they’re. And I do know, they’re terrible and I’m so sorry.
I don’t suppose they must be lengthy. I don’t suppose they must be extra than simply your identify, your peak, possibly the place you’re based mostly.
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 career, 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, you already know, to go together 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 an excellent query. I’ve an actual factor with headshots, as a result of I do suppose they’re essential they usually’re the primary introduction to individuals generally.
I personally like them to be skilled trying. And that doesn’t imply over Photoshop, it simply means like a pleasant photograph of you that just about isn’t making an attempt too arduous. I simply wish to see what you appear like.
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 like. So, in the event you got here in, or if I noticed you in individual, I may very simply assign you to that photograph. Whereas extra instances than not, you wouldn’t imagine that it actually is kind of completely different.
And in addition, I believe actors realizing their model and realizing who they’re, and the place they type of match within the grand scheme of issues is basically essential for a photograph as effectively. Like, let’s say, you’re coming in for a health care provider position as a result of that’s what your photograph type of lends to, and also you’re like actually regular chill, like can’t arise 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 loads of exceptions to the position with all of this, proper? You possibly can definitely get forged in opposition to sort and that’s all very fascinating, however in the event you’re making an attempt to simply guide, assist your self by having a photograph that actually like reveals who you’re and who you’re going to be once you stroll into the room.
Actors with out illustration, what’s one of the simplest ways to form of get in contact with you or have you already know that they exist.
Melissa Kostenbauder: I do know that’s a extremely arduous one, proper? I imply, social media is nice. I all the time say you may e-mail me, but it surely’s robust. I believe you must simply do sufficient analysis to attempt to perceive how the trade works with the intention to put your self into these alternatives after 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 symbolize. I believe it’s only a matter of getting a bundle that represents you effectively, so that you simply’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 lady 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 had been bringing in, but it surely had nothing to do with being in her bra. I all the time suppose fondly about that one.