In the wake of discussions revolving around diversity in Hollywood–which many credit to the most recent #OscarsSoWhite but in truth has been a long-standing issue in the industry since well before this year–several casting directors from shows like Mr. Robot, UnREAL and Master of None sat down with Deadline to discuss their role in the process of making television and how equal representation can be made more of a priority.
Casual‘s John Papsidera made the point that when it comes to picking actors, diversity has to be incorporated from the beginning of the process and not an afterthought: “For me, it goes back to writers, showrunners and producers, because ultimately, we can open up that box, but they have to take the present. A lot of it comes down to what’s on the page. It has to start there for it to really change.”
Narcos‘ Carla Hool agreed: “[At] the end of the day, it’s going to be the producers and the director who are going to decide who they want to cast. We do give our opinions and bring in actors who would fit the role, even if they were considering the role to be white.”
The discussion turned to the idea of shows that are set in “melting pot cities”, which also open up the door for more inclusiveness in terms of casting diversity. Barbara Fiorentino, who began her career on The Shield and now works on UnREAL, emphasized the importance of truthfully representing a city in terms of its diverse population–whether it’s set in L.A. or New York.
You can read the entire interview with these six casting directors at Deadline. It’s a fascinating look at the process and really interesting to learn where some of these casting directors originally got their start before working on the shows they’re involved with now.
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