Recently I stumbled across an article and a video of David Rubin giving his thoughts  on casting. Who is David Rubin? David Rubin is an American casting director who has been President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 2019. His resume includes “Gravity,” “Men in Black,” “Hairspray,” and much more.

Rubin said: “The most important thing for an actor to bring to the table is themselves, their own idiosyncrasy.” He continued that so many actors occupy their thoughts with what they think the filmmaker is looking for.

As a result, this causes actors to try to be something they are not. This completely takes the actor down the wrong path,  because as Rubin puts it “Frankly what we’re looking for is them [the actor’s individuality]”

On the character’s description: Sometimes writers do write a very specific description of the characters, but as a casting director, Rubin said that the first thing he does is forget those descriptions. He said that writers write those descriptions for the studio executive or the financier rather than directors and casting directors. Rubin believes that diversity during casting results in different approaches to the same character.

Interestingly, Rubin also said that this happened more regularly “after the demise of the studio system when studios no longer had actors under contract.”The relation is rather clear: once studios no longer have contract actors, they no longer have a limited mindset such as using their own product for lower cost, favouritism and the mindset for nurturing them to generate income. Instead, it allows any actors with a creative approach to an available role to give it a go.

As a result, the casting directors will get to see a character being portrayed in a variety of ways. Undoubtedly, this helps the industry to expand with new faces as well as create a stronger piece of art with a more fitting or more adventurous actor. That’s how an industry thrives! You have got to always be on the lookout for something better, something different, something adventurous and exciting. That’s how it should be. Oh, also Rubin said that “sometimes when an actor comes in and they give what they think is a botched audition. … often those are the most illuminating auditions to me.” So…don’t beat yourself up if you think you bottled up your audition. For all you know, it could work in your favour!