Do you ever think about whom you would love to see starring one of your screenplays? I just finished one with what would be a very demanding part for a teenager. I was thinking whom I would love to play the part, and the first person to come to mind was Milly Bobby Brown. Emma Roberts would be my protagonist, a school teacher who takes the above-mentioned teenager under her wing and it almost destroys her.
Screenwriting : Dream Casting. by Steven M. Cross
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Awhile back I wrote a Paranormal/Comedy around R. Lee Ermey's marine character. He loved it, signed on and then he died as we went into pre. I've never had an Actor actually die for a part before; now that's real dedication.
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Steven, I sure DO think about casting when it comes to my own screenplays...and ever since I jumped onto Prewrite and ScriptHop (two sites that encourage screenwriters/TV writers to think about casting), I've been running wild.
Because of those two Websites, I got to wondering how Quvenzhane Wallis would look playing Gayle Strawberry...or how "Tin Mine" would work out with Debby Ryan as Babs and Emily Osment portraying Sue Ellen.
And how about Will Forte as Joseph in "Got Any More Bullets, Sister?" (Okay, it'd be a small role compared to Allie DeBerry's Florence and Jenna Boyd's Ellen, but...)
All the VERY BEST to you, Steven...especially with your Milly Bobby Brown-Emma Roberts script!
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Timothy Olyphant as a death row inmate in “Guilty Man Innocent Mind”.
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Not for my feature films, but I have thought about who I would cast for my pilot shows, such as Patrick Warburton, Courtney Cox, Nolan Gould, Hayley Orrantia for a family sitcom.
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Years ago I wrote a comedy in the vein of The Jerk specifically writing the main character to be played by Artie Lange. If I ever wanted to make something of it I'd have to do a total rewrite (Artie is now far passed the age where he would make sense to play this character). I will often create a character and then later think about what actors would be able to play them in the manner I envision or at least bring an interesting take to the role (this is mostly focused around comic delivery/mood setting).
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I am more about directors than stars.
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Steven...Very interesting concept. When I get a story idea, even before I've developed the concept, I scour my brain for who will play who. I download the images of each character. In my writing process, the images are everything. On one monitor, images of every character (less minor or extras) and on the other, I write.
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I often in the early stages picture a particular actor/actress playing a role.But during the writing process the character takes on a life of their own.At least I hope they do.
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100% I think about who could play the character. I am new to this. Happy to meet all of you.
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It's always extremely beneficial to have a crystal clear image of the principal characters in your script. I always urge my writing students to do that. If it's easier to envision an existing actor who embodies the persona you're trying to create then do so. Anything to get that complete picture in your head. The character should always dictate the decision though. The odds are less than zero the actor you have in mind will play the part, but it will help bring your script to life. Obviously, it can be a fun "what if" daydream to cast your script, even though it's likely no actor you thought of who will ultimately bring their own magic and spin to the role (or not if it gets miscast).
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Absolutely, that's one of the funnest parts for me... Like naming a baby...
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No. I create the characters, casting them is somebody else's job.
The actor plays the character, the character doesn't play the actor.
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Casting is within my remit since I'm producing too now. I also think it's savvy on a writers part to have an idea of who's out there because, if you connect with an indie outfit, you may be able to really help out and jump up the ladder (if that's your goal).
I'm seeing more and more evidence that decision makers want to see dream casting as a quick way to evaluate the type of lead characters being presented in a project.
Also, if you respect the influence of star power on a production's appeal and viability, you're rightfully going to get excited about attaching someone you consider a star. That's just good business sense if nothing else.
As some of you know, I woke up one morning in 2019 and found out I was writing some scenes for Charlie Sheen to consider. Then Steve Guttenberg was cast in a movie I'd written via a conversation that had come about through Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Since then, I've been through all sorts of relationships with names I never thought I'd get close to. I currently have a very high profile actor attached to a project I'm a writer-producer on that I've fawned over for years. If it hadn't been for Covid, I would have been making a movie with her back last spring/summer which blows my mind.
It's weird how fast your material can start circulating with what people consider "the elite" and that can bring about a lot of mixed feelings and potential pitfalls. It can make you very self conscious and fuel imposter syndrome. It can create a difficult power balance. It can lead to feeling that you've failed if they don't attach themselves. It can sink a project if you overvalue someone. I've also heard countless horror stories from people who have met their heroes. There can be an element of "careful of what you wish for".
Ultimately you become indifferent to it (if you've got any sense) which can baffle your friends and family who aren't as hardened to it.
What can be just as special is discovering someone on the up and up who deserves to be better known or needs a vehicle that better represents them. That can form a particularly special bond.
Something I encourage all aspiring screenwriters to do is to be open to talent that's unknown to them and avoid any elitist aspirations because that's exactly what they are asking for the industry for themselves.
Absolutely brother. I have my ideal actor in mind. Male or female. I never let it dictate my writing of course, staying as true to the character as possible. But it’s fun to dream...they have been known to come true from time to time.
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While I try not to cast in my head, since the odds of my ideal choice are a bit low, I admit that I do end up casting most of the major characters anyway!
I always cast my main characters. Perhaps some would think I carry it too far, but we all have to create in a way most conducive to us, right? I search through hundred of photos. Listen to their voices, check out how they look alongside each other, and the list goes on....
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Tray Powell, I thought I was the only one who did that!