AICE Media Production Blog: Casting!

 

Casting was one of the most important steps in bringing my film to life, so I started by making a list of roles and the qualities I needed for each character. Since I wanted to work with people I trusted, I decided to cast from my group of friends. I reached out to those who had acting experience first, but I also encouraged others who were interested in trying it out. 

After explaining the project, I held a casual read-through to see who fit each role best. Some of my friends surprised me with their performances, making the casting decisions harder than I expected. I made sure to consider reliability just as much as acting ability since I needed people who would commit to the schedule. Once I finalized the cast, I created a group chat to keep everyone updated and organized. Scheduling was tricky, but I found a way to balance everyone’s availability with the production timeline. To help my cast feel prepared, I shared the script early and set up rehearsal sessions. 

During rehearsals, I worked with each actor to refine their performances and make sure they felt comfortable in their roles. Some scenes required extra practice, so I scheduled one-on-one sessions to focus on specific moments. I also encouraged my friends to bring their own ideas to their characters, which added depth to the performances. Memorizing lines was a challenge for some, so I helped by running lines with them whenever possible. When filming started, I saw how important chemistry was, and I was grateful to have chosen people who worked well together. 

Unexpected issues came up, like last-minute conflicts, but my cast was flexible and willing to make adjustments. Communication was key, so I kept everyone in the loop about any changes. Seeing my friends bring my script to life was one of the most rewarding parts of the process. Their dedication and enthusiasm made all the hard work worth it. Casting from my friend group not only made production smoother but also made the entire experience more enjoyable.