Inside Casting
Why Every Actor Needs a Mother – by Heidi Levitt
Mother’s Day is a day to give flowers, chocolates and greeting cards. Mother’s Day is a day to take your mom out to a nice restaurant. But really, what mother’s truly want is for their kids to be happy….
Read more at Backstage about Why Every Actor Needs a Mother
CreatorUp! The Online Web Series School Features Actor Genie!
CreatorUp! teams with Heidi Levitt to create a series of online tutorials that will help our users get the most they can from Actor Genie. Heidi gives you a little more information about how to stay in the know, how to get cast and how to be an Actor who defines yourself with Actor Genie. Heidi Levitt discusses Actor Genie on CreatorUp!
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Steven Soderbergh – Writer / Director
Steven Soderbergh is an American film producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, editor, and an Academy Award–winning film director. He is best known for directing critically acclaimed Hollywood films like Out of Sight, Erin Brockovich and Traffic, and the remake of Ocean’s Eleven.
Soderbergh has made big-budget Hollywood films as well as art-house independent films; works with above-the-title movie stars and unknowns; directs adaptations and original material, both of which written by himself as well as other screenwriters. His versatility is also apparent with the genres which he chooses to film and his trades as a filmmaker behind the scenes. Traffic screenwriter and Syriana director Stephen Gaghan named Soderbergh “the Michael Jordan of filmmaking” for his ability to assume so many distinct roles in film production. Read about his experiences in the industry, a movie versus cinema, and the current state of cinema. Steven Soderbergh | The State of Cinema Video & Transcript
Up and Comers
We put together a small list of our favorite up and comers to look out for.
To learn more about these actors, click on their names.
Billy Magnussen
Tony nominated for Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Soko
French actress starring in Augustine
Annaleigh Ashford
Tony nominated for Kinky Boots
William Levy
Latino soap star crossing over
Rebecca Jenkins
Loved her in Stories We Tell
Mickey Sumner
Check out this great new actress, starring in Frances Ha.
Miles Teller
Starring in 21 and Over, as well as The Spectacular Now with Shailene Woodley
The Artist
Casting a silent film in black and white was like no other experience I ever had and it was a complete joy to be able to take cast so many great character actors in this film. I will never forget the look of the actors who came into audition who just weren’t sure what to do with the “silent” part. It was a complete thrill to see them come dressed in character and then to guide them through the scenes. We got them to relax into the character and not worry about the “silence,” while we turned the sound off, and turned the camera to black and white when we watched the auditions. Check out this article from The New York Times about the process.
Angel Heart
This was my first film casting experience. As an assistant I was assigned to research the world of jazz and blues musicians to find a key character in the film. I met and auditioned living legends all over the country including BB King, Ornette Coleman, Johnny Lee Hooker, Dizzie Gillespie and many more.Ultimately we ended up casting the legendary blues guitarist Brownie McGhee. During this experience I also became the extras casting director for the Lousiana portion of film. I found craw fisherman in the Bayou, Voo doo dancers, musicians and a host of other amazing faces that Alan Parker used so beautifully to paint the landscape of this film.
Evita
When Oliver Stone was going to direct EVITA, he sent me to discover the real “Latin” Evita. I went on an amazing casting journey from New York and Miami to Mexico, Argentina, Spain and London. I met singers, dancers and performers who had never auditioned for a Hollywood film before. Along the way I discovered the talents of Catherine Zeta Jones, who at then time was a stage actress, a Spanish pop singer and a complete unknown at an open call in Buenos Aires. Ultimately, Oliver never directed this film and Madonna played Evita, but my journey on the film was unforgettable.
Chinese Box
After having cast THE JOY LUCK CLUB (another amazing casting experience), as well as the wonderful film SMOKE and BLUE IN THE FACE, I had the privilege to dig deeper with Wayne. I co-produced and cast CHINESE BOX, which chronicled the changeover of Hong Kong from Great Britain to China. It was certainly a casting challenge to work in Hong Kong where finding the best supporting actors was as complicated and fulfilling a task as finding the best Peking Duck. Simply said, it was finding out where to go and who to ask and then to ask again and again.
Heaven and Earth
We (Risa Bramon Garcia, Billy Hopkins and myself) scouted the United States for nine months searching for Vietnamese actors to play most of the principal roles in this film. Oliver Stone was completely open to non-professionals so we held numerous open calls. These open calls were amazing and inspiring. We found immigrants who wanted to share their stories and life experience with us. They were open hearted and full of life. Some barely spoke English at all but managed to do the best improvisations you could imagine. The lead, Hiep Thi Le was a pre-med student at UC Davis when we cast her. I remember the minute I saw her audition, I knew she had the power to carry the film.
Don’t Come Knocking
It took almost two and a half years to cast this film. Collaborating with Wim was, as always, rewarding. The script evolved and the characters became more and more defined. The search for the actors to play Sam Shepard’s children and mother was just as much about finding the truth in the character as matching them to Sam. Together with Ssam, the family cast was Jessica Lange, Sarah Polley, Gabe Mann and the sublime Eva Marie Saint.
Projects
5 to 7 - Casting Director
Feature Film
Victor Levin - Director
Bonnie Curtis, Julie Lynn - Producers
Starring: Anton Yelchin, Berénice Marlohe, Lambert Wilson, Olivia Thirlby, Frank Langella and Glenn Close
In New York, aspiring novelist (Anton Yelchin) has a cinq-a-sept affair (5 to 7 is the afternoon time and acceptable code for a marital affair among a certain set of Parisians) with the beautiful wife of a French diplomat. Cultures, world views, personal ethics and dietary preferences clash as love deepens, with remarkable results. Let’s just say that, in the end, everyone does the right thing and we have a lot of fun getting there. Starts Late May 2013 in New York City.
Every Thing Will Be Fine- Casting Director
Feature Film
Wim Wenders - Director
Gian-Piero Ringel - Producer
Bjorn-Olaf Johannessen - Writer
Starring - James Franco
Every Thing Will Be Fine is a family drama, unraveling over the course of 12 years. A story of guilt and forgiveness, and of accepting things you cannot change anymore. The film will be shot in 3D. Casting is underway.
START DATE: Mid-August 2013
SHOOTING LOCATION: Montreal, Canada
Nina – Casting Director
Feature Film
Cynthia Mort - Writer / Director
Ben Latham Jones, Barnaby Thompson, Stuart Parr - Producers
Starring: Zoe Saldana, David Oeylowo
Nina tells the story of the legendary great soul singer, Nina Simone and her relationship with her manager Clifton. It is not strictly a biopic, but rather a portrait of an icon whose talent and passion took the world by storm. She was an iconic musician, but also a woman who represented “women” in their quest to be heard and appreciated equally. Nina’s talent was huge and like many artists her inner demons also shaped her life and career.
Chavez – Casting Director / Associate Producer
Feature Film – Participant Media
Diego Luna - Director
Pablo Cruz, Diego Luna, Gael Garcia Bernal, Lianne Halfon, John Malkovich, Larry Meli, and Russell Smith - Producers
Starring: Michael Pena, America Ferrera, Rosario Dawson
Chavez is the biopic story of legendary farmworker and labor leader, César E. Chavez. It follows the struggles and triumphs he underwent to reinforce non-violence in a labor movement that mobilized an industry. Over the period of 8 years, Chavez rises as a charismatic leader and builds a strong force alongside fellow activist Dorlores Huerta (Rosario Dawson), and others to start a wave ending the largest strike in the history of U.S. labor. This story takes you on a journey through the struggles, resistance and ultimate triumph faced by César Chavez.
Look of Love – Casting Director
Feature Film
Arie Posin - Writer / Director
Julie Lynn, Bonnie Curtis - Producers
Starring: Annette Bening, Ed Harris, Robin Williams
Five Years Ago, Nikki’s (Annette Bening) husband passed away in a tragic accident unable to move forward. Nikki lives in a cocoon state, stuck in the mire of missing her one true love. Then, one random day, she sees Tom (Ed Harris); who is almost an exact replica of her late husband (Ed Harris)…
The Young and Prodigious Spivet – Casting Director
Feature Film
Jean Pierre-Jeunet - Director
Francis Boespflug, Frédéric Brillion, Suzanne Girard, Jean Pierre-Jeunet, Gilles LeGrand, Tyler Thompson - Producers
Starring: Helena Bonham Carter, Judy Davis, Callum Keith Rennie and Kyle Catlett
Based on the best selling novel by Reif Larson comes Jean Pierre-Jeunet’s (Amelie) next film about a young cartographer enthusiast who embarks on a journey that might allow him to finally understand how the world really works.
Cooktales – Casting Director
Feature Film
Gina Kim- Writer / Director
CJ Entertainment, Steven Nam- Producer
Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Chin Han, Bobby Lee and Henry Lau
In an attempt to piece back his grandfather’s restaurant, a young promising chef Mark decides to participate in a food competition that involves participants from all over the world.
Exiles on Main Street - Producer
LG Productions
Heidi Levitt, Alex Gibney - Producers
This project is a strong passion of mine. It will be a series of short films for television that I have developed. The series deals with culture clash and immigrant struggles in America and abroad. Each film will be directed by a renown director, including Wayne Wang, Mira Nair, Sherman Alexie, Isabel Coixet, etc, who will bring his or her own unique “outsider” experience to the project. Films will be based on short stories by great writers including, Robert Olen Butler, Jumpha Lahiri, Sherman Alexie, Z.Z. Packer, K. Kvashay-Boyle, among many others.
Actor Genie - Your GPS for Hollywood
Actor Genie 2.4 Released! – New Features!
Heidi Levitt – Creator
Lauren Fernandes – Director of Development
We recently added a new video feature on Actor Genie where you can record and tell us why you want to be an actor! Also register with the Genie to receive updates and promos. Actor Genie is the only App with Hollywood insider information on what’s casting in Film and TV in New York and LA. The Actor Genie YouTube Channel
“Walking Back to Happiness
Ginger and Rosa - Executive Producer / Casting Director
Feature Film
Ginger and Rosa Official Trailer
Sally Potter - Writer / Director
Christopher Shepard - Producers
Biorn Olaf Johannessen - Writer
Starring: Elle Fanning, Alice Englert, Annette Bening, Alessandro Nivola and Christina Hendricks
The story of two 15-year-old girl best friends. One of whom starts an affair with the other’s father. The year is 1961, the setting is bohemian London, the backdrop is “Ban the Bomb”, and the music is Helen Shapiro “Walking Back to Happiness.”
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About Heidi
Heidi Levitt has cast such successful films as “The Artist,” “JFK,” “Nixon,” “Natural Born Killers,” “Nurse Betty,” “The Rock,” “The Joy Luck Club,” “Smoke,” and “Lakeview Terrace,” and many more plays, commercials and TV series. She served as a producer on the feature films such as, “Center of the World,” and “The Chinese Box” both directed by Wayne Wang, “Coastlines,” directed by Victor Nunez and Heidi wrote the story for and produced, “Delivering Milo,” starring Anton Yelchin, Bridget Fonda and Albert Finney.
In 2009 , Heidi cast and executive produced, “The High Cost of Living,” directed by Deborah Chow, which won best first feature at TIFF and was released by Tribeca Films and in 2010 she exec produced and cast Magnolia Pictures release, “I Melt With You,” directed by Mark Pellington. In 2012, Heidi cast and executive produced “Ginger and Rosa,” directed by Sally Potter, that premiered at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival and the AFI Film Festival. It will be released by A24 Films early in 2013. Most recently she cast two ambitious indie feature biopics , “Chavez,” directed by the actor/director Diego Luna and “Nina,” a biopic about Nina Simone, directed by writer/director Cynthia Mort. She is currently casting the film “Everything Will Be Fine,” directed by Wim Wenders.
In addition to casting Heidi is developing the series of one hour films, “Exiles on Main Street,” with Oscar winning documentary film maker, Alex Gibney. The series is comprised of stories about immigrants, culture clash and the American Dream, all based on award winning short stories by noted authors such as Sherman Alexie, Robert Olen Butler, ZZ Packer and K Kvashay-Boyle.
Last and most importantly, Heidi’s passion for information and technology led her to create Actor Genie, which is available on iTunes and Android. Actor Genie is a Mobile App that is an essential tool in Hollywood. It tells what’s casting and who’s who and has loads of inspiring quotes from well know actors, directors, writers and offers tips on the best acting coaches and much more.
Featured Films
Nina Simone – Cynthia Mort, Dir
Chavez – Diego Luna, Dir
Ginger & Rosa – Sally Potter, Dir
The Artist – Michel Hazanavicius, Dir
I Melt With You – Mark Pellington, Dir
Mother and Child – Rodrigo Garcia, Dir
Sympathy for Delicious – Mark Ruffalo, Dir
Lakeview Terrace – Neil LaBute, Dir
My Life Without Me – Isabel Coxiet, Dir
Nurse Betty – Neil LaBute, Dir
The Rock – Michael Bay, Dir
Nixon – Oliver Stone, Dir
Million Dollar Hotel – Wim Wenders, Dir
Natural Born Killers – Oliver Stone, Dir
The Joy Luck Club – Wayne Wang, Dir
JKF – Oliver Stone, Dir
Benny & Joon – Jeremiah Chechik, Dir
And Others…
Download a Full List of Heidi’s Credits
Producing
Chavez – Associate Producer
Ginger and Rosa – Executive Producer
I Melt With You – Executive Producer
The High Cost of Living – Executive Producer
The Open Road - Executive Producer
Sunshine Superman (in development) – Producer
Exiles on Main St. (in development) – Producer
Under Still Waters - Co-Producer
Fido – Co-Producer
Coastlines - Associate Producer
Delivering Milo – Co-Producer, Storywriter
Interstate 60 - Co-Producer
The Chinese Box – Co-Producer
Center of the World - Co-Producer
Download a Full List of Heidi’s Credits
Television
Saving Hope (Canadian Series) – Thump / CTV
Hunt for Justice (Movie of the Week) – Gala Films / CTV
Wanted (CBS Pilot) - Warner Brothers / CBS
Sullivan Street (WB Pilot) – Warner Brothers / WB
Brimstone (ABC Series) - Warner Brothers / ABC
Excellent Cadavers (HBO Movie) – HBO
The Wedding (ABC Movie of the Week) - Harpo Productions
Class of ’96 (FOX Series) - ABC Productions
TV Nation (Pilot) - Michael Moore, Creator / Tri-Star TV
Grand (NBC Series) - Carsey-Werner / NBC
Download a Full List of Heidi’s Credits
Commercials
Transamerica – Janusz Kaminski, Dir
Tropicana – Paul Weiland, Dir
Hyundai – Lenny Dorfman, Dir
GE Capital - Lenny Dorfman, Dir
McDonalds – Lenny Dorfman, Dir
Volvo - Lenny Dorfman, Dir
And others…
Theater
Helter Skelter (w Ron Eldard and Kate Behan) – Neil LaBute, Writer / Director
Restoration – Christopher Ashley, Dir / Claudia Shear, Writer
Wrecks – Neil LaBute, Writer / Director
La Jolla Playhouse – Christopher Ashley, Michael Grief, Annie Hamburger, Artistic Directors
ACT Seattle - Gordon Edelstein, Artistic Dir
