A Conversation with Casting Director and Podcast Host, Jennifer Presser CSA

1. Jenn, you have worked on many award-winning films and series and have been nominated and won awards for your work. You have your own casting company BREAKAWAY CASTING, which you started in 2019. How did your career in casting start?I fell into it. I thought I wanted to be a producer and I went to college in Nashville, Tennessee, and completed internships and stuff to get experience thinking I wanted to take that producer route. I then made all these contacts, and right before I graduated a PA reached out to me and said ‘Hey there’s this movie coming to Nashville, here’s their email address, you should send in your resume.’ This movie ended up being the Hannah Montana Movie of all things!
   I sent in my resume for the producer’s assistant and casting assistant, and I wanted the producer’s assistant… so, of course, I got the casting assistant! I’ve never been in front of the camera, so it felt a little uncomfortable for me at first. I had two bosses on this job, and they each took me to different movies and shows and for about four years. I did dabble in other parts of production such as props and wardrobe but kept falling into casting. Therefore, I moved to LA and decided to go all in.
2. Back when you were learning your craft, in an industry which is in some ways constrained – how did you find yourself and your flow?Honestly, I remember I didn’t work for six months when first moved there because it was hard to kind of break into that casting mould. One of my old bosses was living in LA, so she introduced me to one of her old bosses who hired me and then subsequently fired me out of nowhere for ‘not needing me anymore’.However, that did buy me my first credit which led me to my first real Boss MARSHA ROSS, who was phenomenal. I was working on Pilot Season when that was still a thing, and it was treacherous for casting. We were fighting over in-demand actors and going to all these different places working on about 20 shows, it’s now only around 4!
   I worked with her for about three years and then she decided to retire, and I cried because I loved her so much and she was such a mentor. She referred me to work with two of her other friends, and then I started my own casting company BREAKAWAY CASTING.I took something from each office about what I wanted to create. The most important thing to me is being nice to people. I think the older generation of casting directors rose at a time when casting was very much overlooked, and they got treated poorly which emulated into the casting offices. I always thought, if I was lucky enough to have my own office, I would treat everybody well and create a more positive environment.
3. Casting is one of the most important parts of a production. How does casting in a production
   translate directly to the audience and improve the audience’s experience?We are the first ones on a film or TV show, so we are the first visual creatives. Casting is written about so much in ‘Deadline’ and ‘Variety’ magazine etc, and how so-and-so did an amazing job, so it really does set the tone of a movie and how well the movie does. The casting director knows who is going to likely thrive in certain dramas or comedies. Our job is to see the uniqueness of each actor and then present this to a director and producer.If you think of your favourite movies or TV shows, and think about the chemistry of the entire cast, if one cast changed – would that change the tone of the production? When you look at FRIENDS, I believe Courtney Cox originally read for the role of RACHEL. But most viewers of the show couldn’t even think about her as Rachel, it would change the whole feel. I think casting has a massive influence over the final production, if you do not have the right chemistry or the right level of talent, it will change the entire feel of the final production
4. When you receive a script, do you have a certain process that you follow?I am very nondescript in my head, when reading a script, unless it’s obvious. For example, if it’s a villain that looks just like William Dafoe you can automatically picture it in your head! I usually gain a general idea of what I think they will look like and then after that I pull from both my just my knowledge and my casting program on my computer to obtain options. From there, it depends on their budget level and what kind of level of actor you can go after, whether that be a big movie star or somebody more niche. I always try to find people that I feel would either respond well to the role or could also just possibly be a good fit. I also like to suggest unknowns if they are willing to take a chance on an actor.
5. There are many ways casting directors are recognized for their work. One of which being awarded by societies they belong to. You have been nominated by Casting Society of America for the ARTIOS AWARD in 2019, 2021 and 2022. How does it feel to be nominated for your work?It is exciting! At first, I was never put on the awards, as I was just an associate – even if I had worked hard on it. So, the first time I was nominated was for a film that I had done on my own, it felt good.forgotten about, therefore when you do get a nomination for something, it is great validation and a confidence boost.
6. Productions are collaborations, and people who work in the industry often say how important it is to understand how the whole process works, not just their specific job. Your Podcast TIPSY CASTING, produced by yourself and Jessica Sherman, another established casting director started this podcast to give the listener a realistic and honest insight into what goes on behind casting our favourite films and TV shows from your real-life experiences and stories. You have also involved your love of cocktails. Can you tell us about the PODCAST?Yeah, so pretty much we started it all based on frustration. We were tired of casting voices not being heard. I feel a lot of people turned against casting during the pandemic because the producers and directors were asking all demands of us, but we could not see actors in person. Then on the flip side, we had actors who were being bombarded with self-tapes and all these requests.
   Jess and I were acquaintances before the pandemic, and I had met her at casting events. She came to visit me in Nashville one day, and that’s where our friendship started. Turned out, we were working the same showrunner at the same time, and we never realised.I started noticing her coming out of her shell and being a bit vocal about how and what we saw happening in the industry, and she then asked me if I would be open to doing a PODCAST.We wanted people to understand the casting process because most misinformation that comes out is people not understanding what we do day in and out. The name TIPSY CASTING came from her commenting on one of my posts on my business Instagram account, where I post ‘Tips from casting’. Jess pointed out it looks like TIPSY CASTING, making a great name for a podcast! We loved the idea of creating a podcast which would disarm the audience, all while enjoying a cocktail, which Jess and I enjoy! We wanted people to know we are not here to ruin your lives and judge you, we are normal.
7. Since the pandemic, auditions have shifted significantly from in-person to self-tape. What is your preference as a casting director what do you look for in a self-tape and what would be your advice to actors to nail their self-tape?I think London and LA are very different in this respect. I think in LA, self-tapes are there to stay, especially for the first round. However, in London, it seems to be going back to in-person. I much prefer in-person auditions, especially being in a new country. You gain a greater insight into how an actor works when you are with them in person.Before COVID, self-tapes were very frowned upon in LA. However, due to LA becoming so expensive to live in, along with all the crime and homelessness, self-tapes will be there to stay in that respect. However, I do think callbacks or recalls and chemistry reads will still happen in person in the States.
8. Jenn, you moved from LA to LDN recently. How do you compare the industries in both LA and London, what are the key differences and similarities?I love it here. I don’t ever want to go back to LA. I think the industry here is a purer and more genuine one. The actors here have a genuine love of their craft. Aside from the acting side, even the producers and directors seem more open and honest. In LA, you are often told ‘I want to help you’ and then you never hear from them. Even getting someone to meet you for a coffee is like pulling teeth in LA. But here, someone might tell you you’re not the quite right fit for what they are looking for, but they will keep you in mind for other things – and it’s so refreshing! I think people here make films and TV because they love it.
   

@tipsycasting
@breakawaycasting
Reporter: Gemma Gordon