“Tonight’s winner for the Oscars goes to Double R Productions.” OK, maybe I’m over-exaggerating with the Oscars, but hear me out. This week I experienced my very first casting call. I never realized how extensive selecting actors could be. Maybe I won’t judge Nicholas Cage and his acting abilities anymore after realizing how difficult acting truly is.
The actors and actresses, or in showbiz “talent,” arrived with catfish smiles and an array of personalities. My fellow interns and I provided water for them and conversed casually, just to ease some nerves. Rosemary was adamant on finding the right match. “They need to be good!” she explained. Double R has an insert studio, a unique service I enjoy. The size of the insert studio is perfect for a casting call. It’s not too big to be intimidating and not too small to feel constricted.
On behalf of Maslow Media Group, Double R is producing a PSA about credit unions for NCUA. The goal to find a perfect portrayal of a grandfather and granddaughter was met. The talent read the script days before and memorized it. With the camera rolling and the actors gearing up for the shoot, it was time for the fun to begin! The actors in character were a sight to see. Their facial expressions were spot on. Some stumbled over lines, but that’s to be expected. Although exceptional acting was a good trait to have, we also searched for those who had chemistry. Once the talents said their goodbyes, the Double R team gathered around to deliberate and decide who out of the 12 actors would be the candidate. This was the most difficult part of the process. How can we narrow down such amazing talent? Opinions flew around the room until we came to a final decision. Rosemary swiveled around her chair with coffee in her hand and said, “We found our pair!” I truly felt like I was a part of the team in that moment. I might just be an intern, but my opinion weighed equally with everyone else. Who knows? The talent we chose could be the next Tom Cruise or Halle Berry! It was the granddaughter’s first acting gig. Better yet, they might be able to get an Oscar for this shoot! Okay, I’m over-exaggerating again but one can still dream. Hopefully they will look back and say they started here at Double R Productions. I think Rosemary would gladly accept an Oscar on Double R’s behalf.
-Robert Woods
