Ep 64: Carol Goldwasser, Casting Director

Ever wonder what goes through a casting director’s mind when you are in the audition room?

You’re in luck, because today my guest on the Hometown to Hollywood podcast is independent casting director Carol Goldwasser.

Carol has worked in casting for over twenty years in Los Angeles and New York. She's cast actors who have received Kid's and Teen Choice Awards, Imagen Awards, Young Artist Awards, and Emmy Award nominations for their roles. Her series work includes a lot of work for Disney and Nickelodeon: "Austin & Ally, "Dog with a Blog," "I'm in the Band" and "Hannah Montana."

Carol also assembled a rotating cast for "Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays." The play won an L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award for Unique Theatrical Event. She has been nominated for eleven Casting Society of America Artios Awards for excellence in casting, winning the honor twice, and was a Heller Award nominee for Television Casting Director of the year. Carol is a member of the Television Academy and the Casting Society of America.

We explore how she started in casting, what she’s looking for, the differences between casting a pilot vs. casting guest stars, approaches for auditions, advice for self-tapes, the role of parents in the success of young actors, and much more.

Some of my favorite quotes from this episode:

“Sometimes it’s what you decide, but it’s also what fate puts in front of you.”

“You already have people that you want to bring in. But then you expand the process.”

“If I feel like someone is talented, we keep trying them.”

“Sometimes what you see in the room at a callback is not as good as on the self-tape…you don’t know what that whole package is until you call them into a room.”

“High energy, good diction, no props!”

“It would be great if people would come in and swing from the fences from the get-go.”

“Talent is great, but you also have to be able to deliver consistently.”

“Do your homework and realize the difference between (acting) styles.”

“It’s not personal. It’s about the person who can do the job the best.”

“Don’t ignore those stage directions… there’s a reason they’re there. It’s the architecture.”

“It’s so important to have the parental and emotional support.”

“Being well-prepared is great… equally important is being malleable.”

You can see more of Carol’s casting credits here on IMDb.

There is always more to success in the world of professional acting than meets the eye—this is why it’s so helpful to have some inside guidance. Start the New Year off right and book a consultation with me today! Just an hour with me can provide direction, peace of mind, and an action plan. I look forward to helping you!