This week, we get a glimpse into the fascinating world of Bill Dance, a legendary casting director who is also a former Broadway actor and dancer with an impressive resume that includes iconic movies like "A Beautiful Mind," "Fight Club," "Angels & Demons" and "Westworld." In this inspiring episode, Bill shares his journey from acting on screen to casting with an emphasis on background acting, offering insights into the making of blockbuster movies like this summer's "Barbie."

 

With the industry embracing AI and computer-generated films, Bill and Kenya talk about the challenge of preserving the soul of an actor in this ever-evolving world. They discuss the importance of exposing oneself to theater and observing performances to build a solid foundation as an actor and work on one’s artistry. Amidst the ongoing industry strike, Bill offers valuable advice for actors at all levels and some encouragement and insider tips to make the most of challenging times.

 

Also Talked About:

 

• Bill’s journey into a successful career as an actor before casting. He attended UCLA and also achieved a lead role in a Broadway production called “Gene Kelly’s Salute to Broadway” at just 24 years old.

• The significance of not only getting mentors, classes, and studying classics but also being a viewer and consumer of theater is to enhance your acting skills and to more deeply understand and appreciate the craft.

• Bill shares his thoughts on the impact of artificial intelligence in acting and the challenge of maintaining the human soul in performances.

• What can a young actor do now and moving forward while we remain on strike?

• The importance of bringing a human element and freshness to performances, drawing the audience into the character's world, and making acting feel real and touching. One great recent example of this is “Oppenheimer” and the actor Cillian Murphy staying in character on set even when not directly filming.

• The role of casting directors is to collaborate with actors to bring out their full potential and to offer cues and guidance to enhance actors' portrayals during auditions.

• The value of training, studying, and exposing oneself to classical works to tap into emotions and self-expression during auditions.

• Kenya talks about how British film and acting help serve as an artistic inspiration.

• Cultivating a successful acting career involves embracing challenges, pain, and emotional growth, rather than seeking quick fixes.

• The question on everyone’s mind this summer: what was it like helping to cast Barbie?

 

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Source & Cast

Kenya: IG 

 

Guest:

Bill: Website