RUN AT IT SHOUTING

Get an Insight into the Process of Casting Director Des Hamilton!

Des Hamilton is a Glasgow born, London based, Casting Director. He’s worked in film and television for over twenty years, and recently won a BAFTA for Best Casting on Top Boy (this being the first time scripted casting was recognised as a category).

He’s predominantly known for his work on Jojo Rabbit, Four Lions, The King, Bullet Boy, and Claire Denis’ High Life. But it’s his interest in projects regardless of budget or size, as well as his willingness to work with new directors, that sets him apart.

Des and his team have continued to cast via a combination of traditional methods (theatrical agents, drama schools, etc.) and from the street; most notably casting Thomas Turgoose in This is England.

Mike worked at a London agency for 4 years before moving into casting and relocating to Barcelona where he is currently based. He presently works as an associate to Luci Lenox where they cast a variety of projects ranging from independent feature films to international TV series. Recent projects include The One (Netflix), Westworld (HBO), Warrior Nun (Netflix), Hanna (Amazon Prime) among others.

Get an insight into the process of casting director Sophie Kingston-Smith!

Her most notable projects have been with Rose Wicksteed and include TV series Genius: Picasso, (National Geographic), UK casting for Homeland series 8 (Showtime) plus upcoming series The Dropout (Hulu) and Invasion (Apple), both due to air in 2021. Films include The Nun (Warner Bros) and Escape Room (Sony). Sophie has just finished a short film concerning racial stereotypes in modern Britain, and is currently co-casting a socially conscious feature regarding forced marriage and obstetric fistula among young girls. She was also Casting Director on short films Edicius (Crispy Biscuit), Lynch (Oxygene Films) and Mr Whippy (Elation Pictures).

Get an insight into the process of casting director Olivia Brittain!

Olivia Brittain has worked with casting director Jina Jay on film and TV projects for over 8 years, as assistant then associate casting director. During that time she has worked with numerous acclaimed producers and directors. Notable credits include ‘Black Mirror’ and ‘Enola Holmes’ for Netflix, ‘The Night Manager’ and ‘The Little Drummer Girl’ for BBC/AMC, ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ for LucasFilm. Most recently she has worked on the live-action ‘Halo’ series for Showtime as co-casting director and is currently working on her own projects including UK casting for a Netflix South Korea production.

Ceri has worked in Casting for the past four years across TV, Film, Theatre & Commercial projects with Casting Directors; Rachel Freck, Aisha Bywaters, Isabella Odoffin, Rose Wicksteed, Dixie Chassay, Jill Green & Emily Tilelli.

Most recently she has worked as Casting Director on independent feature film MY HOUSE directed by Nick Norman-Butler and alongside Isabella Odoffin on feature film BOXING DAY and TV series THE LAST BUS.

She is currently working alongside Rachel Freck on a new TV comedy project, after previously working with Rachel on Series 3 of the thrilling TIN STAR. Prior to this she worked with Dixie Chassay on feature film LOUIS WAIN, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and with Aisha Bywaters on independent feature films THE LAST TREE, MARI, DIRTY GOD, BODY OF WATER & COUNTY LINES.

Get an insight into the process of casting director Rory Okey!

Rory is a Casting Associate who is currently working at Dan Hubbard Casting. In 2013 Rory started as a studio assistant then studio manager at a casting studio in central London and was lucky enough to work on some incredible feature films, tv shows and commercials that initially ignited his desire to work in casting. After 2 and a half years he moved to Spotlight. He used his time there to meet other casting directors and to use Spotlight's resources to learn as much as he could about the industry and actors.

He left Spotlight after a year and went straight into casting offices working in commercials, tv and film and hasn't stopped since. Notable projects include, Luther (BBC), Good Omens (BBC/AMAZON), Rocketman (PARAMOUNT/MARV FILMS), Men In Black: International (SONY), The Dark Crystal (NETFLIX) Jingle Jangle (NETFLIX) Elizabeth Is Missing (BBC) and Guy Ritchie’s Wrath Of Man (MIRAMAX). Don’t Breathe Sequel (LIONSGATE/SONY)

Luci Lenox is originally from Ireland but has been based in Spain for the last couple of decades. She has cast over 100 productions. She has always combined her career between working on international high budget co-productions with independent films. Her clients include some of Spain's leading independent directors such as Juanma Bajo Ulloa, Benito Zambrano and Isabel Coixet as well as many of the major US studios or platforms, Netflix, Amazon, NBC, ABC.

Recent credits include “Baby” directed by Juanma Bajo Ulloa which has just been released to great critical acclaim and “The Head” (HBO TV series), "Warrior Nun" & "The One" (Netflix TV series). She cast the lead in “Victoria” dir. Sebastian Schipper which is one of Europe’s most successful low-budget independent films.

She founded Frank Stein Studio in 2012 which is a leading training centre for professional actors and which has been the launching pad for many successful careers and which is now operating online, like nearly everything else, with students from all over the world.

Millie is a freelancer working in casting. She started her career with Casting Director Gemma Sykes, after an internship with Dan Hubbard. She then moved over to talent management, and spent nearly two years at Independent Talent Group, before joining Sam Jones Casting at the beginning of 2020. She is currently working on projects for Amazon, ITV, the BBC and The National.

Hayley has worked in casting for over ten years. Her career has been across theatre, film and television and she has worked across many different offices.

Some theatre credits as Casting Director include: Wuthering Heights (Nuffield Southampton) Corpse! ( Park Theatre 2020 to be restaged this summer), Skin In The Game, (Old Red Lion), Black Chiffon (Park Theatre), One For The Road (Jermyn Street Theatre), Frinton Summer Season 2019, Molly Davies’ Chickens (Paines Plough and Eastern Angles), Anya Reiss’ Uncle Vanya with John Hannah in the title role (St James Theatre), Nick Payne's critically acclaimed Incognito (HighTide/Newcastle Live/Bush Theatre); Girl's Guide (HighTide), Stuart: A Life Backwards (Edinburgh/Watford Palace Theatre/Sheffield Crucible); Neighbors (HighTide/Nuffield Southampton); Mudlarks (Bush Theatre); The Tempest Suitcase Shakespeare (RSC); Pitcairn Workshop (Out of Joint/RSC); The Only True History of Lizzie Finn (Southwark Playhouse); Firewatchers (Old Red Lion); Amphibians (The Bridewell) A Midsummer Night's Dream (Wirksworth Festival/Riverside Studios) and casting for West Yorkshire Playhouse's Graduate Programme 2014.

Casting Associate credits: House of Shades (forthcoming Almeida), Romeo and Juliet (Regents Park Open Air forthcoming), Headlong’s Faustus (Lyric Hammersmith and Tour), Shakespeare In Love, (Noel Coward Theatre) Brave New World (Royal and Derngate and tour) and many other productions.

As Casting Director for the Finborough productions include; Facts, the award winning Accolade and FoxFinder, Don Juan, Crush, Rigor Mortis, Fanta Orange, Drama at Inish, Me and Juliet, Love on The Dole, Miss Lilly Gets Boned,The Northerners and numerous Vibrant seasons.

TV credits include: NFTS Screenwriters showcase Soho Theatre, Holby City, Doctors, Casualty, Very Few Fish, Autumn Leaves, Father Brown, The Break, Shakespeare and Hathaway and she is currently working as

Annelie Powell’s associate on Nickelodeon's Goldie’s Oldies.

Olissa Rogers is currently working as a Casting Associate to Fiona Weir. She began working in the industry back in Germany in 2008. She worked there until 2016 mainly on TV Series. In 2016 she met casting director, Jeremy Zimmermann, and went to be casting assistant for him on several films until 2018. She then moved on to become casting assistant to Kharmel Cochrane for commercials and TV/Film projects. In March 2019 Olissa was approached by Theo Park and was working on big TV projects as her associate.