What’s the best way for actors to work with casting? Casting Director and CGA President Thea McLeod joins How We Role to share practical advice on enhancing this collaboration in a digital age.
Thea McLeod is one of Australia’s most respected casting directors, widely recognised for her extraordinary eye for talent across mediums.
For more than fourteen years, Thea served as casting director of the long-running and beloved soap opera Neighbours, helping to launch and nurture generations of performers from Margot Robbie to Liam Hemsworth.
In recent years, Thea has expanded her creative reach into producing, working on the Netflix original Measure For Measure, starring Hugo Weaving, which received multiple AACTA recognitions and widespread critical praise. Thea is currently casting Guy Pearce’s highly anticipated supernatural thriller Poor Boy in addition to other ventures.
A tireless advocate for her profession, Thea is in her fourth year as President of the Casting Guild of Australia. She is also the founder of the AACTA Young Stars initiative, helping create real pathways between emerging talent and world-leading casting directors.
Together, Thea and I explore the ins and outs of the the actor-casting director dynamic. She graces us with a treasure trove of wisdom from specific self tape tips to how to really take an acting note. Be sure to share this one with an actor friend!
This episode is a treasure trove of creative wisdom, covering:
- How creatives can thrive with a community-driven mindset.
- Tips for protecting your mental health in an unstable business.
- How to make strong acting choices while staying true to the script and tone.
- Little self-tape upgrades that make a big difference
- Why receiving notes is a good thing and how you can really take them in.
- Understanding talent negotiations and timelines.
- On-set etiquette: punctuality, preparation, and respect for every department
- When social media matters and how it can function as a marketing tool, plus much more.
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Listen to How We Role on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you stream podcasts.
Robert Peterpaul: Guerrilla casting: I know some projects still call for that, right? Going to certain regions and walking around?
Thea McLeod: We have to. Especially when you’re looking, I mean obviously there’s so many different projects, and different briefs. I think that makes it really exciting. Like you know, you might be trying to find young kids, or people with different backgrounds. Or you know, different experiences. I love that challenge. I think it’s really exciting. Particularly when you get those people in the room and they’ve never done anything. Or maybe they’re a bit raw, and you know, getting that performance out of them, that’s really fun.
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