Casting
The first task myself and Ella carried out for casting was suggesting suitable actors for the roles, as seen below, with their name and ages:
Our choice of the potential cast list tried to incorporate both gender's, and a variety of ages due to the variety of both gender and ages in our roles available. However, we wanted to narrow down our potential actors further to those we would offer auditions to.
One actor we decided would not suit the role before auditors began was William Price. Originally we felt he may be a good actor due to his professionalism as an actor. He has previously been in the WestEnd, multiple school theatre productions, as well as studying A-level Drama and is professionally represented by an agent. However, we then considered a female taking the role in order to conform to societies stereotypes of women being weaker and vulnerable, which would be shown when she is kidnapped and held hostage. Offering the audience this familiarity of gender roles may make them identify themselves with the characters under Uses and Gratifications of Personal identity, and so may attract a larger audience into watching our film than a male would, increasing ticket sales and possibly sales revenue and profits.
With the list of actors remaining, an audition date was set for the 9th of September. The audition required actors to read a short monologue, no longer than 30 seconds. These were recorded so we could carefully look back on the auditions to decide who to cast for the roles, which we feel confident that we made the correct decision in.
One actor we decided would not suit the role before auditors began was William Price. Originally we felt he may be a good actor due to his professionalism as an actor. He has previously been in the WestEnd, multiple school theatre productions, as well as studying A-level Drama and is professionally represented by an agent. However, we then considered a female taking the role in order to conform to societies stereotypes of women being weaker and vulnerable, which would be shown when she is kidnapped and held hostage. Offering the audience this familiarity of gender roles may make them identify themselves with the characters under Uses and Gratifications of Personal identity, and so may attract a larger audience into watching our film than a male would, increasing ticket sales and possibly sales revenue and profits.
With the list of actors remaining, an audition date was set for the 9th of September. The audition required actors to read a short monologue, no longer than 30 seconds. These were recorded so we could carefully look back on the auditions to decide who to cast for the roles, which we feel confident that we made the correct decision in.
Auditions
Lisa Smith (Mother) Audition
Age: 41
Experience: AS Media teacher
Reasons for considering actor: Being a Media teacher, Mary Mills is a natural speaker, being able to communicate to others effectively, a key quality of a strong actor. Her short hair length also gives her a mature and responsible look, perfect for the role of the mother.
Experience: AS Media teacher
Reasons for considering actor: Being a Media teacher, Mary Mills is a natural speaker, being able to communicate to others effectively, a key quality of a strong actor. Her short hair length also gives her a mature and responsible look, perfect for the role of the mother.
Becki Smith (Daughter) Audition
Age: 17
Experience: Public speaking, AS Media.
Reasons for considering actor: Skylar's natural look is exactly the look we invishened Becki Smith to have. She has long, strawberry blonde hair that gives her an innocent look that we need for Becki's character so the audience naturally warm to her and feel an emotional bond towards her. This would be effective when she is kidnapped, if the audience are genuinely upset by her disappearance they are more likely to watch the whole film from the trailer, increasing mix office sales.
Experience: Public speaking, AS Media.
Reasons for considering actor: Skylar's natural look is exactly the look we invishened Becki Smith to have. She has long, strawberry blonde hair that gives her an innocent look that we need for Becki's character so the audience naturally warm to her and feel an emotional bond towards her. This would be effective when she is kidnapped, if the audience are genuinely upset by her disappearance they are more likely to watch the whole film from the trailer, increasing mix office sales.
Max / Dan Brown (Kidnapper) Audition
Age: 17
Experience: AS Media Student, used to speaking confidently and clearly.
Reasons for considering actor: Although Harry is quite young, his deep voice was perfect for the intimidating role of the kidnapper. It also makes him sound a lot older, as though the age of the kidnapper.
Experience: AS Media Student, used to speaking confidently and clearly.
Reasons for considering actor: Although Harry is quite young, his deep voice was perfect for the intimidating role of the kidnapper. It also makes him sound a lot older, as though the age of the kidnapper.
Ian Smith (Father) Audition
Age: 23
Experience: Joe is an expert in tech. He has been involved with the AS and A2 performances, helping with lighting and music for the performances.
Reasons for considering the actor: We felt due to his experience of the world of drama, and seeing it from a more technical point, we were intrigued into his own acting abilities.
Reasons:
Experience: Joe is an expert in tech. He has been involved with the AS and A2 performances, helping with lighting and music for the performances.
Reasons for considering the actor: We felt due to his experience of the world of drama, and seeing it from a more technical point, we were intrigued into his own acting abilities.
Reasons:
Actors Used
Ronay Brown (Mother) Audition
Age: 49
Experience: Taken part in lots of productions
Reasons for considering actor: Ronay is the perfect age to play Becki's mother, she also has a soft and warming presesne to her which we felt was key to this character in order for the audience to sympathise with her.
Age: 49
Experience: Taken part in lots of productions
Reasons for considering actor: Ronay is the perfect age to play Becki's mother, she also has a soft and warming presesne to her which we felt was key to this character in order for the audience to sympathise with her.
Millie Suiter (Becki) Audition
Age: 18
Experience: Millie Suiter completed drama at GCSE and AS level, and has taken part in the school show productions for the last 7 years of her school life.
Reasons for considering actor: We knew Millie was confident infant of the camera and is very used to taking on various roles, and so felt she could meet the demands of this challenging role. Millie also has a high, young voice which highlights her innocence, a key characteristic needed for Becki for the audience to sympathise.
Age: 18
Experience: Millie Suiter completed drama at GCSE and AS level, and has taken part in the school show productions for the last 7 years of her school life.
Reasons for considering actor: We knew Millie was confident infant of the camera and is very used to taking on various roles, and so felt she could meet the demands of this challenging role. Millie also has a high, young voice which highlights her innocence, a key characteristic needed for Becki for the audience to sympathise.
Andy Monk (Policeman) Audition
Age: 52
Experience:
Reasons for considering actor: His natural deep voice made him seem stern and serious, two qualities needed to show the authority of the policeman and seriousness of the news he told Becki's mother.
Age: 52
Experience:
Reasons for considering actor: His natural deep voice made him seem stern and serious, two qualities needed to show the authority of the policeman and seriousness of the news he told Becki's mother.