‘Casting By’ Is The Documentary That Will Change The Way You See Your Favorite Hollywood Stars

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Casting By

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When we think of our favorite films, we might think of a particularly gorgeous shot or a specific musical cue, but chances are the first thing that pops to mind are the characters. A great character can do more than drive the narrative; that character can inspire an audience to care about what’s going on. All those iconic characters are only alive on screen because they were played by the right actor. And who put those people in those parts? The casting director.

The 2013 documentary Casting By offers an illuminating look into the world of casting and it’s now streaming on Netflix. The documentary follows the evolution of casting in the film and television industries. You meet many of the people who put together the most legendary ensembles in history. But it all circles back to one woman: Marion Dougherty. Over the course of her life, she revolutionized how casting works. She favored listening to her instincts about actors over typecasting them based solely on looks. In doing so, she championed the careers of James Dean, Warren Beatty, Robert Duvall, Jon Voight, Al Pacino, Glenn Close, John Lithgow, Danny Glover, and so many more.

Dougherty was more than just a pioneer in the world of casting; she’s kind of the mother of modern casting. It’s not that Dougherty’s style was mimicked by her peers —though it was—but that she went out of her way to mentor up-and-coming casting directors. When she started her own casting offices out of a cozy home in Manhattan, she made a point to staff her company with all female employees, who were all treated with respect, and who went on to cast films like The Big Chill, Flashdance, Annie Hall, and Blazing Saddles.

In addition to following Dougherty’s life and influence on Hollywood, Casting By also shines a light on how casting directors and their staffs are given very little respect in Hollywood. The irony of the film is that as much as these people are responsible for connecting great directors with their muses, they are treated by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and by the Directors Guild of America as glorified secretaries—a misconception only highlighted by the fact that casting is one of the few departments in Hollywood that is overwhelmingly female. While editors, costume designers, and cinematographers are all given the opportunity to be recognized at the Oscars, casting directors are repeatedly shunned by their peers. The argument, as director Taylor Hackford lays it out in the documentary is that casting directors are not “directors.” A film is supposed to be the vision of the director and casting choices all come down to that one person’s vote.

However, Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen, Oliver Stone, Clint Eastwood, Robert Redford, John Sayles Norman Jewison, Richard Donner, Paul Haggis (and more) all appear in the documentary and dispute this notion. They all credit Dougherty and others in her profession with helping them find actors they would never have considered and fighting for the finished product to be as exceptional as possible. In late 2013, the Academy finally gave casting directors their own branch, but they have yet to win the opportunity to be recognized with an Academy Award.

If nothing else, the documentary is an eye-opening look at a part of Hollywood that is frequently given short shrift and it’s a celebration of the people who have introduced us to our favorite stars. [Watch Casting By On Netflix]

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[Photo: Submarine Delux]