It is often said that it takes talent and luck to land a role. Today, proactivity and grace are added to this list of skillsets. In contemporary times, recognition seems less of a far-fetched notion than before thanks to the state of the art technology and interconnectivity. However, film festivals of the likes of Berlin play a substantial role as the gridiron for the discovery of new European talent as well as the creation of new roles and new relations, prompted by the ever so popular and widespread practice of co-productions on European turf. Among these relations is the one between actors and casting directors.
European Shooting Stars
Every February, for the past 18 years, European Shooting Stars, a unique pan-European initiative, takes place at the Berlinale, shining a little light on Europe’s most prominent up-and-coming young actors and placing them at the top of the busy film program that unfolds year after year at the festival. These ten emerging acting talents, hailing from across the Old Continent, are selected by a jury of experts who hand-picks them among a long list of potential candidates nominated by the member organizations of the European Film Promotion (Efp).
During the craze of the festival’s first weekend, the Shooting Stars connect and network with casting directors, talent agents, directors and producers with the objective of broadening and strengthening industry alliances. They are involved in a wide range of activities that include presentations to the film industry and the press as well as one-on-one meetings with international casting directors, a reception and an Awards Ceremony at the Berlinale Palast.
The Shooting Stars program kicked off in 1998 during the Berlin International Film Festival. But, why the Berlinale? The project finds unique support in this particular festival. Moreover, its director, Dieter Kosslick is especially enthusiastic about the initiative as well as supporting young talent. According to Karin Dix, the project director of the European Shooting Stars, the Berlin International Film Festival “is an ideal platform for Shooting Stars,” pointing out that the Efp would not receive such exposure anywhere else.
Bridging Cultures Through Actors
Behind the glamour of film festivals, is a world, unknown to audiences, where films are made and discussed by the movers and shakers of the industry. Everyone sees the actors’ and directors’ work during the production of a film. But, very few people are aware that before the shooting even starts, casting directors have already dove deep into the script and spent hours, days and months researching the right people for a specific role. This demands intrinsic skills and gut instincts. The important work is felt behind the scenes, indeed, but when it comes to the public presentation it is often already forgotten.
Therefore, in 2005, the Efp acknowledged that the art, craft and business of casting should not only be incorporated in its activities but also better transmitted to the international industry. That is how and why the International Casting Directors Network (Icdn) was founded during the Berlinale, that year, by fifteen casting directors from seven countries. Today the network counts seventy-four casting directors from twenty-four countries world-wide. They meet annually on occasion of Shooting Stars in Berlin.
These casting directors come to the Berlin International Film Festival to “shop” for new talent, collaborate, and meet their fellows. Some will also meet the Shooting Stars who have already sent them tapes, like for instance María Valverde, for whom the human interaction is an important factor, “I think it’s a nice thing to just be yourself talking to them, not as a character in a certain role”, she remarks. On the other hand, for Londonderry Entertainment’s Sheila Wenzel, who works with top young female stars and holds a strong and well-respected deal-making reputation, “the world has gotten so much larger”. And, in that larger world, she is constantly looking for new talent anywhere.
In that regard, apart from offering support and publicity to these fresh faces of the big screen as they step from national fame into the international spotlight, the endeavor also highlights the vital role new actors can play in the marketing of European films. And, this year’s Shooting Stars are very well aware of that.
For Daphné Patakia, the Greek star of "Interruption" (Yorgos Zois), it is a “great opportunity to open in a European way and meet people from all over Europe,” adding she hopes to find work in different languages. The international cooperation and linguistic dimension of Shooting Stars are something that fellow Dutch Shooting Star Reinout Scholten van Aschat and former Shooting Star and this year’s jury member, Anamaria Marinca, also share, “…everyone is involved in co-productions so there is place for someone from Croatia or France or Spain in an international production spoken in English, or Spanish or another language and because they have these aptitudes and they can act in another language, not only speak it,” the latter observes. Scholten van Aschat, a fan of European film, and in particular the Danish film industry, is especially sensitive to the aforementioned aspects. Not only does he have great respect for casting directors but he also feels the need to improve his language skills (German and English) and believes that the Dutch still have to learn from the Danes, “and the way to do that, of course, is to work together,” he admits.
Impactful and Inimitable
With the recognition as a Shooting Star, the impact is often instantaneous. For Anamaria Marinca, it has given her the opportunity to meet French casting director Nicolas Ronchi who offered her her first French script, which led her to being represented by French talent agent Annabel Karouby, and thereby “facilitated a possible career in France”. Her time in Berlin as a Shooting Star “kind of started these other possible languages [she] could work in.” Former Shooting Stars include such talent as Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, Alicia Vikander, Carey Mulligan, Daniel Brühl, Mélanie Laurent or this year’s Berlinale International Jury member Alba Rohrwacher.
What’s more, the Shooting Stars initiative is inimitable and unique. Indeed, many have tried to copy the concept but no one has the expertise of the Efp’s member organizations, according to Dix who also concedes that the fact that each country nominates one actor is a guarantee for the high quality of the selected actors and actresses from Europe.
On the European film market where co-productions are common practice today, familiar actors help the audience relate to a particular “foreign” film. As harsh as it sounds, bankability is the key of the film biz. In that, actors are the faces of the films. They move the audiences, create their enthusiasm and need for films and are the personalities that promote them. Casting directors stand right behind them and make it happen. They bridge the gaps between cultures and open new horizons and possibilities. They help actors speak the European language of film. They are its unsung heroes.
European Shooting Stars
Every February, for the past 18 years, European Shooting Stars, a unique pan-European initiative, takes place at the Berlinale, shining a little light on Europe’s most prominent up-and-coming young actors and placing them at the top of the busy film program that unfolds year after year at the festival. These ten emerging acting talents, hailing from across the Old Continent, are selected by a jury of experts who hand-picks them among a long list of potential candidates nominated by the member organizations of the European Film Promotion (Efp).
During the craze of the festival’s first weekend, the Shooting Stars connect and network with casting directors, talent agents, directors and producers with the objective of broadening and strengthening industry alliances. They are involved in a wide range of activities that include presentations to the film industry and the press as well as one-on-one meetings with international casting directors, a reception and an Awards Ceremony at the Berlinale Palast.
The Shooting Stars program kicked off in 1998 during the Berlin International Film Festival. But, why the Berlinale? The project finds unique support in this particular festival. Moreover, its director, Dieter Kosslick is especially enthusiastic about the initiative as well as supporting young talent. According to Karin Dix, the project director of the European Shooting Stars, the Berlin International Film Festival “is an ideal platform for Shooting Stars,” pointing out that the Efp would not receive such exposure anywhere else.
Bridging Cultures Through Actors
Behind the glamour of film festivals, is a world, unknown to audiences, where films are made and discussed by the movers and shakers of the industry. Everyone sees the actors’ and directors’ work during the production of a film. But, very few people are aware that before the shooting even starts, casting directors have already dove deep into the script and spent hours, days and months researching the right people for a specific role. This demands intrinsic skills and gut instincts. The important work is felt behind the scenes, indeed, but when it comes to the public presentation it is often already forgotten.
Therefore, in 2005, the Efp acknowledged that the art, craft and business of casting should not only be incorporated in its activities but also better transmitted to the international industry. That is how and why the International Casting Directors Network (Icdn) was founded during the Berlinale, that year, by fifteen casting directors from seven countries. Today the network counts seventy-four casting directors from twenty-four countries world-wide. They meet annually on occasion of Shooting Stars in Berlin.
These casting directors come to the Berlin International Film Festival to “shop” for new talent, collaborate, and meet their fellows. Some will also meet the Shooting Stars who have already sent them tapes, like for instance María Valverde, for whom the human interaction is an important factor, “I think it’s a nice thing to just be yourself talking to them, not as a character in a certain role”, she remarks. On the other hand, for Londonderry Entertainment’s Sheila Wenzel, who works with top young female stars and holds a strong and well-respected deal-making reputation, “the world has gotten so much larger”. And, in that larger world, she is constantly looking for new talent anywhere.
In that regard, apart from offering support and publicity to these fresh faces of the big screen as they step from national fame into the international spotlight, the endeavor also highlights the vital role new actors can play in the marketing of European films. And, this year’s Shooting Stars are very well aware of that.
For Daphné Patakia, the Greek star of "Interruption" (Yorgos Zois), it is a “great opportunity to open in a European way and meet people from all over Europe,” adding she hopes to find work in different languages. The international cooperation and linguistic dimension of Shooting Stars are something that fellow Dutch Shooting Star Reinout Scholten van Aschat and former Shooting Star and this year’s jury member, Anamaria Marinca, also share, “…everyone is involved in co-productions so there is place for someone from Croatia or France or Spain in an international production spoken in English, or Spanish or another language and because they have these aptitudes and they can act in another language, not only speak it,” the latter observes. Scholten van Aschat, a fan of European film, and in particular the Danish film industry, is especially sensitive to the aforementioned aspects. Not only does he have great respect for casting directors but he also feels the need to improve his language skills (German and English) and believes that the Dutch still have to learn from the Danes, “and the way to do that, of course, is to work together,” he admits.
Impactful and Inimitable
With the recognition as a Shooting Star, the impact is often instantaneous. For Anamaria Marinca, it has given her the opportunity to meet French casting director Nicolas Ronchi who offered her her first French script, which led her to being represented by French talent agent Annabel Karouby, and thereby “facilitated a possible career in France”. Her time in Berlin as a Shooting Star “kind of started these other possible languages [she] could work in.” Former Shooting Stars include such talent as Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, Alicia Vikander, Carey Mulligan, Daniel Brühl, Mélanie Laurent or this year’s Berlinale International Jury member Alba Rohrwacher.
What’s more, the Shooting Stars initiative is inimitable and unique. Indeed, many have tried to copy the concept but no one has the expertise of the Efp’s member organizations, according to Dix who also concedes that the fact that each country nominates one actor is a guarantee for the high quality of the selected actors and actresses from Europe.
On the European film market where co-productions are common practice today, familiar actors help the audience relate to a particular “foreign” film. As harsh as it sounds, bankability is the key of the film biz. In that, actors are the faces of the films. They move the audiences, create their enthusiasm and need for films and are the personalities that promote them. Casting directors stand right behind them and make it happen. They bridge the gaps between cultures and open new horizons and possibilities. They help actors speak the European language of film. They are its unsung heroes.
- 3/2/2016
- by Tara Karajica
- Sydney's Buzz
Exclusive: Remember all the rigmarole and conflicting stories surrounding Rose McGowan’s departure from Innovative Artists last summer after the actress went to social media to talk about being dropped from her agency? Well, she’s back with her old rep from Innovative — but, wait, not at Innovative. The actress has followed her former Innovative agent Sheila Wenzel to her new gig at Londonderry Entertainment, where Wenzel is now a manager. She left Innovative in…...
- 2/19/2016
- Deadline
Agent Sheila Wenzel is no longer at Innovative Artists, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Wenzel was part of Rose McGowan's team at the agency, but a spokesperson for Innovative tells THR that Wenzel's exit was set prior to the Charmed actress' now-infamous June 17 tweet, in which she called out a sexist wardrobe casting note for a project that McGowan later confirmed was an Adam Sandler movie: casting note that came w/script I got today. For real. name of male star rhymes with Madam Panhandler hahahaha I die pic.twitter.com/lCWGTV537t — rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) June 18, 2015 Innovative
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- 6/25/2015
- by Rebecca Sun
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sheila Wenzel has exited Innovative Artists, TheWrap has learned. She represented Rose McGowan, Britt Robertson and Amanda Seyfried during her tenure at the Santa Monica-based agency. McGowan hit Twitter on Wednesday to reveal that she was recently dropped as a client by Innovative Artists. When TheWrap contacted the agency on Thursday morning, a receptionist said that “Sheila Wenzel no longer works here.” Insiders tell TheWrap that Wenzel parted ways with Innovative Artists on June 22, two days before McGowan’s highly-publicized “firing.” With Wenzel gone, the agency did not wish to continue representing McGowan, who has publicly scolded Hollywood for its treatment of female.
- 6/25/2015
- by Jeff Sneider and Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Rose McGowan has gone from the actress we remember in movies from Scream and Planet Terror and the hit television show "Charmed" to the point her directorial debut, Dawn, was just released on her official YouTube channel (you can watch it below). However, she is making headlines today as she reported on Twitter she was fired by her agents, Sheila Wenzel and Steve Muller at Innovative Artists, after speaking out against Hollywood sexism concerning a casting note on an upcoming Adam Sandler film. It all began June 17 when McGowan tweeted the offending note that accompanied a script she received reading: "Notes: - Please make sure to read the attached script before coming in so you understand the context of the scenes. - Wardrobe Note: Black (or dark) form fitting tank that shows off cleavage (push up bras encouraged). And form fitting leggings or jeans. Nothing white." Now, eight days later,...
- 6/25/2015
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
It's a sad state of things when examples of Hollywood's rampant sexism become more and more frequent as time goes on. Such is the case for actress Rose McGowan, who found herself without an agent after she shared a ridiculous casting suggestion from an unnamed Adam Sandler film.
The saga started last week when McGowan tweeted out a note that she says was attached to a script she received. The instructions called for actresses to wear a "form fitting tank that shows off cleavage," with the kicker that "push up bras [are] encouraged." "Form fitting leggings or jeans" were also required.
casting note that came w/script I got today. For real. name of male star rhymes with Madam Panhandler hahahaha I die pic.twitter.com/lCWGTV537t
- rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) June 18, 2015
McGowan -- who not-so-subtly hinted that the note was from a movie starring Sandler -- laughed it off,...
The saga started last week when McGowan tweeted out a note that she says was attached to a script she received. The instructions called for actresses to wear a "form fitting tank that shows off cleavage," with the kicker that "push up bras [are] encouraged." "Form fitting leggings or jeans" were also required.
casting note that came w/script I got today. For real. name of male star rhymes with Madam Panhandler hahahaha I die pic.twitter.com/lCWGTV537t
- rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) June 18, 2015
McGowan -- who not-so-subtly hinted that the note was from a movie starring Sandler -- laughed it off,...
- 6/25/2015
- by Katie Roberts
- Moviefone
RoseMcGown Says She Was Dropped by her Agent for Criticizing an Adam Sandler Role Being Cast.
Rose McGowan is a bold, confident woman. After listening to her episode of the Bret Easton Ellis podcast, I gained a newfound respect for her. She’s always been around, in my cinematic adventures, from Scream to Phantoms to Planet Terror. Judging from her personality to which I found insight from the aforementioned podcast, the fact that she was outspoken enough against something she strongly believed was incorrect is not that shocking to me.
It seems that McGowan is one of the few people in Hollywood that will speak up, regardless of status or power. And let’s be serious here – she isn’t the hottest thing in Hollywood. She isn’t getting the best roles. But you know what? She’s creating work for herself. She’s directing films, getting into film festivals,...
Rose McGowan is a bold, confident woman. After listening to her episode of the Bret Easton Ellis podcast, I gained a newfound respect for her. She’s always been around, in my cinematic adventures, from Scream to Phantoms to Planet Terror. Judging from her personality to which I found insight from the aforementioned podcast, the fact that she was outspoken enough against something she strongly believed was incorrect is not that shocking to me.
It seems that McGowan is one of the few people in Hollywood that will speak up, regardless of status or power. And let’s be serious here – she isn’t the hottest thing in Hollywood. She isn’t getting the best roles. But you know what? She’s creating work for herself. She’s directing films, getting into film festivals,...
- 6/25/2015
- by Marco Margaritoff
- Film-Book
Rose McGowan‘s criticism of an Adam Sandler movie role caused her to be dropped by her agency Innovative Artists, the actress revealed this week. “I just got fired by my wussy acting agent because I spoke up about the bullshit in Hollywood. Hahaha,” she tweeted Tuesday with accompanying hashtags #douchebags, #awesome and #Bringit. McGowan was repped by Steve Muller and Sheila Wenzel at Innovative Artists, though Wenzel left the agency two days before McGowan said she was notified of her own dismissal. The company did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment. Also Read: Rose McGowan's...
- 6/25/2015
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Rose McGowan has paid a personal cost for taking a stand against Hollywood sexism.
The Grindhouse and Charmed star last week disclosed an audition note asking actresses to "understand the context" of their scenes and wear a "form fitting tank" to show off their cleavage.
McGowan's tweet made waves across social media, but the actress and filmmaker has now revealed that she's been fired by her agent for speaking out against the film, an Adam Sandler comedy vehicle.
"I just got fired by my wussy acting agent because I spoke up about the bulls**t in Hollywood," she wrote.
I just got fired by my wussy acting agent because I spoke up about the bullshit in Hollywood. Hahaha. #douchebags #awesome #Bringit
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) June 25, 2015
The awesome thing about being an artist? You can't be fired from your own mind. #Freedom
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) June 25, 2015
McGowan's agents have since been...
The Grindhouse and Charmed star last week disclosed an audition note asking actresses to "understand the context" of their scenes and wear a "form fitting tank" to show off their cleavage.
McGowan's tweet made waves across social media, but the actress and filmmaker has now revealed that she's been fired by her agent for speaking out against the film, an Adam Sandler comedy vehicle.
"I just got fired by my wussy acting agent because I spoke up about the bulls**t in Hollywood," she wrote.
I just got fired by my wussy acting agent because I spoke up about the bullshit in Hollywood. Hahaha. #douchebags #awesome #Bringit
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) June 25, 2015
The awesome thing about being an artist? You can't be fired from your own mind. #Freedom
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) June 25, 2015
McGowan's agents have since been...
- 6/25/2015
- Digital Spy
Casting news from the Cannes Film Festival reveals that Katee Sackhoff from Battlestar Galactica will star in the new horror film, Don’t Knock Twice. Also in this round-up: home media release details on Alien Outpost, Dark Summer, Head Cases: Serial Killers in the Delaware Valley, and a fundraiser launch by Troma.
Don't Knock Twice: Press Release -- "It was revealed today in Cannes that Katee Sackhoff (“Oculus,” “Riddick,” “Battlestar Galactica”) will star in the supernatural horror film “Don’t Knock Twice,” directed by Caradog James and being sold in Cannes by Content Media.
In the vein of “Candyman” meets “The Ring,” “Don’t Knock Twice” is based on a psychologically terrifying urban legend. To save her estranged daughter, a guilt-ridden mother must uncover the terrifying truth behind the urban legend of a vengeful, demonic witch.
Caradog James (“The Machine,” “Little White Lies”) is directing “Don’t Knock Twice...
Don't Knock Twice: Press Release -- "It was revealed today in Cannes that Katee Sackhoff (“Oculus,” “Riddick,” “Battlestar Galactica”) will star in the supernatural horror film “Don’t Knock Twice,” directed by Caradog James and being sold in Cannes by Content Media.
In the vein of “Candyman” meets “The Ring,” “Don’t Knock Twice” is based on a psychologically terrifying urban legend. To save her estranged daughter, a guilt-ridden mother must uncover the terrifying truth behind the urban legend of a vengeful, demonic witch.
Caradog James (“The Machine,” “Little White Lies”) is directing “Don’t Knock Twice...
- 5/16/2015
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
We’ve been sent the first details and casting news on Living Among Us, a new vampire movie that will focus on a documentary crew that is sent in to interview a family of vampires:
“Los Angeles, CA – November 14, 2013 – It was announced today that William Sadler (“Iron Man 3,” “The Shawshank Redemption,” “Die Hard 2”), Primetime Emmy nominee John Heard (“Home Alone,” “Big,” “Runner Runner”) James Russo (“Public Enemies,” “Donnie Brasco,” “Django Unchained”), Esmé Bianco (“Game of Thrones”), Andrew Keegan (“10 things I Hate About You,” “O,” “Independence Day”) and Thomas Ian Nicholas (“American Pie” films, “Rules of Attraction”) will star in Brian A. Metcalf’s new horror/drama “Living Among Us.”
Written, directed and produced by Metcalf, “Living Among Us” is a found footage film about a documentary crew sent in to interview a family of vampires whose existence has been made known to the world.
But soon, the crew...
“Los Angeles, CA – November 14, 2013 – It was announced today that William Sadler (“Iron Man 3,” “The Shawshank Redemption,” “Die Hard 2”), Primetime Emmy nominee John Heard (“Home Alone,” “Big,” “Runner Runner”) James Russo (“Public Enemies,” “Donnie Brasco,” “Django Unchained”), Esmé Bianco (“Game of Thrones”), Andrew Keegan (“10 things I Hate About You,” “O,” “Independence Day”) and Thomas Ian Nicholas (“American Pie” films, “Rules of Attraction”) will star in Brian A. Metcalf’s new horror/drama “Living Among Us.”
Written, directed and produced by Metcalf, “Living Among Us” is a found footage film about a documentary crew sent in to interview a family of vampires whose existence has been made known to the world.
But soon, the crew...
- 11/14/2013
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
If you know and love the Outlander books, you know how important and “interesting” Geillis Duncan is to the 18th-century portion of the time travelling fantasy. If you’re new, suffice to say she is a prominent character, and is thought to be a witch. You’ll see. Today Starz announced that the part has gone to Lotte Verbeek, and wow does she look Scottish, even though she’s from the Netherlands.
Before we get to the details, however, we need to show you this. Production began last week on the Outlander, and to mark the occasion Starz released this photo of Outlander executive producer Ronald D. Moore (Helix, Battlestar Galactica), along with the quote, “Day One and the battle is joined. We fight to do justice to the material and the fans. We’ll return with our targes or on them.”
Syfy clearly missed an opportunity by not having Mr.
Before we get to the details, however, we need to show you this. Production began last week on the Outlander, and to mark the occasion Starz released this photo of Outlander executive producer Ronald D. Moore (Helix, Battlestar Galactica), along with the quote, “Day One and the battle is joined. We fight to do justice to the material and the fans. We’ll return with our targes or on them.”
Syfy clearly missed an opportunity by not having Mr.
- 10/16/2013
- by Erin Willard
- ScifiMafia
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