This week I spoke to the casting director Lara Manwaring who has been in the industry for the past decade, predominately working at Des Hamilton casting - they’ve done films like Four Lions, Tyrannosaur, This Is England, Wuthering Heights and Adult Life Skills. Lots of of really incredible British cinema. Lara now has her own company, through which she has cast projects such as Mandy starring Nicolas Cage and Andrea Riseborough, Aneil Karia’s Surge starring Ben Whishaw and a film called Lynn + Lucy, directed by Fyzal Boulifa which is released today! It was called a fiercely impressive feature debut by The Guardian and is now available to watch on digital platforms including BFI Player.
Lara and I talk about making that leap from working for a company to being her own boss, what she looks for in auditions, why the recognition toward casting directors has come at a glacial pace and the responsibility feels towards ensuring greater representations for people of colour on our screens.
It’s a great chat, I always find casting so fascinating to consider and I hope you get something from it also. This is episode 57 of Best Girl Grip.
#99: Sophie Littman, Filmmaker
#98: Akua Gyamfi, Founder of The British Blacklist
#97: Nia Childs, Creative Producer, Curator & Filmmaker
#96: Siobhán Harper-Ryan, Hair & Make-Up Designer
#95: Sam Joly, Head of Marketing & Publicity at See-Saw Films
Bonus minisode: Liz Garbus, Filmmaker
#94: Anna Godas, CEO of Dogwoof
#93: Jemma Desai, Writer, Researcher & Curator
#92: Cathy Brady, Filmmaker
#91: Molly Manning-Walker, Cinematographer & Writer-Director
#90: Prano Bailey-Bond, Filmmaker
#89: Mandy Chang, Head of BBC Storyville
#88: T A P E collective (Angie Moneke, Isra Al Kassi & Nellie Alston)
#87: Lisa Scoppa, Set Decorator
#86: Rachael Tate, Dialogue & ADR Editor
#85: Kat Buckle, Talent Agent
#84: Tara Judah, Critic & curator
#83: Mariayah Kaderbhai, Head of Programmes at BAFTA
#82: Mika Watkins, Screenwriter
#81: Melanie Hoyes, Industry Inclusion Executive at the BFI
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