Think of your favorite movie, and your favorite character in that movie. Picture the actor who portrayed the character. How did they bring that character to life? How did they even get to be that character? Without casting directors’ odds are they never would have ended up on screen portraying a person you have grown to love. Casting directors are behind everything we see on our screens and in theaters, from TV commercials and TV shows (reality and scripted) to big budget films, from regional theater to Broadway, and everything in between. Casting is about opening doors and making sure underrepresented talent can be seen and celebrated. In fact, there are more unsung heroes behind our favorite characters than you might ever dream.
The Casting Society (CSA), which was founded in 1982, has over 1,100 members around the globe. Every member is ready to provide directors, writers and producers with professionalism, expertise and of course top-tier talent. For the first time ever, casting will have a category in the 2025 Academy Awards – a big deal and a welcome change. Prior to the Oscars celebrations though, hundreds of casting directors and casting associates came together simultaneously in Los Angeles, New York and London to celebrate their accomplishments at the 40th Annual Artios Awards.
During the Artios Awards, casting directors/associates were celebrated and honored by their peers for their brilliance in casting over the course of the last year. CSA President (and multi-nominee), Destiny Lilly kicked off the show, sharing the theme of the year – “resilience and excellence” in casting. Artios Awards Los Angeles host, and star of Abbott Elementary, Janelle James, joked that when she was asked to host, she thought, “oh man, another awards shows?” But when she found out it was for casting directors, she immediately said, “okay, I’m there! I get to host AND I get to be in a room with all the best casting directors.” Actors who presented awards throughout the evening echoed that sentiment. Most stating they would not be where they are today without the grace and support of the casting directors who helped them land their first roles. Many used their presenting time to show off their acting chops; because when you’ve got the attention of the elite in the casting industry, you take advantage of it.
Presenter Frankie Grande told attendees, “you all know how to build a dream, one casting session at a time. When you cast with authenticity, magic can happen.” He should know as his sister has received quite a lot of recognition recently for her own magical performance as Glinda in the highly acclaimed movie WICKED. Tiffany Little Canfield who cast WICKED and left the 40th Annual Artios Awards a winner, said she is “so happy the film resonates with audiences because it tells such an important story.” She received lots of cheers and praise from Grande while accepting her award.
Casting isn’t simply listening to an actor read lines and deciding who you like best. There are often hours, if not weeks or months of prep that goes into casting a production. In some cases, it’s years. Yesi Ramirez, casting director for A Complete Unknown, starring Timothee Chalamet, spent five years preparing to cast the movie. Sure, the Covid epidemic and Hollywood strikes caused some delays, but she still immersed herself into the storyline, understanding who the real people were that would be played by the actors she cast. In casting for a biopic, Ramirez said, “you need to ensure the characters can portray the real-life person they are cast to play, but that they also bring their own elements to the role.” With all the awards the film has been nominated for, and Ramirez’s own Artios win, it’s clear the yearslong project was a success.
Distinguished Artios winner, John Papsidera, who was proclaimed by director Jason Reitman as the Jewish Johnny Cash, got a standing ovation as he took to the Los Angeles stage to accept the Hoyt Bowers Awards for Excellence in Casting. The highlight reel played to showcase his work was beyond impressive considering Papsidera has been a part of casting some of the most iconic roles for the most beloved films and TV shows of our time, including Yellowstone, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Lioness, Wednesday, Twisters, Interstellar, Burlesque and Batman Begins, to name just a few. The Artios Awards are peer driven, and it was clear Papsidera has an immense amount of respect from (and for) his peers. The hollers and cheers as he walked to the stage were heartwarming, and highlight the legacy he is leaving on the inustry, not just for casting great actors, but building the careers of his fellow casting directors. “It’s deeply moving to look around the room and see so many people I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the years. Casting directors get to have a profound impact on others through their work. Collaboration is at the heart of the casting process. It elevates our work. Embrace your voice, embrace your artistry,” Papsidera shared. He ended his speech thanking the person in the best role he has ever cast, his wife.
Next time you sit down to watch your favorite program, whether on the stage or screen, think of the people who cast the roles you’re seeing brought to life in front of your eyes, and take a moment to silently celebrate some of the unsung heroes of the entertainment industry, the casting directors.
The Los Angeles Artios Awards took place at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA. The star-studded list of presenters in Los Angeles included: Marissa Bode (“Wicked”), Garcelle Beauvais (“Survival of the Thickest”, “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”), Joel Kim Booster (“Loot”), Sasha Colby (“RuPaul’s Drag Race”), Ethan Herisse (“Nickel Boys”), Frankie Grande (“Henry Danger: The Movie”), Nava Mau (“Baby Reindeer”), Lamorne Morris (Emmy Award winner, “Fargo”), Wendi McLendon-Covey (“St. Denis Medical”), Jason Reitman (“Saturday Night”), Jana Schmieding (“Reservation Dogs”), Parvati Shallow (“Deal or No Deal Island”) and Brandon Wilson (“Nickel Boys”).
A full list of winners from the 40th Annual Artios Awards is below. To learn more about the Casting Society of America, visit castingsociety.com.
FEATURE FILM WINNERS:
BIG BUDGET FEATURE COMEDY
WICKED: PART I: Bernard Telsey, Tiffany Little Canfield. Associate Casting Director: Ryan Bernard Tymensky. Location Casting Director: Tamsyn Manson
BIG BUDGET FEATURE DRAMA
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN: Yesi Ramirez. Location Casting Directors: Rori Bergman, Karlee Fomalont. Location Associate Casting Director: Kate Sprance
ANIMATED FEATURE
THE WILD ROBOT: Christi Soper Hilt
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE (*NEW CATEGORY)
EMILIA PÉREZ: Carla Hool. Associate Casting Director: Susan Putnam
STUDIO OR INDEPENDENT FEATURE COMEDY
MY OLD ASS: Douglas Aibel. Associate Casting Director: Matthew Glasner
STUDIO OR INDEPENDENT FEATURE DRAMA
CONCLAVE: Nina Gold, Martin Ware. Location Casting Director: Francesco Vedovati, Barbara Giordani
LOW BUDGET FEATURE COMEDY OR DRAMA
JANET PLANET: Jessica Kelly
TELEVISION (SCRIPTED AND UNSCRIPTED), COMMERCIALS, SHORT FILM, SHORT FORM SERIES WINNERS:
FILM, FIRST RELEASED FOR TELEVISION OR STREAMING
THE IDEA OF YOU: Bernard Telsey, Tiffany Little Canfield, Associate Casting Director: Brian Sutow, Location Casting Directors: Chase Paris, Tara Feldstein Bennett
TELEVISION SERIES: COMEDY
HACKS (S3): Nicole Abellera Hallman, Jeanne McCarthy, Associate Casting Director: Anna Mayworm
TELEVISION SERIES: DRAMA
SLOW HORSES (S3): Nina Gold, Associate Casting Director: Melissa Gethin Clarke
TELEVISION PILOT AND FIRST SEASON: COMEDY
PALM ROYALE: Kerry Barden, Paul Schnee, Associate Casting Directors: Roya Semnanian, Rachel Goldman
TELEVISION PILOT AND FIRST SEASON: DRAMA
SHŌGUN: Laura Schiff, Carrie Audino, Associate Casting Director: Chelsea Egozi, Location Casting Director: Kei Kawamura
LIMITED SERIES
BABY REINDEER: Nina Gold, Martin Ware
REALITY SERIES: COMPETITION
RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE (S16): Goloka Bolte, Ethan Petersen
REALITY SERIES: STRUCTURED & UNSTRUCTURED
QUEER EYE (S8): Pamela Vallarelli, Quinn Fegan, Jessica Jorgensen, Danielle Gervais
LIVE ACTION CHILDREN & FAMILY SERIES
AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER (S1): Michael Nicolo, Anya Colloff, Michelle Olivia Tidwell, Location Casting Directors: Tiffany Mak, PoPing AuYeung, Amanda Mitchell
ANIMATED PROGRAM FOR TELEVISION
BLUE EYE SAMURAI (S1): Margery Simkin, Orly Sitowitz, Associate Casting Directors: Elizabeth Vitale, Jasmine Gutierrez
INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION SERIES (New Category)
MONSIEUR SPADE: Olivia Scott-Webb, Constance Demontoy
SHORT FORM SERIES
COMMAND-Z: Carmen Cuba, Salvatore Schiavone
SHORT FILMS
THE ROOF: Candido Cornejo
COMMERCIALS
NFL SUPER BOWL LVIII || BORN TO PLAY: Mawuko Kuadzi
THEATER WINNERS:
BROADWAY: COMEDY OR DRAMA
STEREOPHONIC: Alaine Alldaffer, Taylor Williams
BROADWAY: MUSICAL
THE OUTSIDERS: Tara Rubin, Xavier Rubiano
NEW YORK THEATER: COMEDY OR DRAMA
OH, MARY!: Henry Russell Bergstein
NEW YORK THEATER: MUSICAL
HERE WE ARE: Bernard Telsey, Adam Caldwell, Associate Casting Director: Geoff Josselson
LOS ANGELES THEATER
REEFER MADNESS THE MUSICAL: Michael Donovan, Richie Ferris
REGIONAL THEATER
A STRANGE LOOP: Destiny Lilly
THEATER TOURS
MJ THE MUSICAL: Lindsay Levine, Rachel Hoffman
SPECIAL THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE
WEST SIDE STORY (Lyric Opera Of Chicago): Merri Sugarman, Location Casting Director: Becca McCracken
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