Letting off some steam about casting
Yo, I’ve been seeing some really shitty comments, so I’m going to post this tonight instead of waiting for my livestream to say some of it.
Firstly, I hear you guys. I hear your issues with casting and I understand where you are coming from entirely. Don’t forget, I’m a fangirl too. Even I’m not a huge fan of some of the decisions I have to make and I wouldn’t make a lot of them if I were doing this as a TV series or film with any considerable budget. I know, you have no idea how significantly aware I am of the fact, that my Rose and Dimitri do not look a lot like Rose and Dimitri from the books. I could blame this on several things, namely the fact that we couldn’t afford any SAG/big-name actors or even semi-big-name non-SAG actors. But you know what, fuck that. Making an excuse would indicate that I think we could have done better, which I don’t think we could have. These actors embody so much the characters I have put on the page that I started crying rewatching their auditions because I couldn’t believe I was going to see them again and again for several weeks and actually see them working on this project.
You all need to understand and accept the fact, as I have and my entire cast and crew have, that this is a fan film/web series. We aren’t rich. We are running on a $500 budget, which I am working a minimum wage job just to fund, and 99% of which is going towards food and everything to keep our cast and crew okay on set. Nobody is getting paid for this project. And yet, these actors, along with several others, came forward knowing that, and knowing the shit they could get into with picky fandom members, and still gave amazing performances. I could not believe how amazing they were. Just looking at their headshots, you can not either. I saw a couple of actresses who looked so much more like Rose in the book than Jennifer, and I saw several actors who had the physical look of Dimitri than Travis did. But none of them were fits for me as a director or for this project, or, MOST IMPORTANTLY, the actual acting out of the role on the page before them. Jennifer’s first interaction with Ashley had me convinced they’d been friends for years even though I knew they’d just met. Travis was patient and took all the direction I gave him and had his own ideas and has a great accent and he read so well with every different actress he had the chance of reading with and it was absolutely amazing. You have a picture. I’ve met them, actually watched them in these roles, and I am telling you, we made a good choice. They’re both wonderful people.
Also, I am going to ask this, not because they have expressed concern with what they’re seeing or because they can’t handle it, but because I have a problem with what I’m seeing from some members of this fandom. Call me personally out all you’d fucking like, because, at the end of the day, casting was my decision. However, you do not get to tweet at/message my actors telling them that they aren’t good enough. Here’s why: A) They are doing their jobs. If you have a job, remember the last time someone yelled at you for something that was out of your control? It feels like shit, yeah? So don’t do it to fucking them. B) I’m not worried that you’ll scare them because they’re professionals and I believe they can handle this very well, but I am very irritated at the idea that people might not be submitting for future roles because they’ve seen the reactions of you guys to these actors. Even the perfect Christian or Mia could decide that it isn’t worth it to get involved when everyone already expects to hate them. Why would they? I wouldn’t either! C) These are real fucking people. I don’t even care that they are professionals. They are my actors, and they are my friends. Don’t treat them like shit under any circumstances. You don’t like the casting and want to complain? Fine. But don’t tag them in it. Don’t send them hate. You don’t want to watch the show? Don’t watch it. But do not bitch at my cast because you’re a butthurt about something. You don’t get to do that. Period. If you wouldn’t want it said to your acting friend just trying to get started in the industry or to your friend, don’t say it to them. K? K. D) Guys, the casting isn’t changing. I hope you all know that. You can yell all you want, but Jennifer and Travis will be filiming this summer on this webseries unless something personal comes up in their lives and they have to leave. None of the hateful things you guys say are going to change that fact, so just don’t be cruel. Don’t be an asshat. That shouldn’t be hard. We’re a good hearted fandom, full of great and dedicated people, but sometimes that can lead to you hurting other people through the anonymity and distance provided by that little screen in front of you.Â
Lastly, guys, remember that you haven’t seen them in their roles yet. You have one headshot and a twitter handle. You haven’t seen Travis with longer hair and facial hair, where he looks older. I still don’t get the idea that Rose looks old enough to be her mother because what?! Have you seen Jennifer? WHAT?! And here’s another thing: Dimitri got aged down. I’ve mentioned this before. He’s 21 or thereabouts in the show for story reasons you’ll see in the series. Trust me, Travis looks great. He and Jen will also be going through a stunt bootcamp together to train for the series. And Jennifer is a fan of the books. She texted me earlier saying that she’s already rereading them again to freshen up her memories of Rose. She and Travis are sweethearts off camera, but once the film is rolling, they are in the zone and it is fantastic. I had someone ask me why I didn’t actually cast a teen for Rose, and my answer for that is the same answer for why I will absolutely never cast minors for teenage roles unless it is 100% unavoidable: working with children/minors fucking sucks, okay? When you’re professional, you have to work with certain work restrictions, schooling, etc. You don’t necessarily have to have that on an indie/student production, but you do have to allow one thing: PARENTS. You have to run literally everything you do with a minor on set by their parents, which means you need at least one other person not involved in film on set every second that minor is. Also, technically, it’s illegal in GA to curse around minors, and I happen to know the crew I’m working with (including me) would screw up pretty bad with that. There are just so many things you have to consider with minors that you simply don’t have to consider with adults. There are also sexual references and fighting stuff and close contact between some of our younger characters and some of our older characters (case in point, Dimitri and Rose). I would never feel comfortable putting an actual minor in those positions. Never. TL;DR: never work with minors or animals on a film set if you can avoid it. It’s the first thing you learn as a film student and it is beat into your head every class. lol.
So, this has been a clusterfuck of a post, but hopefully you guys get the gist: Stop being dickbags. Kay? (and if you’re one of the sweethearts who have been sending nothing but love and kind words since day one, this doesn’t apply to you. Keep doing what you’re doing and I love you so super much and Jennifer says she loves you too! You already know Ashley loves you!) But if you are sending those messages/tweeting those things, look. Just chill the fuck out. Think about it. You’re acting like the goddamend appocalypse is happening because a fan fiction isn’t casting perfectly from a book. The whole point of our series is that we aren’t official. Now, if an official series (like a TV series or even a well-funded webseries) were making half the decisions I’m making, yeah, sure. Be worried. They can afford and will probably attach somewhat-recognizable names to the project in order to make it more sellable. They’ll be able to afford casting directors who aren’t also the director and executive producer and screenwriter. They’ll be able to pay their actors. They’ll probably film in Hollywood, where there are more actors to choose from, etc. I’m not saying lower your expectations for our project or to give us a break because we aren’t well funded because we fully intend to knock your socks off with our webseries and it’s quality of everything from camera work to acting to even lighting. I’m just saying that it’s okay to not think we’re the very salvation of this series. That’s not what we’re even trying to be. We’re film students, learning the ropes of serialized filmmaking. We’re fans trying to do something fun and productive over our summer break with a project near and dear to our hearts. At most, we’re a group of indie/student filmmakers that believe that, with just a little push (like high viewership) of a fan made project will show hesitant investors that maybe they can give the series another shot without going bankrupt. It’s a hard task, but we’re trying to pick it up. You don’t have to love/agree with everything we do. Just support us enough and keep the conversation going enough so that this small fan series might mean something more toward your official adaptation/continuation when all is said and done. We’re still a #VAFamily. I know we fight, but, in the end, I would put (I am putting) my entire career on the line just to try to bring you guys hope, if nothing else. Please welcome these actors to the #VAFamily. I believe they are truly talented and that you will be absolutely blown away when it comes time for you to meet them on screen. But, even if you aren’t crazy about them, welcome them anyway. They’re joining the fandom in good faith, reading the books, enjoying the characters just as you do. They are making this series for pretty much nothing in return except the fandom’s happiness. I hope you all can see that and that we can now move onward. Thanks and have a great night everyone!
