While applying for casting calls arguably has never been easier, actors can never really know how their application will turn out. It might get rejected, they might get invited for auditions, and get the desired role, or, if unfortunately not, at least receive some valuable feedback from industry professionals.
But in between all that could be some truly once-in-a-lifetime events and moments. This is exactly what this article is about, so continue reading below to learn more about how casting directors have manoeuvred unconventional situations and made casting decisions that resulted in some of the best television of all time.
When The Door Closes For A Casting Call, The Window Might Open Later
In 2008, shortly after HBO ordered the pilot of the fantasy epic television series adaptation for the novel series A Song of Ice and Fire, the casting process of Game of Thrones informally began by the showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss who encouraged casting suggestions from fans in discussion boards online.
During the following year, some of the more experienced actors were getting cast for specific roles, with Peter Dinklage getting the role of Tyrion Lannister becoming the very first official casting announcement.Meanwhile, other roles went up for global casting calls, with candidates facing stiff competition and very specific requirements. The selection process aimed to deliver authenticity, so many of the younger character roles were realistically available to unknown, less experienced performers.
Amongst such candidates was English actress Emilia Clarke, who had just minor previous acting credits, yet applied for the key role of Daenerys Targaryen. Plot twist – she did not get the role! The job went to her fellow country-women Tamzin Merchant who starred as “Mother of Dragons” in the Pilot episode, shot in 2009.
The sometimes unfortunate reality is that getting cast for a TV show role whose series is not fully greenlit means that recasts are possible. This is exactly what happened following the Game of Thrones initial pilot episode – one of the complaints HBO had before they could agree to pick up the series was that Daenerys’ role must be recast.
Clarke returned to the auditions for the pilot episode’s reshoots. She impressed casting directors with her enthusiasm regarding the role. That even included the pilot’s controversial scene with Jason Mamoa’s Khal Drogo, which Merchant previously was not so delighted about, thus affecting the chemistry between both actors negatively.
The young actress managed to capture Daenerys’ complicity with her final audition performance, finally getting the role, which pretty much boosted her now-prolific career to whole new heights.
Making Casting Decisions With The Right Actors For The Wrong Roles
Amongst the numerous tasks casting directors have is to sort out a huge talent pool applied to the casting call and find the right person for the job. As it would be in other professions as well, while many apply to specific roles, there can be only one of these candidates who ultimately gets the acting gig. Often casting directors have to make a tough decision between amazing performers who fit the requirements flawlessly.
Yet, sometimes the actor might be amazing but absolutely not the right person for the particular role they applied for. Take the iconic television sitcom series Friends for example – could you imagine Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox as anyone else in the show but, respectively, Rachel and Monica?
Yet back in the early 1990s, the extensive casting process for the now beloved series had Aniston auditioning for the role of Monica Geller, while Cox was a candidate to become Rachel Green.
While Friends creators, David Crane and Marta Kauffman, as well as the casting staff, loved Aniston’s audition, they did not feel like she was the right actress for the role of Monica and cast her in an initially planned supporting character role. Meanwhile, Cox impressed them with her audition for the role of Rachel, yet again – it did not feel like the right match.
As the cast was almost rounded up, Cox was offered the role of Monica instead, and Aniston got the opportunity to become Rachel. Even Lisa Kudrow was a candidate for a different role, which she did not get, yet her personality seemed like a match for a more prominent role – as Phoebe, of course.
It was a brilliant example of how reshuffling of candidates by the casting staff can lead to amazing results for everyone involved, as well as to much delight for the viewers.
Sometimes Casting Calls Know No Borders & Here Is What It Means
As great as typing “auditions near me” may be, sometimes actors may have to think outside the box, with the box being their town or region, and the outside being, well, the world. Expansive and globally set big-budget productions rarely will be able to fill out their cast from local talent only, especially when aiming to have authentic portrayals of characters within the story.
That means the casting call will be on an international scale, with roles being offered to actors in various countries and regions, from different backgrounds and ethnicities.
It usually means that the project will likely be shot internationally as well. Catelyn Stark was another Game of Thrones role that initially cast a different actress, yet ultimately had to be recast. American actress Jennifer Ehle was the casting staff’s first choice and also appeared in the infamous unaired Pilot episode.
Ultimately the role of Catelyn Stark went to Northern Irish actress Michelle Fairley, yet unlike the Daenerys casting change, it was Ehle’s own decision to step away from the role. Her reason for it was that Game of Thrones required an extended stay in Ireland for shoots, and the actress did not want to leave her home for so long.
As exciting are casting calls on a global scale, actually getting the gig might require bigger sacrifices as well. Voice acting jobs are a great option for actors who wish to participate in global productions, yet might not be so eager to relocate.
