#33: Matthew Lessall (Casting Director, former CSA-President)

In this episode I chat with casting director and recent Casting Society of America President, Matthew Lessall. Matt was previously director of feature film casting at 20th Century Fox, worked with Paramount Pictures Television Studios and currently casts an array of feature films, carving out a niche for himself in the industry as the go-to-guy for artists and directors wanting to find their next leading actor. Case in point, Matt cast Oscar-nominees Anna Kendrick and Timotheé Chalamet on the cusp of their mainstream breakout. We talk about how some actors are “stars” and others aren't, tips for filmmakers and actors (hint #1: chill out), how the audition process has changed and so much more in this refreshingly open and free-flowing conversation.