Casting Director Renee Godbout on the oddest ways she's found new talent

I’ve learned to always be prepared. Like actors, I keep a business card with me at all times. You never know when you’re going to run into the actor you’ve been looking for. Although I find most of my actors through submissions, talks I give, and online postings on InstantCast, there are always exceptions.

I went to a wedding last year for a friend of mine in the New York area. I had just received a script that mentioned ballroom dancers, so my mind was on the 20 high school dancers I was going to need. I was having a good time when I noticed a girl on the dance floor who was waltzing with her father. She looked a little older than a high-schooler, but not by much and I figured she was probably in college. When the next song came on, she excused herself and was probably headed for the bathroom until I stopped her.

I introduced myself, talked to her for a few moments about the TV show I was working on, and asked about her dance experience. I wasn’t surprised to hear she had been taking dance since junior high and had recent dabbled in a few ballroom courses in college. I gave her my card and insisted she call me. Two days later she called my office, emailed over a photo, and was cast as one of my dancers!

It seems like when you are most desperate to find a hard to cast part is when things seem to come together on their own. Creativity and finding the right people to help you are key. I recently worked on the Showtime pilot Nurse Jackie, starring Edie Falco, and needed to find a bike messenger with real experience.

I first looked for actors that had prior bike messenger experience but wasn’t getting too far. I finally decided to call the messenger service that we use in our office. The manager was so great there that he actually had his messengers stop by my office for a photo while they were working. It was quick, in and out, and gave the director some real bike messengers to choose from!

I couldn’t believe how easy something so difficult had become. And I could only imagine what those bike messengers thought, stopping by a casting office during work hours, with the opportunity to share a scene with Edie Falco! It was just a normal work day for them before they got the call to audition for a TV show.

Things happen when you least expect them to, and skills you think are just ordinary can become a hot commodity. You never know when opportunity will knock!

Renee Godbout - Freelance Casting Director. Renee Godbout recently worked on the first season of The CW's popular teen show Gossip Girl at Grant Wilfey Casting. Some past projects include 2 seasons of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, the pilot for Dirty Sexy Money, and the upcoming Jonathan Demme-directed Dancing with Shiva.

Have a question? Ask our experts!