Casting directors are looking for you — the REAL you!

I’m going to start off with something potentially controversial… and later, I'll ask for your thoughts.?

The term “real people talent” is silly. I’ve met a lot of people, but I’ve never met an unreal person. Have you?

What casting directors really mean when they say they’re looking for “real people talent” is they’re looking for actors who are authentic. But that’s pretty vague too, isn’t it? Let’s unpack!

Why does authenticity matter?

There are three primary reasons that casting directors are looking for authentic talent when it comes to casting commercials or other advertisements:

The first reason is that it brings naturality to a performance, even if the performer isn’t an established or trained actor. Because authenticity brings the one thing even great actors can’t fake: experience. An actual firefighter will be able to more authentically play a firefighter than a hired actor will.

The second reason? Credibility. Real parents or health professionals might not be thespians, but they bring credibility to promoting products that actors don’t.

And the third reason: representation.

Are film, TV, and advertisement producers casting authentically?

Well…they’re getting there.

The answer to this question is everyone’s favorite: sometimes. Last year,?Speilberg’s remake of?West Side Story?corrected the original film’s error of casting European actors as Puerto Ricans by casting actual Latino talent. And Best Picture winner?CODA?made history with a largely deaf cast.

However, some communities are still overlooked when it comes to authentic casting. For example, characters in wheelchairs are almost never played by disabled performers and for LGBTQ+ parts it’s about 50/50.

Today’s question: Do you think authentic casting makes a difference? Or should the performer be given the role (within reason)?