To Cast or Not to Cast with Faith Abraham

In this episode of TatevTalks, host Tatev Sarkissyan sits down with Faith Abraham. Faith is a producer, writer, director and currently works in casting. We talk about her hilariously funny YouTube series called Birth Order and explore the intricacies of the entertainment industry. Faith discusses if she would ever go back to school and the way she manages her mental health.

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Guest: Faith Abraham | Casting Associate | Writer, Director, Producer 

Faith’s insta:
https://www.instagram.com/anneorfaith?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Birth Order insta:
https://www.instagram.com/birthordershow?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Link to Birth Order Youtube page:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtmcnyc5aNkQinASnS79zKQHcdVNnECsU&si=8r3VSUkpZoeAU_49

Credits:
Recorded and Produced by: @omnitherealproductions

Creative Consultant/Talent Booker: @diannneekara
Recorded at @mettameditationstudio
Music by @gorgeouzbeats‬

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome back to dot Hef Talks, where brains meet Banter. On this episode, we're joined with Faith Abraham. Stay tuned for more. I appreciate it. I'm so happy to have you here, mostly because you're an incredible human being, but also because you're from an industry that we have not yet had on the podcast yet. And I think it's really important to talk about you are an associate casting person.

SPEAKER_00 0:55

Yes, yes, casting associate. Yes, yes, perfect. Nailed it. Casting associate. Nailed it.

SPEAKER_01 1:00

Writer, director, producer.

SPEAKER_00 1:02

Trying East Coast native. You know me. Lebanese.

SPEAKER_01 1:05

You know me. Lebanese American.

SPEAKER_00 1:07

Wow, you make me sound so interesting. You are really interested. That's crazy.

SPEAKER_01 1:11

You're a member of the career community, and you have a club, or you're a part of a woman's club.

SPEAKER_00 1:15

So I created, yeah, that's like a women's, there's like a small group of us that um have been doing this now for almost three years, but it kind of started with people that were writing and producing, and we started in my apartment, ironically, and it was like 12 of us, maybe 10 of us, and it's like grown and just wanted to make a safe space for women, somewhere that they could that are in the industry or just in creative form, like have a space, be able to come, talk, dialogue, you know, pitch ideas, pitch concepts, just like fun, like how do we help each other make stuff? How do we be in the creative space? I don't know. I feel there's just so much that's happened in the industry with COVID and the strikes, and I think it's easy to be, I don't know, like let down or negative or uncertain. So I just wanted a place where people could come together and be creative. So you're a very interesting person. Ah, that's really sweet. I don't think so, but thank you. I'm so honored to be here.

SPEAKER_01 2:09

Absolutely. Thank you for coming. I'm very happy to have you. I we do probably for every episode a little segment just about academia and how academia has played your role in your success. So I know you went to undergrad. What did you get your degree in?

SPEAKER_00 2:23

So I was technically like a BA in cinema television. Okay. So I and then I think I technically minored and I took a bunch of theology courses. That was like a mandate of the school. And then I I think there was like other like side categories, but the first institution I attended, I was a theater major and then I minored in film and dance. Okay. So I kind of was always a theater person, but then transitioned into film.

SPEAKER_01 2:46

So and you didn't do grad school, correct?

SPEAKER_00 2:49

No, no, I wish. No, I you wish? Well, I feel like as a part of me, not that I would ever maybe do anything in the industry, but I I like I'm very much a student. Like I like, I it's just fun. I know, and it's like if I had the money.

SPEAKER_01 3:01

I you're you're speaking to the right.

SPEAKER_00 3:04

Like I love, I love I'm I'm really like, what is the quote? It's like she was a pleasure in class. That was me. Like I was always like, hey, happy to be here. Hi. Like I don't know. It was just like fun. And I loved, I knew it was like an I think education is like power, and like obviously the more informed you are, it allows more opportunity. And I knew where I grew up and how I grew up, like it was a way out. So I definitely, I don't know. I just always was like, I enjoyed the school, I enjoyed like curriculum and the structure, and uh, so yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:34

How would you describe your experience as an undergraduate student? Do you and part of this I feel like we should come out from a lens of like, do you think um maybe these are two separate questions, but do you think undergrad getting your degree, getting your BA is important for people who are trying to go into your field?

SPEAKER_00 3:51

So that's tricky. And I and I think it depends on the person. I was if you so the industry that I'm in, I think is if you're from LA or you're from New York, you're but from a large metropolis where there's access to the industry, I don't know that you necessarily need maybe the degree. I think you could start interning and start working with companies that, you know, might be more willing to, you know, like a grad, like a college, like a high school grad or someone that is hungry to learn. I think because it's the arts, I don't know that you always need a degree in the arts. I think it's, I mean, there's so many people in my industry that don't have degrees and like they have degrees, but not necessarily in the arts. Or they studied something completely, you know, and then they landed here. So I I think it just depends on the person. Um, I always think as like a woman, it's important to be informed. And I think even if you can't, like I would always encourage young women to have something that they can fall back on. So like my grandmother was like um very passionate about like her husband died very young, so she'd raise her three children on her own. And she was like, I don't care what you do, but you have to some a means of taking care of yourself so you're not contingent, like you're waiting for a man to catch the bag. So I've tried to apply that to myself as much as I can. And I think whether it's like the arts or if you're like, I, you know, can supplant my whatever my monetary income from I'm a hairdresser, I'm a stylist, something that's like, I love this thing. It's not what I do, but it allows me to do the thing that I love. I think you just have to be able to be mindful and take care of yourself in that way. But yeah, specifically for casting, I I mean, I think again, I was given an opportunity to attend like a program that connected me with context to LA, which I'm grateful for through the university I was attending. But if I was like from LA or from New York, or you know, I think you couldn't need the opportunity. And I've had friends, I've had like other very high level that are extremely bright, extremely talented, like that they're like, I didn't go to school. I just started interning right away and I got into casting. So I've seen both, and I think it's just a little both for you. I think it there's no right or wrong. It's just art is so subjective and a little unique, and you can learn it all as you go.

SPEAKER_01 5:53

So and based on the fact that you love school and education, I'm assuming you're happy you went to undergrad.

SPEAKER_00 5:59

I am, yeah. I think in hindsight, I'm very glad that I went and I'm glad to have had that experience. I I like did it further away from where I grew up, so it was like a different cultural experience for sure. Um, and yeah, it's ironic because I had studied theater so much growing up. Like I loved directing theater and like I would write little funny spoofs that I would perform in high school, and I didn't know that that would lead to film in any way. And being from the East Coast, it's like, oh, New York, New York, you know, New York, you're gonna live in New York, or maybe even like Chicago. But I never really like thought of LA. Like I was like, oh, film. Like, oh, I never okay, like it just felt very distant. So being here is kind of really ironic.

SPEAKER_01 6:37

But so I don't know if this is like a uncultured question of me, but East Coast is theater, what uh West Coast LA is film.

SPEAKER_00 6:45

It feels that way to me. Like I and maybe because like the high school I attended was like theater central, like it was like a performing arts, like okay. I mean, they had a media program, which was really great, and the woman that ran it was fantastic. But to me, it's like I studied theater, so maybe it was just like my perception was my reality. Like I only saw that, and I had so many friends that went to New York and Broadway and did all that kind of stuff, and I don't know, that just felt like the goal, not that I was gonna be on Broadway, but to like maybe direct theater. Um, but yeah, I loved film and it was like a I thought it was like kind of all the same, and it is in a way, uh sort of. I don't know. Like I I know people in theater film get very upset about it. But I love it. I love it all. But theater has my heart. I love working with actors, and that's what like kind of pushed me into directing. So And how do you feel like your experience in undergrad helped guide you here? Well, that's a great question. So I initially went to WVU, which I loved again, like the theater major dance and um like film minor. WVU is uh West Virginia University, yeah. And I had studied because I I had this very weird experience going to college. I it was odd. I like auditioned at a place. I auditioned because to get into like directing, you had to be in the theater program, which I can't act my way out of a box. Like I'm not a good actor. And I but you had to like act to get in to study directing like later in the program, which like I just in hindsight, there was a lot of flags.

SPEAKER_01 8:05

To study directing, you had to act?

SPEAKER_00 8:07

Yeah, it was like you were like a theater major, so they would do like directing courses, but you had to get in for like acting because it was yeah, it's a while, it was a right, it was a rot. I was never good. I was like never, I was just like happy to be there. But I was like, well, if I'm gonna get in, like because directing programs are traditionally more like graduate programs. Okay. So like undergrad is like a theater major, but then you'll do directing towards the end of your like like three or four years. So I was like, oh, that's like kind of like my high school. I'll do the same thing. But anyways, I when I was going to audition for all of these schools, I had been directing a one act. The one act was the exact week, and like they have very limited like audition windows. So I missed like the first four, which you're not supposed to because like that's when they pick their people. And then I only got like the last audition of everything and I had sinusitis, so I couldn't speak. I did like sing and talk, and I had like I couldn't speak. I was a horrendous. Needless to say, I really didn't get in anywhere. I applied to WVU because my one of my theater mentors at the time was like, they have a fantastic theater program. They're connected with the West Virginia Public Theater, which is a big equity theater on the East Coast. She's like, you might be able to like find mentoring, blah, blah, blah. And my family was from West Virginia, so I was like, okay, and you know, it was a few hours from where I grew up, and so I went there for my freshman year. And I should have never should have left. I never should have left because I loved it, and everybody was so lovely and kind and warm and I enjoyed it. But then I transferred, I had like a little quarter life crisis, and I took a semester off and I like worked in Michigan at this resort that I really loved. And then I went to this other university that will not be named and not a great experience. But I graduated, got through it, and um it was a journey, it was a journey, but you know what? We're here, we're here, we're queer, we did it. We are not circling back on that one. It was horrendous. But hey, you know what? They each their own. To each their own. Not just not for me. But I am a proud, I like a WVU person. I'm very I was very proud to have gone there and to be a mountaineer, and like those kids were so fantastically awesome and wonderful, and yeah, it was a great experience.

SPEAKER_01 10:07

That's so nice. I wouldn't expect that, honestly. Fair Virginia, you know?

SPEAKER_00 10:13

I mean, totally, yeah. I feel like it's West Virginia, like the people are so I don't know, like it's coming from like Western Pennsylvania, like it was a very blue collar, everyone like um prestigious like a medical program and like different things and the creative arts center where like we did different things for like the theater program was really built out and like it was just really it was really fabulous, and I there's certain things you do, but you know what, it's okay. Like the uh going to the second university, I met lifelong friends and mentors, and there was like definitely moments of like connection that I'm excited. I was excited to I'm forever grateful and excited to have those, but I did love WVU.

SPEAKER_01 10:52

Um, and that both universities were on the East Coast?

SPEAKER_00 10:56

Yes. So one was like Morgantown, and then one was uh not in West Virginia, the other was elsewhere.

SPEAKER_01 11:01

Okay. And how did you end up in LA?

SPEAKER_00 11:04

So LA there was a program at the univers well, the second of university I attended where it was like you could go to LA to like study abroad if you will, which is how funny like study abroad.

SPEAKER_01 11:12

That is so hilarious right now. She's like for anyone listening, she's Arab cool.

SPEAKER_00 11:16

Because it's so funny, because I'm like abroad, it's the same country, but but but it did not like from the East Coast, it was like, oh my gosh, LA, crazy. Um, like that's so far away. That's so crazy. That's so far away. It's so crazy. Um But we I was the first person to go, and I came out.

SPEAKER_01 11:32

You were the first person in your university to go to the study abroad program.

SPEAKER_00 11:36

Yeah, they were like, you should do this, and I was like, well to LA or ever?

SPEAKER_01 11:40

Like they just never had I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 11:42

I think there's other I have no idea. This like program that I attended, I think had other like hubs that weren't LA.

SPEAKER_01 11:49

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 11:50

I'm not really sure. I think so. But the program I attended that was specifically in LA, nobody had attended until I was like, hey.

SPEAKER_01 11:56

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 11:57

I just you know friendsetter. No, you're very Frailblazer? No, it's uh I just was like, oh my god, the West Coast. Uh why not? Um I was like, let's do it. Uh and I drove out here and I brought You drove out here? We drove across country. My myself and my very good friend, who was my roommate, who the lovely Diane who brought me on the podcast also knows, she and I drove out. It was like my last semester of my senior year, and the last semester of her, I believe, junior year. So she went back and finished.

SPEAKER_01 12:23

So cute.

SPEAKER_00 12:24

And now she's out here too, and she stuck with me.

SPEAKER_01 12:26

So you guys came to LA, loved it, and decided to stay here.

SPEAKER_00 12:29

Basically, yeah, she was like, let's stay. Like I went home after I graduated from the program in like school. I worked for seven months to save money, you know. And then I came back at like top of 2016 and been here ever since. 2016.

SPEAKER_01 12:42

Congratulations.

SPEAKER_00 12:42

Thank you. That's crazy.

SPEAKER_01 12:44

That's a whole decade.

SPEAKER_00 12:46

That's a whole decade.

SPEAKER_01 12:47

I just have one more uh question about academia and then we'll come into the casting stuff. Um, would you go back? Do you ever consider about going back to grad school?

SPEAKER_00 12:56

That's a great question. I feel like I I don't know. I feel if I did, it would be something not maybe specific to the industry.

SPEAKER_01 13:06

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 13:06

I think I would it's funny, I have a lot about like picking up a trade. I'm not, I would love to interesting.

SPEAKER_01 13:11

What kind of a trade?

SPEAKER_00 13:12

I don't know, like maybe electrician, a little plumber, a little moment.

SPEAKER_01 13:14

You're kidding. Are you saying no?

SPEAKER_00 13:15

I'm like, why not? Like, also, like, I'm like trying to make a trick. Like, what if everything goes? What if AI is coming for me? AI can't fix the toilet. I don't know. Maybe maybe that's naive humanoids. What?

SPEAKER_01 13:27

They have humanoids. They've the White House. I don't know if everybody saw that. I don't want to talk about that because like I think I will just perish.

SPEAKER_02 13:34

I'm just like panicking.

SPEAKER_01 13:35

They the White House came out with like a oh humanoid, like with arms and legs.

SPEAKER_00 13:40

Like, are they fixing the toilets?

SPEAKER_01 13:41

They I think they're going to. So I don't know if that's like, you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:46

No, that's fine.

SPEAKER_01 13:46

I mean, they're coming for educators.

SPEAKER_00 13:48

Everyone, everyone's in trouble. I just was like, you know, if I went back to school, it'd probably be something that like practical. Practical.

SPEAKER_01 13:54

But that's sad.

SPEAKER_00 13:56

But I'd love to like also no, I so it's just hey, we're just trying to pay our bills. Uh that's my only thought. Or like totally random, I would be like something adjacent. And I do like theology and I do like um some kind of like ancient like study or hyst like history as well. I like all that kinds of stuff. Real big, I'm really excited. I'm real, real cool. Right as a kid.

SPEAKER_01 14:19

So they use the So you are a casting associate. Yes. What does that mean? For people who don't know.

SPEAKER_00 14:25

That's a great uh great question. I so basically the day-to-day is we liaison between actors and like creatives, whether writers, producers, directors, and at work studio, um, we're the people that are presenting like auditions or materials for roles. So, you know, let's say like you're producing a episodic show or a feature, you would hire me as like the freelance casting director or associate. Um, you would give us a script, we would break it down, we would, you know, look at all the roles, get a sense of like who's gonna come locally. If you're shooting on location, like maybe there's people we can save money on and allocate costs towards that. So you bring people from local, like local pools of talent. Um but yeah, so we I've worked in television and film, done some commercials in theater. Uh I think I my heart really is directing, so I love working with actors and I like the story of it all and the process. So um casting is a predominantly like female-centric role that's above the line, which is really awesome to see, and it's cool to see like how women like are able to champion like themselves and like actors in the room. I think it's a such a great um medium. I love casting.

SPEAKER_01 15:32

But you mentioned the term above the line. Do you mind explaining that?

SPEAKER_00 15:35

Oh, I'm sorry, yes, of course, of course. Uh so above the line is positions like if you think of like writing, producing, directing, people that are like making I want to be mindful of my verbiage because I really love the crew and I don't want below the line to feel like they're not as involved. But above the line is traditionally more like pre-production. Like the writer, the producer, people that are maybe getting the funds to make it happen or the connections, or like the casting person is attaching an actor, which like maybe warrants the budget or brings in different investors. And then below the line becomes people that are like your crew that are like on set. So the people that are more like um gaffing, lighting, people that are coming in crafty, hair and makeup, you know, they're the just like the six-week run or however long the production is. Yeah, actual production um yeah, and then post-production is like your editors, your VFX kind of stuff.

SPEAKER_01 16:21

So awesome. And how'd you get into casting specifically? Like how what uh called you to casting?

SPEAKER_00 16:28

Um, that's a great question. I uh had a lot of people that were I had mentioned wanted to get into directing, and a lot of people were like, you should try casting. It's a great media, like it's a great way to kind of be involved in above the line decisions. You're like early stages of production. Um it will connect you to writers and producers if you want to get into directing, and it's like so female dominant that you know it might be easier, kind of it's really difficult, obviously, to get into directing, just generally, not to mention like being a woman, right? You know, any of the other things.

SPEAKER_01 16:57

Any of the other identity. Any of the other identity.

SPEAKER_00 16:59

Yeah, so it's difficult, but um yeah, I fell in love and it and it was just really a way to access talent. Like I had so much, I would work with them in the room, and it was creative, but also a little admin, like you know, you're doing all paperwork and deals, and it's interesting, like you close a deal and you're communicating with an agent or a manager who likely went to law school and has all the verbiage and the the you know what to say, but not to say it how to, and you know, you I didn't obviously I sadly didn't go to law school. Um, but you know, you're going toe to toe, if you will, to negotiate and um you're just learning a lot and it's a lot of fun, and there's so much that I think casting can bring to a project and oh for sure. Yeah, I think it can make or break a project, not to be like oh casting, but it is, I think.

SPEAKER_01 17:44

But it is, I think earlier we were talking about um of a movie we both watched that we were just like the roles that they cast for that specific movie. Like, we don't know if we agreed with that, and I'm I'm not in film at all, but like just watching it, you have to be invested, and being invested comes from the actors who are on the screen, right?

SPEAKER_00 18:02

Totally. I think it's relatability. I think everyone that works in film is a storyteller, but you know, especially for people that aren't in the industry, you know, that are watching it as just you know, for the sake of the entertainment and the value and the art and the craft, it's like they just want to feel connection, they want to feel, you know, find themselves the relatability. And I think if you don't have that in the cast, I think it's very easy for people, again, that aren't in the business to like not connect with it, to not find themselves enjoying the project. And that's hard because the sort of business is like we have to connect with our audience. Um, so yeah, I think it's critical in that sense. I think you have to really find relatable, you know, creatively make sense, you know, that the audience will be like, ah, I know this person, or I am this person, or I've experienced this person.

SPEAKER_01 18:48

Yeah. I mean, I feel the same way about teaching, like to have a good experience in academia and education, you have to have teachers that make you feel like you belong and you are seen as a teacher. Totally. You can make it in this world because there are people who have already made it that look like you, that act like you, that talk like you, that come from your background, right? And so I think casting is such a crucial role. I just think that often we don't think about it. Sure. Which is so interesting of like how you got to this role because it's not something that I think when you're growing up watching TVs and movies, you're not like, ah, the casting director really did that there, you know? Yeah, they really chose that choice. Yeah, they really chose that choice. We don't really give that credit, I think, either. You were telling me earlier that it was the first time ever that um a casting people had been nominated in the Grammys this year.

SPEAKER_00 19:39

Yeah, so this is the first um Oscars. Oscars, yes, no, no, no. It's it's a tremendous win for the craft for casting. I like told someone I was like, I don't even care. Like, I just want someone to win. Like it's just the honor of being there. Like, it's not about the win per se, it's just about we were acknowledged. Recognized. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's huge. The acknowledgement is huge, it's huge from the academy itself, from other casting professionals, from other people above the line. And I think it's you know, like you said, like you don't know what you don't know. Yeah, hopefully, like the more that we're much like a good teacher, as you're saying, like if you know your student is an auditory learner or a visual learner, like you want to speak to the things because it makes them feel included. That's casting too, you know, like having that inclusion of we're so excited to have this casting director, it makes us feel wanted.

SPEAKER_01 20:23

And like it's great, it's beautiful, which I'm so happy for you, by the way. Congratulations. Thank you. Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_00 20:28

I mean, thank you.

SPEAKER_01 20:29

One day you'll make it on that list. I that would be really exciting.

SPEAKER_00 20:32

That would be crazy. I would be so honored to be. I mean, for all the women before me, like it's I mean, men, there's a lot of men also in casting, but yeah, it's just a a tremendous like moment for them.

SPEAKER_01 20:41

Well, it's nice that even in even in um media in any of the roles that this one's a woman-dominated kind of role.

SPEAKER_00 20:48

Yeah, I think statistically it's like 70% or 80%, it's a very high number of women that are in casting. That's amazing. And the queer community. It's very so it's it's cool. It's a very safe space. And I think I'm fortunate, like my current boss, I really love her. She's such a leader. Um, she's really uh iconic, if you will. But um, it's really cool. And and I think the best part of casting for me and being on this journey as long as I've been, it's it's not it's the journey of watching the other actor book that life-changing role. Yeah. You know, like when you watch someone book their first co-star and then their first guest star and then recurring, and then you make the call to the agent or manager that's like, oh my god, Tataf, she's gonna book, you know, the series regular role, and she's gonna make crazy, like this is gonna change her life, you know. Those conversations like make the make the job, make the journey because you see, and like they come in and you're crying and you're crying together, and you're so happy, you're like so elated. It's like your win is their win.

SPEAKER_01 21:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:46

And it's so tra I just it's fantastic. I can't. I don't know, it's like it's almost like if you met someone maybe like pre like undergrad and then they made it all the way through like grad school. Yeah, and then they're doctorate and you see them like, you know, get placed in, you know. They get whatever the their placement in their favorite surgical operation, whatever the opportunity is. It's like, oh wow, you did the thing, and I'm so proud.

SPEAKER_01 22:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:07

Because it's so, so hard.

SPEAKER_01 22:08

It's so hard.

SPEAKER_00 22:09

It's so hard. I've so empathize for actors because it's so impossible. And it's and they're so good at what they do. Yeah. And you love them so much. I'm like very protective of my actors, and I'm very like, well, I would love to hear two two stories.

SPEAKER_01 22:23

One particularly about like maybe one of the more favorite roles that you've cast that you feel like really was a success and it worked really well. And maybe a story if you have one about something that you cast that just did not work. Someone that you cast that did not work, or oh, interesting. Or like um if not that particularly, something you watched and you were like, that was a terrible choice.

SPEAKER_00 22:45

Oh, I love. Okay. Ooh, okay. I think a personal I'm thinking of a personal goal. I and I uh so my uh something I do, which I think is like most actors, maybe not an instance of one, but something I think you we all try to do in casting is like working as an associate and working with a casting director. What we have this weird role of you have to juggle not only like okay, subjectively, who do I like? Who do I creatively think fits, but also who's my boss gonna respond to? Who's the director of the episode gonna respond to? The studio exec, you know, down the line, the network. Like there's so many people to appease that you kind of have to keep your own creative vision as well as like juggling the rest. And a lot of times when I'm working with actors in the room, you know, you'll give like a redirect or ask them to do something differently, and they threw like, oh, the performance. I'm like, no, no, no, your performance is fantastic. I like your choices. It's just I know what's gonna get you the job. Like I kind of know what they're responding to based on like X amount of episodes we've already cast. And you know, it's like I'm thinking of like if it's a Ryan Murphy show or Sonda Ryan, whoever the big showrunner is, it's like you want the actor to mirror what you think, you know is like lives most in that world, if it makes sense. I don't know if I'm making sense, but you're making sense. Um, thank you. But um, but that said, it's like having that language and being comfortable with the actor to get them there is so much of my job. But um, what I love to do in terms of like my like favorite exp am I earning quote, everything. Oh, just slow down. I why am I doing that? Because it's not a hypothetical. You're actually doing this. Hello. Um, I think my favorite thing in terms of like actors I've enjoyed or the moments I've had casting is when my bosses over the years have really liked someone and I like them in the room and I'll mark them or I'll note them, and then they love them and put them forward. I'm like, oh, I'm not like I'm not an idiot. I know what I'm doing. Yes. Like there's a validation of, oh, I really like what they did. And then like then I get excited, and then my boss is like, oh, I love that too. I'm like, no, no, watch this take, watch this take. It's really good. You know, they should be like, you know, second or third on the link or whatever. You know, you're like, you get really excited, and then you see your boss get excited, and it's like, oh, like the kind of reassurance of like, oh, I know what I'm doing. And I'm not only like my learning my own taste and becoming my own casting director, it's also seeing what that casting director likes too.

SPEAKER_01 24:55

Right. Well, that sounds a little bit like imposter syndrome to me.

SPEAKER_00 24:59

Oh, total, a thousand percent.

SPEAKER_01 25:00

Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_00 25:01

Yeah, where you're kind of like, well, and also too, it's like it's like an apprenticeship in a way. You're kind of like looking at this casting director and being like, how do I become this thing in a way? How do I find that connect? Like, what is it that they do that I should be doing? How are they operating that I'm not? So I think that is like my favorite thing when it comes to favorite roles that I've cast or positive things is applying what I'm learning in that office to that show or that casting director. To be like, oh, I really just loved Diane's audition. She's so great. Does she do XYZ? And will the casting director think the same? Oh, they do? Okay, great. Like I'm doing the thing, I'm learning the thing. Um, that's been like really rewarding. Uh and everyone's taste is a little different, not like good, bad, it's just everyone's a little different. Um, much like a showrunner, all stylistically a little different. Um, which I try to like help with the actors too, and then like inform them and tell them those things. Um, but yeah, that's been great. And then things that I'm like, oh, I didn't agree with that.

SPEAKER_01 26:00

Yeah, or like a movie you watched where you were like suspended. That was a that was not a good choice. Like that was a choice.

SPEAKER_00 26:07

That's a really interesting. I feel like what happens a lot, and I empathize for the casting directors. Sometimes, like, so we have a term called like offer only, okay, where an actor will not audition and they won't like chem read or they won't meet with the other actor. Sometimes, because I've had people tell me this, and I'm like, that's true. Well, you'll watch a performance, a show, a feature, whatever, and you just don't feel the chemistry. You watch these two actors and you're like, it's not driving for me. I don't feel it, I'm not connecting to them, I don't feel they don't feel relatable, whatever. I think sometimes, which isn't always because it's like obviously so many actors are offer-only and aren't doing those things, some instances it can like backfire. And if you don't see that chemistry initially in an audition or like in a test or something, then like you watch the movie, it's I don't know. If yeah, it feels like a little like put on or maybe manufactured, and it doesn't feel as like maybe as authentic. And it's something I didn't even clock until someone else who was in casting was like, Well, you can always kind of tell the offer only. And I was like, Oh, I didn't even that was like very early days of casting. Someone told that to me, and I was like, Oh, that's interesting.

SPEAKER_01 27:11

So it's offer-only, like really famous, very posh people.

SPEAKER_00 27:16

Oh, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 27:17

So essentially, like an they want to attach a name to the movie, sure, exactly.

SPEAKER_00 27:20

Like a bigger name, like A-list star isn't gonna like audition, which they shouldn't, like that's they're not at that level. Um, and sometimes like someone had said that to me. I don't remember who it was, but I was like, that's such a good nugget. It was like, oh, sometimes not always, that's maybe the difference. And and who's to say? I don't mean sometimes two people like do a chemistry read, and it also on camera doesn't always click. I don't think it's just the offer only, but someone said that, and I was like, oh, like that's true. That's there's I see I see what they're saying. Like sometimes it is good to work with people in the room to see if the chemistry appears on camera. Because that matters a lot to how totally, which is not fault of the actors really either. It's just sometimes like how it shakes down. It just doesn't work. Yeah, you just can't help it. It's like an honest mistake.

SPEAKER_01 28:02

Yeah, and chemistry is not like easily faked, I would say.

SPEAKER_00 28:05

No, it's hard, it's very hard. Again, I empathize for the actor, it's very hard. And you they may not either, like they might book the role, and then the next day they found out, oh, you're gonna be like opposite this very and you're like, oh, okay, great. Like, wow, let's see what happens. You know, I think it's it's can be very quick and very like so. There's a lot of on the casting side and a lot, and like who knows? It's like the casting director might have cast the female lead. Months later, you get the male lead. It's like, who knows? Like, there's so many variables.

SPEAKER_01 28:31

But how long does casting usually take?

SPEAKER_00 28:33

It features are longer than television. Television is pretty quick. Television is like you usually have like a week and a half-ish, if you're lucky, like for an episode, like it's usually pretty fast moving, but features can be like months. They can yeah, like you could get a script, and then depending on how quick the timeline is or the money, you know, whatever, like the if it's an investment, or if you're like whatever, if you're looking for investors, like it can be in various stages, but a lot of studio features will give you time, they'll give you like eight weeks, twelve weeks to work on something, look for people. Because it's you know, it's you're really creatively like marinating on the the roles, the types, all the things, and it's much longer lists, much more, you know, a lot more auditioning, longer process.

SPEAKER_01 29:11

Okay. Wow, that's insane. But a week sounds like a short period of time to try to find someone for an episode.

SPEAKER_00 29:16

Yeah, TV's quick. I mean, I've worked on some shows where you have like two days and it's crazy. What? Yeah, you're like yeah, you're really moving and shaking, and yeah.

SPEAKER_01 29:26

Are you uh comfortable talking about what shows you've worked on? Like can you name it? You could do like a real quick name drop.

SPEAKER_00 29:31

Oh yeah, real quick um real quick hype yourself up. Hype myself. Well, yeah, so we just so I just helped Alexis, my boss. We cast two films for my West Producing Company, Capital. We did one mile and one more mile, which was really fun, or One Mile Chapter One, One Mile, Chapter Two. Um, that was really great to work with her because we cast like some of the larger, like local, like leading roles, if you will. And then the supporting roles came from Canada, which they did um, like a local casting director, and she was fantastic. Um, what else? That it's like more I'm not like I oversee projects like DMV and Watson. I'm not the active casting director, but we helped oversee them as a studio, which we did that. DMV, the Shy, the The Shy is like one of the projects we have. The crutch. I'm trying to think of now that I'm like on the spot, the neighborhood.

SPEAKER_02 30:13

Oh, I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_00 30:14

No, no, no, you're fine. You did nothing. I'm sorry, I'm like, no, no, it's okay. It's all right. Um, but yeah, so there's that, and then before that, I was working freelance. I did like sheriff country, CSI V, all like kind of procedural stuff. It was fun. Yeah, features and I had done earlier and then I moved into TV, so which was nice.

SPEAKER_01 30:31

Do you want to um because I also know you write and you produce, you have your own YouTube series as well. I know that too. Oh, yeah, yeah. I just want to know if you plan on staying in casting or you want to go more towards like writing and directing.

SPEAKER_00 30:45

So, yeah, I think eventually I'd love to like produce and direct. The writing is like very that's hard. The writing is hard. Writing is very hard, but it was a great like learning experience, and I'm thankful for it for sure. Um, but I think like producing and directing feels more of my heart of what I'm, you know, and and I do love casting. I think there's a lot of casting that feels like producing at different points, especially like in the indie space where you're attaching people and trying to help with the budget, and um yeah, I really love that element of casting. But uh eventually, yeah, I think so. The if I could like ideally freelance, produce, direct, that'd be great. What was the name of the YouTube series? Oh, yeah, so it's called Birth Order. It's a lot of laughs. We shot it in like 11 days. It was crazy. Um, it was so fast, so insane. But it's um Vanessa St. Clair, who's like my like adopted little sister. She's awesome. She's like super on the come up in comedy. She's fantastic, amazing. Um, she is like the co-lead, and then she and I like co-produced and wrote and directed everything. Um yeah, it was a lot of fun.

SPEAKER_01 31:44

We wrote Are you also in it? No, oh god, no, I'm sorry, I can echo out of a box. Okay, sorry, sorry. Um, I heard co-lead, and I thought you meant like oh not myself wrote it and both acted in it.

SPEAKER_00 31:54

Oh no, that's so that's so fair. That's so valid. Uh uh so sorry. No, she was like we loosely based it on like our dynamic. Okay, but um she like helped them like we wrote everything, direct, produced, and then she played like this role that we had come up with that was like her, like a version of her, not her, but like a version of like something fun, very um like you know, you obnoxious a little. That's obviously not her at all. Um, but and then we had an actress Emily Vanny who played my role, who was like her older sister. So yeah. So cute. Yeah, I can't act my way out of it. Please God, no. That would be horrendous. I would no one would watch.

SPEAKER_01 32:28

That would be I mean, you have so many roles already casting, writing, producing, directing. So I think you're thank you. You've you've reached the limit on it. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 32:38

No, thank you. Yeah, uh, but it was fun. It was crazy. We have our last two episodes that are gonna come out hopefully in the next like few weeks. We have our awesome yeah, episode eight and then our finale, which will be fun. Um, but yeah, I'm really excited. Like Vanessa is so funny, like it's just a great, it's a great little moment. And I think like the sisters are cool. Yeah, it's fun.

SPEAKER_01 32:56

So this was a side, like you work your full-time job and you just did this on the side. Yeah, yeah. Wow, it's amazing.

SPEAKER_00 33:03

That was crazy. I was working like however 50, 60 hours a week at my regular job, and then every weekend was just shooting 12-hour days. And yes, it was crazy. It was fun. Diane, my friend who brought me on here, we love she ended up. We love Diane. She ended up um helping us. She came to like set, and she was like in the background, it was really fun, it was amazing. So it was like cool to how long did it take you to like film the whole thing? It's like eight episodes. Yeah, so it was like technically nine episodes, and we shot it over like 11 days, and then we Wow, yeah, it was crazy. We were like cross-boarding episodes, so we would shoot multiple scenes from different episodes every day because we were like location-based, so we could really utilize the space. But it was fun. Like, you know, honestly, we had like no money and no time, but I'm very proud of what we did in such a short amount of time.

SPEAKER_01 33:48

And it's on YouTube for everyone who wants to be able to do it.

SPEAKER_00 33:50

It's on YouTube, yes, yes, yes. It's on um Vanessa St. Clair's channel, which she also has a bunch of great sketches as well. Check those out.

SPEAKER_01 33:56

And we'll give the link in the channel. Oh, yeah, I'll send this to you guys. So fantastic.

SPEAKER_00 34:02

Yeah, um, but yeah, it's fun, it's really cool. So I think like Vanessa and Emily, like they look it's great. You know, we it was such an experience, like learning and the two of them together. Like we've had a lot of compliments with like their chemistry and people really like them. So it's cool.

SPEAKER_01 34:16

Do you have any other projects you're working on right now?

SPEAKER_00 34:18

Um, there's a couple things. So my roommate, she's super fantastic, also friends with Diane. I love her. I have to stop saying fantastic and a new adjective. Um, she she and I are working on like some fun like doc things that we kind of have in the mix. We have a short film that a friend of mine had reached out to help her shoot, which I'm really excited about. Um, and then I'm trying to like I've had like indie friends that are making features that I might be helping down the road with casting.

SPEAKER_01 34:41

With casting.

SPEAKER_00 34:42

Um, but we'll see. I mean, nothing like firm firm.

SPEAKER_01 34:44

Anything you're like directing or writing?

SPEAKER_00 34:47

Um, not writing, but there's something like I think the documentary that my roommate and I are working on, I'll probably help her like with information. And it's about like women in the 20th century. Oh wow. People that like women that shape the 20th century because it's important, you know.

SPEAKER_01 34:59

It's very important.

SPEAKER_00 35:00

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, so excited for that. And then um, I think yeah, and then I I just helped a friend of mine on an indie film. I think that will come out. Hopefully, well, they just shot it, so it'll probably be a minute, but I'll be interested to see what happens with that. I helped them with casting, it was so fun, it was awesome. Female director, she was fantastic.

SPEAKER_01 35:16

Nikki I really love the way you talk about your job. Like you're so um passionate and happy about what you do.

SPEAKER_00 35:23

That's the 50 grams of Alexapro. Like, I'm over here, like, hey, please don't take Lexapro unless your doctor prescribes it to you. Mine is prescribed, prescribed. I just have to have to say that because some people just you know they're out here wild. And no, I um no, I do love it.

SPEAKER_01 35:41

Don't take Lexapro unless you have to take Lexapro, okay? Talk to a psychiatrist.

unknown 35:46

I need it.

SPEAKER_00 35:49

No, I feel like it's so funny. I I mean I do, I love casting and I'm passionate about it, but I'm also like Lexapro. It's crazy.

SPEAKER_01 35:57

I'm sorry. I I truly believe in my heart, like deep down, I truly believe that if you didn't love your job, there was no way Lexapro was doing anything. Oh heck no.

SPEAKER_00 36:07

It's just a but it's just it's just a bonus.

SPEAKER_01 36:09

Yes, unfortunately, I know a lot of people on Lexapro. Do you really? That's fantastic. Um, they don't all talk like you know about their about their job. So just FYI, just because you take Lexapro doesn't mean you're gonna talk like faith about your job. Okay, so just disclose it explain because you know, I like work in a field where people are highly or like easily come by the idea that taking medication will just fix everything. Sure, sure. Totally just don't agree with it.

SPEAKER_00 36:37

No, I I and that's I actually really love so the psychiatrist I'm working with, Icon. She and I were talking and she was like, I'm only first of all, let me side tangent about Lexapro. Yes, please. I okay. So I got on it at whatever like when I the milligrams were like higher than the norm, let's just say, and I was dialoguing with different people about it. They're like, oh, I'm taking like five.

SPEAKER_01 36:56

I love that you just said I was dialoguing with people.

SPEAKER_00 36:59

I was like, do yapping, and I'm like, hey, and they're like, I'm taking five, I'm taking 10, and then I'm like, oh, I'm taking 50. Immediately, people were like, Are you okay? Like, immediately people come up to me, they're like, girly pop, are you good? And I'm like, no, I'm not good. Like, they're like, girly pop, are you okay? And I'm like, We're not okay. And I was like, is that bad? Someone, it was like so sweet. People were so nice. They were like, Oh yeah, I'm taking like five, and then I'm gonna jump up to 10. And I was like, really riding that like great high at 10. And I'm like, what are you taking? I'm like 50, and someone was like 15. I was like, no, no, five, oh, five fifty. And every person I said that to, they like grabbed me by my wrist and they're like, Are you okay? Like, blink twice if you need help. Literally, and I'm like, No, yes, obviously, hello, like hello, like obviously, but it was just really funny because everyone's like, Oh, I'm taking like such a low dose. And I'm like, Yeah, me too.

SPEAKER_01 37:53

Um, I stopped talking about it.

SPEAKER_00 37:54

Your psychiatrist, she's an icon, so she was telling me that basically I'm doing this now because we're gonna start EMDR. Okay, which I'm very excited to do. Yes, and she was like, We want you to feel like in a good spot, basically, mentally, and like good before because it's like a lot of trauma and like rehashing.

SPEAKER_01 38:11

Well, talk about what you if you're comfortable talking about what the MDR is. Go ahead.

SPEAKER_00 38:15

Yeah, so I've only done a few like tests, if you will, but it's basically like app it like um rapid like eye movement. And what they do is they are rewriting like the neuropathways in your brain. I'm sure there's a much loftier way to say this. It's all good. They're like we like the I'm pretty like layman's terms. Love the layman's terms. It's like eight and one. There's no nine. Come on. But like I, for anybody that danced, Diane. Um, but so anybody, thank you, Diane. I um Hi, Diane. Hi, Diane. Happy to be here, happy to be here. Um, they they rewrite these like neural pathways so that when you like it's like you won't never not be triggered by that traumatic event. It just makes it like easier to process.

SPEAKER_01 38:54

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 38:55

Which I what a resource, you know?

SPEAKER_01 38:57

Right.

SPEAKER_00 38:58

And I'm and that's what's so cool. Like my psychiatrist is like, I don't want you to be on this medicine forever.

SPEAKER_01 39:02

She's very like, this is just to get you Okay, because that's what's like she put you on 50 milligrams of Lexapro off the bat. She was like, girly, bah. Off the bat. She was like, bah, 50 milligrams. Like, that's I was a bit wild, dude.

SPEAKER_00 39:14

It's like a lot of left field. I didn't think it was anything. I was like, this is normal. Not normal. Not normal.

SPEAKER_02 39:19

Not normal.

SPEAKER_00 39:20

No, not the hard way. But she was so cool because she was like, this is just to get you to the place quickly, more efficiently, okay. So we can like do the work and then you can like come down off it. Like, we're going to like, she's like, my goal is not to get down.

SPEAKER_01 39:30

There's a plan to come off.

SPEAKER_00 39:31

There's a plan, okay, which we love her for, which I really respected because she said that to me even before the medicine. She was like, I'm not someone that's like, you need to be on this the rest of your life. Yes. You need this as like it's a tool to help you do the work that you need to do. And I was like, wow, that's a great way to look at it.

SPEAKER_01 39:45

Like, I I think this is really important because it's not that I'm against um taking medication for anything come off. If you need it, you need it, but you need to need it, you know what I mean? Like, I think there's a lot of steps that come before putting your brain and body on total medication, um, which which can be so many things for so many different people, but agree in in any case, and a plan about how you're doing the medication because I think a lot of people um go on an anything, not just LexaPro, but anything incorrectly. I agreed. Um, either without talking to a psychiatrist or talking to a psychiatrist and then not listening to the psychiatrist, also or psychiatrist is just not a good doctor. There are some not good doctors out there. Oh, absolutely. Okay, so just be being really cautious about what you're putting into your body is important. And having a plan of like totally you can't be on this forever, you know, like in general, anyone, and so yeah, so that's important. So I'm I'm happy to hear that.

SPEAKER_00 40:44

You know, me too. She was uh like super iconic, super lovely, just a good, a good vibe. And um but yeah, no, she was very like plan oriented, steps, and it it just made me feel very taken care of. That's awesome, and checks in a lot, which is cool. She's like very on it, very like let's check in, let's make these steps.

SPEAKER_01 41:02

And and when are you um have you started your EMDR yet?

SPEAKER_00 41:05

I've only done technically, like we've talked about it a few instances, but I've done like one trial.

SPEAKER_01 41:10

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 41:10

Um, which I enjoyed so far, it's been positive. Um, I think she's like, I need to wait X amount of weeks for another one. Basically, like the medicine to kind of also work, if you will.

SPEAKER_01 41:21

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 41:21

Um, but once I'm in like a good place in terms of the length of the medicine, she's like, we can start more of like the weekly or bi-weekly kind of sessions, which would be great. Wow, that's I look into like TMS too. Like I'm very uh pro like finding what works for you. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 41:34

So you have to come back and we'll talk about what is circle back. Circle back to circle back and figure out what happened with the medication and the EMDR. I think that's a very, like, very interesting topic that would be really beneficial.

SPEAKER_00 41:49

I wish people talked about it more too, because I think it's like we're all I don't know, it's like I don't know, I don't want to like remove the stigma with it. It's like it's so important. And people I don't know, like I grew up in that mentality, like my family didn't talk about it. It's very like you just don't, but it's like with the more informed you are, it's power.

SPEAKER_01 42:04

The more informed you are is power. I also think that a lot of people think EMDR is just for famous people, which is not sure true.

SPEAKER_00 42:11

No, I didn't even know. Yeah, no, it's for everyone, it's for anyone. Yeah, and my the doctor I'm with, like she's very passionate about other forms, and they're like going to DC and they're trying to make it more accessible for people. And I just love that she's like, everybody should have access to these things, right? It's not just for XM or XYZ person.

SPEAKER_01 42:29

Absolutely, it's not, and and everyone should know what it is, so then they're not like, oh my god, like it's not conversion therapy, I guess. Like that that's off the table, but it's it is an important type of therapy that works for a lot of people. So that's important. I think the other thing I would really like, I know this is so off topic. We love from what we had planned to talk about today, but um, the other thing I would love to know is like how'd you find your therapist? You don't have to name her if you don't want to, but just how'd you like um come to find out what the fit was for you? You know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_00 43:01

Yeah, I literally I mean, as as interesting as it is, I went on to my um application through my phone. Like they had it from the insurance that I had. Okay. And it was like, here's our therapy, like our therapy app, if you will. I don't remember what the how exactly I got to it, but I downloaded it, checked it out, like look specifically for people that specialized in EMDR. I met with like a different therapist initially. She's like, I don't do EMDR, but like you should definitely look into it. Tried to schedule a bunch of stuff, had a it does feel like the universe, whatever, but it was like I had a bunch of issues with my insurance, so I had to like wait six months and getting back on the app, they were like able to process my insurance, everything was great. And then I found this doctor like again looking through. I don't remember what she just like I had like a feeling. I was like, No, she seems very like like reading her information and like this, whatever was online. And I was like, Oh, I really like her energy. And we met, and it was she was like, Oh, I'm from the East Coast. I was like, Done, done, done, and book, I was like, We have that vibe, we're vibing. Yeah, just that.

SPEAKER_01 43:57

Yeah, and it was great. I think it's hard for people to. Find well, I think part of the reason why people don't do therapy a lot is because they have a hard time finding someone that they click with. Totally. Um, which was which was a lot of my experience too. Like anytime I've seen a therapist, I've been like, Oh my god, I hate you. Like you're terrible. Oh, big same, big same. Right. And um, and I always tell people like same thing with the PCP primary care physician. You need to like date your therapist, you need to date your primary care physician, you need to figure out what works for you and what doesn't. Yeah, just because you've been assigned a PCP doesn't mean that you have to stay there. No, no, no.

SPEAKER_00 44:32

Go find one that's because it's your parents' doctor doesn't mean it needs to be your doctor. Thank you. Like people do that all the time, and I'm like, guys, like, okay, there's I don't know. Exactly. And just you know, yeah, you like them, there's a connection, but it's like you might find somebody that's better rooted than what you're doing.

SPEAKER_01 44:45

Or they break HIPAA, and you need to find a doctor that doesn't break HIPAA.

SPEAKER_00 44:48

Oh, did that happen? I'm so sorry. What?

SPEAKER_01 44:51

That's all good. I'm sorry. I mean, that I mean, doctors who sh wait, I have to get into this now because we don't provide it for my desk. My my our family doctor back then, no longer my family doctor because I left, but um they had they would do this thing where they would call my parents. And I'm above, I'm older than 18 at this point. I went to the doctor's office, gave blood. She called my mom, I guess. She well, she calls me and she's like, I pick up the phone, I'm like, hey, what's up? And she's like, right before she tells me what's up, right? Like, what why she's calling me, because this woman never calls me. She goes, I hope you don't mind. I called your mom and told her already. And I was like, Hello? I was like, Well, you already told her. So what? What do you I you already told her? So if I minded, it's too late. It's too late. So anyway, she's she was like, Oh, there's this issue. She tells me what the issue is, and I'm like, Okay, great. Thanks for the call. Bye. Hang up. Fast forward. I'm uh they hi they highlighted an issue, and then they were like, You need to go see a specialist, like whatever, whatever. So I go see the specialist, go do this whole thing. Um, my mom's in Armenia. It's like 2 a.m. in Armenia, she's with my sister, I'm in LA. Cool. My sister texted me and she's like, You have cancer. Question mark. And I'm like, What? What are you talking about? Oh my god. Mind you, at this point, I had gone to a specialist and I had gone to do an ultrasound. Okay. Um, and they I guess they got the results of the of the ultrasound. They they called my mom at two o'clock in Armenia and two o'clock in the morning in Armenia. Before they called you? My before they called me, and they don't know what the results are fully. So they're telling my mom, we think it looks like it could be a mask on her, whatever, her kidneys. And um my mom told my sister because they're together and my sister's freaking out, my mom's freaking out. Mind you, like we have my dad had had cancer, so this is like a big, like traumatic like thing.

SPEAKER_00 46:50

Oh my god, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 46:51

So I'm like, how dare? I'm like totally a whole full grown adult at this point. Like, you're called you're totally breaking hip hop. So I called them and I was like, what is wrong with you guys? And then I was like, oh my god, I don't have to stay with you, like as a doctor. Like, you do not have to continue being my doctor because you clearly don't respect my privacy. And so I had to switch, but oh my god, yeah, crazy. And things like that would happen all the time. That's insane. Which I think works for um ethnic people because parents like to know what's up with their kids. I mean, sure, but then but not for their kids. It works for ethnic parents, but not for their kids. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 47:30

That's not fair. That's such a it's such an infringement. You're right, like it's so messed up.

SPEAKER_01 47:34

And when I, you guys, it's insane. When I call them to be like, what is wrong with you? Do you guys do your doctors have HIPAA? Like, you guys know what HIPAA is? What's going on? They were like, Yeah, yeah, who's calling? Like they were freaking out. Clearly, they were freaking out. And then I spoke to the doctor, I'm like, what is wrong with you? Like, I was so pissed. I was like, What is wrong with you? Blah blah blah. And she goes, Well, she's your mom. She had to know.

SPEAKER_00 47:55

But hello? That's mine to disclose. When I once I disclose how I disclose, like yes, Queen, she's my mom. Yeah, you hit the emphasis on my. Yeah, I was like, you won't even disclose when I feel like it's appropriate to tell her. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 48:08

I was like, you don't even know what's wrong with me. Like you're making these random ass assumptions, which BT dubs, it's not cancer, but like you're making these random ass-ass. Like, are you not cancer? I'm I'm chilling, but you're making these random ass assumptions.

SPEAKER_00 48:20

But then what a like terrible, traumatic thing to be like, hey, by the way. And then it's not. My mom's like at a concert in Armenia, like enjoying her time night, living the doctors calling her.

SPEAKER_01 48:31

Like my mom's super panicky. My mom's one of those parents that to this day will wait till I get home. Like, you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah. She's an Armenian mom. Like, she waits till you get home. So don't do that. Like, yeah, you know what I mean? Anyways, this was a huge tangent. All of this to say, figure out what works for you. Exactly. You know, like go to different PCPs. I think I switched PCPs after that like four different times until I found what that works for you. Exactly. Did you feel safe, heard all the things. Same thing with the psychologist, same thing with your therapist, same thing with whatever your doctors are, because you have that option. Absolutely, right? Like the system abuses you, just use it back.

SPEAKER_00 49:05

I just think it's well, and I think this is that weird, like, I don't even know if it's like dogma, but it's like, oh, well, they're doing it, so I'm doing it. It's like religion. I think people will fall on the trap of like, well, it's my parents' religion. I guess it's mine. And there's a really interesting, I think, within like more recent generations, there's a movement of like, well, I don't know that I'm gonna get my kid baptized. I don't know that I'm gonna just do these things because you know you did it. It's like I want my kid to have that opportunity to decide for themselves. Yeah. I hope we continue that because I'm like, it's no one person's to decide.

SPEAKER_01 49:32

It's no one person's to decide. You gotta figure out what works for you.

SPEAKER_00 49:34

Exactly. I think it's just like just with your life. Exactly, just because your family does it doesn't mean that it's like a mandate for you to do the same.

SPEAKER_01 49:41

I think one of the most important things that like shook things up for me in pr in terms of perspective was I mean, I've heard this saying before, but recently someone said it to me, and I was like, oh my God, you were the only person that's gonna spend all day with you all the time 24-7. Which is why I always say you have to date your doctors, you have to figure out what works for you because you're the only per person who's gonna really understand what works for you.

SPEAKER_00 50:04

Absolutely. And I think much in the same vein as dating your doctor, casting is kind of like dating too.

SPEAKER_01 50:10

Well, thank us for bringing us back to our original topic.

SPEAKER_00 50:13

Full circle, full circle. Uh no, I um I think it's true. I think anything in the industry or a job searching generally, you have to find offices and places the champion you and feel safe in. So yeah, I think it's like dating. You know, you want to because you're spending so much time with those people, and whether it's a care a doctor, a provider, your colleagues, whoever, it's you want to be able to enjoy the time that you can be there. Especially, yeah, with how many hours we're working and we're doing things, it's like you want to be able to and I've really feel fortunate because I love my current like boss, like I don't say boss because it's but like leader, she's fantastic, and even the people I work with at the company I'm at are just so inspiring and it's fun. It's a great, it's a good vibe.

SPEAKER_01 50:56

Um, why don't you say the word boss?

SPEAKER_00 50:59

I think boss to me can have a negative connotation because I think there are people that are bosses in the sense that they enjoy the power that they have with the title, and then there's leaders, and like those are people that lead by example that are very mindful, very conscientious, very inclusive. Um, they make sure that you feel heard. They are um, they're not insecure about, you know, if you ask a question or something that maybe it goes against what they believe or their idea, it's like that's a great idea. They give you credit for things when it's not maybe something that they've faith thought of that they say, oh, like, hey, um, faith really had this great idea, or whom, you know, whoever it is at the time, or whomever. It's like there's just something about it. And, you know, and I've and I've been fortunate, my current boss and other bosses in in the past have also been leaders, but then, you know, I think we've all had bosses too.

SPEAKER_01 51:48

Who are bosses? That was a correct use of air quotes there.

SPEAKER_00 51:51

Yeah, figuring it out.

SPEAKER_01 51:52

Finally got it, Faith.

SPEAKER_00 51:53

Finally. Only took the episode.

SPEAKER_01 51:54

Only episode 45 minutes.

SPEAKER_00 51:56

We took 45 minutes. It's fine. Uh see why I'm not on camera? Um, but yeah, so I, yes. Um, but yeah, but I would say it's really important, especially.

SPEAKER_01 52:05

I think that's an important distinction, though. Uh, because uh I a lot of people would use the term boss and leader interchangeably, but I totally agree. I never thought about it, but I totally agree with you. Yeah now that I kind of like hear you talk about it, that it's not the same thing. Like a leader is someone who can lead and uh a boss, I would agree.

SPEAKER_00 52:20

Right, because you want to emulate the leader, right? The boss, you're like, but the leader, you're like, wow.

SPEAKER_01 52:24

Boss, you're like, eh, it's a boss.

SPEAKER_00 52:25

Yeah, it's yeah, I'm clocking in, I'm clocking out. But a leader, you're like, oh, I want to become this thing. Yeah, I like what you do and how you do it, and I want to be that and emulate that eventually.

SPEAKER_01 52:34

What's um now that we're back to casting and we're done with everything else, what's uh a piece of advice that you would give to someone who's coming up into the field of casting or wants to be in casting?

SPEAKER_00 52:45

That's really I think honestly act uh become comfortable with actors, knowledgeable about the process of acting, story, being comfortable with characters and and looking at a larger picture, you know. Sometimes in casting you're only reading a few short scenes, you're not seeing maybe the whole range of the character. So familiarizing yourself with like what that role will will require. And I think too noticing in talent, like I think actors are like carpenters, they have a tool so that they have a kit, and it's like not every tool is applicable for every role that they take on. So finding the balance of helping them with those tools, and you have to educate yourself in that. You have to know the different acting methods and different styles, and if they're not able to get somewhere in the room or in the space with you, that you can have that conversation and step into the directing and say, Okay, you know, what what feels inorganic about this moment? Why aren't you connecting with it? And just making sure that they feel safe in that and that you can have that collaborative spirit.

SPEAKER_01 53:39

Um communication, it sounds like.

SPEAKER_00 53:42

Oh, you have to be. You have to be such a communicator, and I think too, um, just what do you like genre film or genre like whatever you like? Like if you're a comedy person, if you're a you know, horror, if you're drama, whatever like speaks to you, finding that and like why does it speak to you? Um, and then looking at those offices and to be like, I like what they do, I like their content, you know, I like what they're they're making, I love what they're garnering, I like whatever. Um, and kind of finding that to see what best suits you so that you're working with subjects and things that you're drawn towards.

SPEAKER_02 54:12

Nice.

SPEAKER_00 54:12

Because I think it's you know, it's it can be a very not arduous in a bad way, but an intense role because it's you know, long hours and a lot that you do and you give a lot of yourself to it. Um so when you're making it for projects and things that you're passionate about, it just makes it easier.

SPEAKER_01 54:26

Yeah, I would I would um echo the same concept in in academia too. It's like or in any field, it doesn't even matter, but if you're passionate about what you're doing, it does make it a little bit just oh yeah, easier to do it and and just fun, you know, it makes it a little more exciting when you're passionate about what you're doing, which it seems like just talking to you in this hour, like you are so passionate about your job. So it's very exciting.

SPEAKER_00 54:50

Thank you. It I I I think I hook I hoodwinked you, but thank you. No, I um no, I love it. It's been fun, not at all. Yeah, no, it's like I it is, it's fun, and you know, it's a privilege and it's cool to work with.

SPEAKER_01 55:00

Someone used the term hoodwinked in forever. I actually had to think about that. I was like, what do you think?

SPEAKER_00 55:06

It's just silly, embarrassing. That's take me. I'm uh sometimes like I'm 100 years old. Um, I am, I am. Um, but yeah, no, I I don't know. Yeah, it's you gotta love what you do and the people, it's important, yeah. Or it's just mundane and exhausting. You gotta love it. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 55:21

Um, I have loved having you on. I am so honored to be here. I have one final question that I ask all of my guests because I'm very much centered on balance. It's one of my biggest components of my life is like being able to balance all the things that I do. Um, so I ask all of my guests, how do you manage to balance all the things that you do? Casting, writing, directing, like all of the things that you do. How are you able on running a woman's women's club? How are you able to balance all aspects of your life?

SPEAKER_00 55:48

Um, that's yeah, I think my psychiatrist would ask the same question. Um I don't know. I think I enjoy my favorite thing is to bring good people together. I love like connecting people that are like a certain skill set or just really good at what they like their craft, and I don't know, there's something really special about being the connector. And I think that's how just I approach everything is like, how can I connect this to like people that I love that are also passionate about creating, or how do we, you know, make this organic connection, or how do we because it's just fun, and I think it's easy because then you see the fruits of that very quickly, you know, like even in the women's group, it's like people be like, Oh yeah, I met up with so-and-so, and then we shot this project, and oh they helped me with a self-tape. And it's just like little things where I'm like that makes you feel like so much bigger than yourself. Like I make it.

SPEAKER_01 56:38

It sounds like what you're saying is like your balance is being fulfilled. Like when you're fulfilled with what you're doing, you feel balanced.

SPEAKER_00 56:45

Yeah, I I think that's really it. I think you hit the nail on the head. I really love the fulfilling and seeing other people's successes and like dreams.

SPEAKER_01 56:54

That's beautiful.

SPEAKER_00 56:54

Yeah, it's just nice. It makes you feel like mature, I don't know, it's easy to get like caught up in yourself. And I don't know. I I I just other people have so much better, like they have so many cool ideas. I'm like, that's fantastic, that's great, amazing, spectacular. 12 out of 10, never been done before. What is like the Lady Gaga thing she's never been done before? It's like that. It's like that. It's like I love that. When it's like oh, I love when people come up with stuff that I'm like, I could never kudos. That's that's amazing. That's amazing. I'm proud.

SPEAKER_01 57:21

Um that's good that we connecting people is very important, and having someone that's passionate about that um is like the glue to society. I think.

SPEAKER_00 57:29

Oh, yeah. And even like I love like this, like this podcast, informing and educating. It's like this is so important. People need this stuff, people need to feel connection and humanity. And I think what you're doing is so spectacular and so needed. So, so needed in this time.

SPEAKER_01 57:43

Thank you so much, Faith. I really, really, really enjoyed having you on. Oh, thank you. I can't wait to have you back when you tell us what happened with the EMGR. Okay. Like, I'm on 200 milligrams. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 57:54

And everyone's finished.

SPEAKER_01 57:55

I really, really, really hope not.

SPEAKER_00 57:58

Okay. I just really hope not. High probability. Well, let's see, let's see how it goes. Just kidding. I thank you so much. And thank you for having me. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_01 58:07

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