Dodge College of Film and Media Arts hosts casting workshop with Russell Boast

In preparation for a casting class he’ll be teaching next semester at Chapman, casting director Russell Boast gave students a May 3 crash course on how to successfully cast a production. Photo courtesy of Boast

Under the hand of Dean Stephen Galloway, Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts has made a concerted effort over the past year to further connect students with industry professionals to prepare them for the working world. 

Many, within that, may have been enticed by traditionally bigger names such as Bryan Cranston or Bong Joon Ho coming to campus through master classes. But a May 3 workshop hosted over Zoom with casting director Russell Boast proved just as impactful for students interested in understanding aspects of entertainment they may not be familiar with. 

“I’ve always been a huge advocate of the fact that if we put together a course that teaches casting, people will have a better understanding of what it and the profession is,” Boast said. “It's such a crucial part of putting any production together.”

True to his word, Boast will be teaching a course on casting at Chapman starting next semester. He has a long list of credits in the industry, casting films like “Beyond Borders” — starring Angelina Jolie — and has been an advocate for casting education for many years. Boast developed a training program with The Casting Society of America and hopes to continue making an impact by teaching young filmmakers the inner workings of casting to broaden their understanding of the industry. 

During the workshop that saw 40 combined students and faculty members in attendance, he touched on everything from how to create a breakdown — which describes the parameters of the character and film to interested actors — to conclusions students can make about an actor’s audition tape. In the latter activity, Boast played clips of real auditions from a Dodge thesis film he’s been helping to cast. That’s something film students can expect more of, since he’ll be serving as the head of casting at Dodge College next semester. 

“While I’m an acting major, I’m really into the casting side of things and understanding all angles of the industry,” said Abby Haralson, a junior screen acting major who attended the workshop. “I learned a lot about how to best present myself as an actor.”

Jon Hernandez, the Dodge College adviser for Alumni and Student Career Services, said the school’s career center is gearing up to boast the largest team they’ve ever had next semester. Hernandez hopes the expanded roster will lead to more events like these that help facilitate connections and understanding of entertainment careers.

“Regardless of your major or minor program, these workshops give (them) an insight to an area of the industry they may not be exposed to,” Hernandez said. “Every student should participate. If they have the time, just go. Meet the person if nothing else. It's another connection that you can make.”

During his workshop, Boast brought in special guest John Lawson, a disabled actor who uses prosthetic arms. Boast encouraged students to diversify their casting choices and avoid stereotyping actors from minority groups.

“I do believe that if casting professionals are equipped with the information about a particular underrepresented community, they can speak up on the community’s behalf,” Boast said. “They can really make an impact on the work that’s being done and, in turn, on the world.”

Haralson appreciated that Boast emphasized both diversity and respect toward actors in his workshop. She told The Panther she’s had auditions where she experienced harassing behavior, and she’s also heard of many other female actresses’ “audition horror stories.”

“Having someone here to be like, ‘That is not acceptable,’ and trying to help facilitate more of the auditions, I think that is going to be so impactful and is really going to make the audition room a lot easier for girls to be in,” Haralson said. 

Boast is excited to start teaching students at Dodge College in August, praising student filmmakers he has already started working with. He said he’s received calls from actors about their wonderful experiences on thesis films that he helped students cast, something he believes is an uncommon occurrence in the industry.

“(Dodge students) give me space to feel like a collaborator, as opposed to me coming in to teach something,” Boast said. “Together with the students, we’re going to create beautiful work.”

Boast will be available in Dodge College’s career office two days a week with an open-door policy, he said, to connect with students and answer their questions about casting or acting.