Mani Ratnam Quotes

Casting is a long process for me. I take a lot of time.

A film is a chain of very difficult decisions, and I think one of them is to choose an accurate cast.

I worked in casting for about five years before I became a director, and that taught me a huge amount because you never actually will see the character walk through the door - and if you do, then you have to be slightly suspicious of that.

When you cast somebody, you write to their strengths.

I always used to say, as a director, that I could make anybody good in a movie if you found the right part. It all comes down to casting.

Casting is really exciting. With 'Twilight,' I wasn't involved at all with the casting in the original. They kept me in the loop, which was great. They'd be like, 'Hey Kristen Stewart's gonna do it' and I was like, 'Really? Awesome.'

Because actors don't get to pick movies; movies pick the actors.

I keep saying this, but the most important part of directing is casting, and the rest of it is pretty easy.

I have a very simple philosophy when it comes to casting, and it really is casting the best person for the role.

When you're casting a show, you have your idea of who you want it to be, and of course, those are going to be very well-known names.

The least consideration of any film I've ever worked on is who is right for it.

Some people do stage and film. Some people are film actors, and some people are stage actors. I'm quite sure that any of the actors who did the original production of 'August' could have done the film of 'August.' I don't think any of them were particularly surprised when they didn't wind up doing the film.

I think the most important thing for an actor is reading the script and trying to figure out if you can play that character well. The last thing on my mind is if the director made good movies previously. It's not my job to know if that director's last movie was any good - it's my job to know if I can play the role.

I'm an actor. My life as an actor depends on who sends me what. I'm just taking the best stuff that I can find that's sent my way, regardless of how big or little the paycheck is.

You read a script, you try and think through what is the best, most wide-ranging way of telling the story: who stylistically, character-logically, psychologically fits inside the world of what you're trying to do. A lot of it, when you're casting, is trying to get yourself in the head of a director.

The first thing I ask when I'm offered a part is, Who's the director? which is something they never understand in Los Angeles.

The thing about many celebrities - not all - is that they're fantastic actors. If we've created a really juicy role, it just feels like a fantastic actor should be playing the part. If it's a long enough part, we consider anyone. If it's a single episode, we don't usually let a single actor on. Because that' s just stunting.

Working with actors is something I've never done before. I find it tremendous. It's hard work.

They were looking for actors - real actors - who could play instruments. There was a lot of improvisation and scene work involved in addition to the music. The auditions went on for a long time.

The auditioning process is one in which the actor gets very little information about almost every element of it.

Whenever any actor comes into a producer session, they have so many questions, and we still can't really tell them that much until they get the job.

It's easier to get an actor when you just ask them to do a day on something rather than have them come in, audition, get picked.

I didn't audition for 'Fargo.' It was a straight offer.

The most clear way to decide the actor is to watch them doing stuff during their downtime. When they do something that's making both of you laugh, you see if there's a character or situation that could be written into.

If a script is good, you are 10 steps into the part just reading it. But my choices are not all down to my taste. It is about people you have worked with before.