The casting auditions for “Lost” were not typical. At all.
The Actors That Were Cast In 'Lost'
Let’s start with actor Matthew Fox’s audition.
In the audition video below, Fox is reading the ‘sides‘ for two different parts; he’s auditioning for the role of Sawyer; first, and then Jack.
Wait…he auditioned for the role of Sawyer??
Yep.
Unbelievably, this TV pilot was taken on, by the network, because of idea + concept alone…and the mojo, record, and reputation of J.J.Abrams.
At the time of these auditions, there was no script yet. (Which meant the auditioning actors had no overview; nothing to reference: to base their character choices on, nor to guide their acting choices…)
Also, without a script, how could they possibly decide to accept the job should they be chosen? How to make that career decision?
Even more drama that you’ll notice, when you watch the videos:
At the time of the auditions, the three characters (Sawyer, Jack, Kate) were planned, but…
The plan was to have the Jack character die off in the pilot; first episode. Then, Kate would become leader, and continue as such for the rest of the season.
The part where Jack was supposed to die is still in the pilot…Remember when he and Kate find the plane and then Jack goes inside, and doesn’t come out? Later, he is found, high on top of the tree, with a big bleeding gash that needs stitching?? Originally, that was Jack’s ‘death moment’.
The situation, from a casting director perspective…
Matthew Fox was a well-known television actor, at established ‘lead actor’ position; from “Party of Five”. If he had only come to the ’Lost” auditions or the role of Jack, then he would be trying out for a role that wouldn’t be a series regular. (At that time.) Basically, it was to be a big guest star lead (which could be considered a step down in stature, and it was only a television pilot; so it wasn’t even on a big established show where a good guest star lead would be a feasible career choice.)
Cast Of Actors :::: 'Party Of Five'
Yes, JJ Abrams, the show runner, was established…but again, here was this recognizable lead actor being called in to audition for something that, without a script,really couldn’t be assessed as to what it was going to become. Or if it was going to become anything, at all. Failures can be harmful to actors’ careers.
Professional rank, for actors, is very important. So is maintaining that stature.
Since acting careers are based on trajectory, no one wants to go backwards. It’s professional stature, that influences future prospects, as well as current reputation, in the industry.
Not to forget, all that… and the Jack character gets killed off, first show? The casting director would have had to have that in mind, when calling in the actors she wanted to see for the roles.
All the actors were auditioning for something that they were clueless about…Couldn’t read anything with no script yet, and had very little information about…not only to make acting decisions, and choices, of how they would perform during the audition; but also, they were clueless about what the professional ranking level would be, of their character.
April Webster, the ‘Lost’ casting director, has been well-established for a very long time.
So, I watched these tapes carefully, to see what I could observe…
See, casting directors know type, and they are usually adamant about what type they categorize individual actors into.
(Why? Well, for one, it’s a main skill for which they build their professional reputation on.)
Clearly, Matthew Fox is a perfect fit, personality-wise, for the role of Jack. But, surely, April Webster would have known the role of Jack was not going to be a lead role, not a series regular.
Maybe, because it was a JJ Abrams pilot, that they were going to try to cast recognizable people (such as Matthew Fox) for the guest lead. Certain shows qualify for movie actor guest stars, or television lead-billing guest stars, because the show-runner has a big reputation in the industry. Like JJ Abrams. (Originally, Michael Keaton was in mind for this part! And, only as a guest star, but specific to him; because he wasn’t interested in doing a regular role on TV.)
The belief that casting directors let actors audition for different types is a myth, basically.
Casting directors are skilled at assessing type.
If they are good ones, that is. And they’re not easily moved off of their interpretation.
There are more than enough actors to audition for any one type of role…No reason to try to get others who don’t really fit the type to try their character. It’s quite a favor, from them, if they allow an actor to read “against type“.
April Webster may’ve had Matthew Fox in, for Sawyer, as an attempt. Maybe she was hoping that he really would pull off the ‘Sawyer’ characterization well; because an actor with his television track record is as great as a casting director can offer up, to the Producers, and the network. ….Maybe, she taped Fox doing the other role too, the ‘Jack’ role, in case Michael Keaton dropped out.
Or, maybe she knew that Fox would make a great ‘Jack’.(He’s just such a clear fit for the ‘Jack’ character.) and she knew he could do the role well, and was someone great to offer to the Producers. (More accomplished actors are always a great offering for Casting to give to Producers. Why? Because the Producers may be familiar with that actor’s work, and therefore there’s no risk in hiring them. (See Hollywood Actor Prep Blog: MythBust #2 Are All Actors Screw-Ups?–link–)
Hiring professional actors who are recognizable, is preferred, as practice.
…And not just for the obvious reasons…
Recognizable “name” actors equals success, especially in Hollywood. Recognizable ‘names’also add clout, when networks decide what pilots to pick up, etc. (Another reason may have just be Producer-ego: Big bragging-rights.
Casting Directors are savvy about Producers; and the more successful they are, the more they deliver what the Producers need and want. They know ‘the system’, and utilize it well.
One more point…Successful Casting Directors get familiar with successful professional actors, and vice-versa.
When you get to be successful, as an actor, you will audition for the same casting directors, again and again. They will know your work and abilities, and you will be familiar with what it is like to audition for each of them, individually.
Casting directors tend to favor those actors who are established, very talented, and skilled.
…Or at least one of the above.
From that group of actors, they comprise their own favorite bunch. He or she will often try to cast actors from that favored bunch, into whatever projects that they can..
Sometimes, it’s just personal taste; and they simply like an actor. (But believe me, that actor must be able to act, to be liked…)
From their favored group, they will even call an actor to audition, for parts that aren’t an ‘exact type fit’. Most people mistakenly think that actors get to audition for all types of characters.
There are casting people that call the same crew of actors in, again and again and again, for almost every show that comes his/her way. In some way, they know that they can depend on these actors; and they feel that they can parade these actors in front of any producer, and that the actor will do an audition that will be pleasing and professional, and that the casting director will look good by bringing the actors in. Often, in a certain Hollywood-industry-type-of-exchange, the Casting Director is very loyal to the favored actors.
It works the opposite way, also. When a casting person doesn’t ‘get’ an actor, they may not have the actor come in to read for a part that is, precisely, a perfect fit.
Sometimes, you can tell (by the way the Casting Director is reading the sides with the actor, during the audition) just how much he/she wants to cast that actor. Now, don’t count on this, because there are many casting people who just give a monotone-read, each and every time. But, sometimes, after you get to know them and their different styles, you can tell when they want you to get the job. Or at least, when the casting person has a sense of trust about a certain actor; and a surety that when the actor is put in front of the producers and director, whether or not the job is awarded; the casting director will look good.
I think April Webster wanted to cast Matthew Fox on ‘Lost’.
It may’ve been simply because she thought it was a good “caliber” match.
Or she may think he’s a strong actor, or a starring-role type, and has a “certain ‘je-nais-c’est-quoi’”.
(She may also…or only…think he’s plain-old-handsome-as-can-be, and his attractiveness suits her style…)
Whatever it is, I think, consciously or not, she’s helping him get this job; and assisting him on this audition. (You can see it on the video.)
Not that he needs it.
Just one more tidbit…
Actor Evangeline Lilly, who plays Kate, had never done a speaking role, before.
I am going to write very specifically, about her audition, in a whole other post. (Don’t ya think there’s enough here?? ;} ) If allowed, I’ll post the other actors’s auditions, too.
Suffice to say, for now, that when I first saw all of these auditions, I was impressed, and charmed.
You’ll see in the videos…These ’Lost’ actors did a damn good job of auditioning.
Agree?
…About the Lost auditions; and the topic of casting and auditioning for actors, here, on Hollywood Actor Prep…It’s gonna be major focus here for awhile.
So…
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