Actors’ Group: Let’s Talk about Casting Type

As an actor, knowing your type can be an important part of your craft development and ensuring that you are put forward for the right roles.

In this panel discussion, Isabella Odoffin, Casting Director and Natalie Anson-Wright, Acting Coach with be in conversation with Agent and Host, Lola Williams, Agent New Wonder Management. Together, our expert panel will discuss the pros and cons of having a casting type. Alongside considerations and questions to ask yourself to be able to recognise your type and use this to your advantage in both finding roles and marketing yourself, the panel will also talk about casting types and their limitations. We’ll look at the importance of questioning our biases within the industry so that we can achieve inclusive and diverse representation in theatres and on screen.

Lola Williams, Agent, New Wonder Management

With over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry both in front of and behind the camera, Lola Williams is the founder of the New Wonder Management agency which represents actors, intimacy directors and creatives. Recent high profile shows her clients have appeared in and have worked on include Bridgerton (Netflix), The Witcher (Netflix), Shadow & Bone (Netflix) & Silent Witness (BBC). Theatre clients have performed at the RSC, the Young Vic and in immersive productions for Punchdrunk and Les Enfants Terribles.

Lola holds an MBA and has been a judge at various film festivals and other industry events. She is a regular keynote speaker for industry organisations such as The Stage and presents workshops on performing careers at Drama Schools and Universities.

Natalie Anson-Wright, Acting Coach

Having gained a BA Hons in Performing Arts from the University of Chichester, Natalie then went on to study method acting at The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York and later got her accreditation as an Ivana Chubbuck Youth Coach in 2018. Natalie has been coaching for 15 years alongside acting, directing and writing. She is now the head coach at Empower Arts and is the founder of a female led production company which is due to launch soon.

Isabella Odoffin, Casting Director

Isabella Odoffin is a Casting Director from London, working across both screen and theatre. In 2019 she was named as one of Screen International’s ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ and in 2020 won the CDG ‘Best Casting in Theatre’ Award for her work on Rufus Norris’ Small Island at the National Theatre. She has recently been nominated for two further CDG Awards for ‘Best Casting in an Independent Film’ and ‘Best Casting in Theatre’ for her work on Rapman’s Blue Story and the National Theatre’s Three Sisters, respectively. Her select Film credits include: Warner Bros., Film 4 and BFI project Boxing Day(dir. Aml Ameen) which is due to be released this year and upcoming feature Ear for Eye (dir. Debbie Green Tucker) for BBC Films. As well as working independently, Isabella remains an Associate of The National Theatre.

Event Schedule:

17:55: Please join the webinar waiting room

18:00: Hannah to host conversation

18:45: Attendee Q&A opens

19:00: Finish

How will the online event work?

This event will be live streamed via Zoom.us. Viewing details will be sent via your confirmation.

Attending participants will not be visible to others and will be muted throughout the session. After the talk, there will be an opportunity for audience members to ask their questions to the panel by using the Q&A feature.

This event is for existing WFTV members only.

If you are not a member and would like to join, membership costs just £100 + VAT/yr , please click here or email admin@wftv.org.uk

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