Michael Lien has been in the casting business for over 20 years. Dan Cowan, only five. (Dan’s site is here.) Each man came to casting by way of other entertainment industry jobs. In fact, Cowan still works occasionally as a set and technical designer for Los Angeles theatre.
Their individual offices are end-to-end in the patio area of their Beverly Blvd. location, where two dogs meander around to investigate all goings-on. Cowan leans back in his chair, eyes moving back and forth from me to the computer monitor throughout the interview, while Lien is up out of his chair more than in it, giving much of the interview from other rooms. Casting sessions take place around the corner from their business office, and assistants buzz from room to room, displaying the volume of business this commercial casting facility enjoys.
Road to This Position
Cowan was working as an AD for a children’s theatre company five years ago, when he was referred to Lien. Cowan was hired as an assistant, and three or four years ago, the two began talking partnership. Lien explained, “Dan purchased a share of the company. A vested interest is really the only way a partnership can work.” I asked Cowan when he was sure that casting was for him. “I’m still not sure,” he said with a laugh.
Lien came into casting by way of production. “I fell into it. I was doing production work in the early and mid-’70s. I was working on a Clairol commercial and the client requested me when they couldn’t find a casting director on their next project, which was for Pillsbury’s Hungry Jack,” Lien recalled. Why he left production? “Being a casting director involves better hours and better pay than producing, so I stuck with it.”
Coolest Casting Gig
Many casting directors say that their current casting gig is the coolest. No exception here. “This current director [for a Bank of America commercial] – I love working with,” Cowan said.
Key Things They Look for in an Actor
“The specifics depend on the director and the job,” according to Cowan. But self-confidence is always at the top of the list. Also on that list? “A sparkle in the eyes, personality, strength.”
Pet Peeves
For Lien, it’s mail. “Don’t make work for me by putting a headshot and resume into an envelope, sealing it, double-sealing it, taping it shut. Send me a postcard. There’s more of a chance I’ll remember it,” Lien said. He then sorted through a stack of postcards to show me which were too busy, which were clean, which he’d remember, and which were not worth sending. A rule of thumb, according to Lien, “I shouldn’t need an Evelyn Wood Speed Reading Course in order to read every word on your postcard. Tell me when you’ve switched agents, thank me for a job – not an audition. That just seems like you’re sucking up and says to me that you never get out on auditions.”
For Cowan, pet peeves include the same old jokes and what he calls false friendliness. “Be yourself. If you’re not, it shows so much in auditions. The false friendliness sticks out to directors and everybody,” Cowan said.
Advice for Actors
Lien’s advice? “Prepare. At the bare minimum, read the script,” Lien insisted. Actors don’t read the script? “Yep. You’d be shocked,” Lien explained.
Lien suggests that the actor consider how far he or she has come, rather than focusing on failure. “Just to get to the audition, you’ve beaten out 1000 people. That was a feat! Don’t be discouraged by lots of people in the waiting room. They could be there for other jobs.”
And, finally, on Lien’s list, “be kind to people. If you’re painful in the audition, we have to assume you’re going to be painful on the set. Assistants tell us who’s a pain, so just be kind,” he advised.
Cowan began sharing advice on keeping at it, being persistent and then stopped and said, “Scratch that. Have fun. Have fun doing it. It shows.” And if the actor is not having fun? “Angry actors, don’t come here.”
Lien added that, when attending an audition, you’d better know if you’re the last slot of the day and not be late. “By 4:30pm, we’re already dubbing tapes to send to the client. You need to know that you’re holding us back from getting an entire day’s worth of sessions to the client, if you come in late.”
Their Opinion on Alternative Submission Methods
“You don’t need to go online to find anyone,” Cowan summarized. “If every single actor and every single agent did it, if SAG made it a requirement, it would be worth it. The agencies with rosters online, especially modeling agencies or those that specialize in kids, those are useful.”
“Dan’s the techie, I’m the dinosaur. He got us networked and on all those online services,” Lien revealed. Lien’s speciality? “I talk to agents. I’m hands-on with all the headshots.” He picked up a stack of headshots as he explained a current casting method, “We were doing an ABC Summer Campaign and it was not about the look. It was about the personality. And I know these people.” Does he see the point to online casting? “Yes. But there’s so much to be involved with. I didn’t want to buy a computer, much less have one at every desk. Now we have an incoming and outgoing fax machine,” he laughed. “Yes, I think it’s an interesting tool for actors, but no one has been able to implement it properly. Actors should, however, be on one of them. None of them have won exclusivity in the field. No one is using them exclusively. Honestly,” Lien continued, “it’s almost easier to just go through the pictures. We still can’t download pictures fast enough.”
Until one system “wins,” Lien suggests that actors get in the Academy Players Directory. “It’s a good tool, it’s highly respected, it’s reliable. It’s not the only source, but we go to it, in print or online, at least once a day.”
Their Favorite Casting Tale
“Searches are fun,” Cowan said, especially for actors with specific qualifications. For example, Cowan conducted a nationwide search for Kemper Insurance, a company that needed an actual family – three generations – all of whom could ice skate. Additionally, Cowan recently found a blind actress with a black belt in karate in Brockton, NY for that current B of A spot.
Best Way to Get Seen by Them
“Through agents,” according to Cowan. Of course, he does open unsolicited headshots and resumes. “You never know what might be in there, so I open everything.” Postcards are great in this office. “Especially if you have an interesting update and the timing is on,” meaning, you could just so happen to have a postcard on his desk when Cowan is looking for your type. So, go ahead and send an update, when you have something happening, like a change in representation or a new show premiering.
Lien maintains his position on mail. “I don’t want to say never send a headshot and resume, but postcards work better for me.”
Highlight of Their Week
“The busiest day is the best day. Being busy is the most fun,” summarizes Cowan.
Lien’s highlight? “Sessions. Pulling the sessions off is great.”
This interview was conducted on May 18, 2001, and it originally appeared in Casting Qs: A Collection of Casting Director Interviews by Bonnie Gillespie, available at Amazon.