Robert McGee and I spoke briefly at the Artios award ceremony held by the Casting Society of America. Later that night, he would win the award for casting Sofia Copolla’s The Virgin Suicides with Linda Phillips-Palo. Our conversation was a quick one, but his responses were indicative of his passion for casting and for seeing actors work.
Coolest Casting Gig
“There will always be a special place in my heart for Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss because it was my first movie on my own. It was exciting to see that go on the ride that it did, with Sundance and everything,” he said, of the fiercely popular independent film.
Key Things He Looks for in an Actor
Simply put, McGee said, “I look for actors who feel completely comfortable being themselves and who are able to bring their own qualities to the reading.”
Advice for Actors
“Study. It’s so important to study with good teachers. It’s the most important thing you can do.”
Best Way to Get Seen by Him
McGee recommends submissions. “We open all our mail. We go to submissions on every project.”
His Opinion on Alternative Submission Methods
“I think it’s definitely something that will take awhile for people to get used to, but [the Internet] will definitely be the future method of casting.”
This interview was conducted on November 1, 2000, and it originally appeared in Casting Qs: A Collection of Casting Director Interviews by Bonnie Gillespie, available at Amazon.