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Your new webseries Casting Directors - in a few words, what is it
about, and what can you tell us about your character in it?
Casting
Directors is a mockumentary webseries, based around the life of actors and
casting directors during auditions. My character (Billy Spencer) is a casting
assistant who has no social awareness whatsoever.
What did you draw upon to bring your character to life, and how much
Lawrence Watling can we find in Billy Spencer, actually?
Billy is
defiantly a spare part in the casting room, he is working with two very
passionate people (Cindy and Simba) who are trying to get the best out of the
project and then you have Billy, who is three steps behind everyone else and
has trouble trying to keep up - not in a lazy way; he’s just completely away
with the fairies. I would like to say I’m not as gormless as Billy, but I
must admit I do sometimes drift off onto another planet… wait… what were we
talking about?
I'm taking a wild guess here that as an actor, you might have
attended the occasional casting yourself, right? So did any of those
remind you of the goings-on in Casting Directors, and some
of your personal worst casting experiences? Correct!
I’ve not only attended them but I’ve also ran them as the role of
director/casting director and the different types of actors that you see
trying to ‘impress’ the casting director is unbelievable. I’ve seen
actors do warm ups right in front of the director and tell them all their
training and experience and how they would be so right for the role, or
prepare something extra or those who just try and stare out the
competition in the waiting room and those that just do no preparation whatsoever, it really shows! This is why I think the series
Casting
Directors works so well because it’s a very truthful account of what
some actors really are like.
How did you
get involved with Casting Directors in the first place?
I
met Anthony Vander [Anthony
Vander interview - click here] through a series of Casting Director workshops. He
contacted me out of the blue on New Year’s Day of all days asking me
if I wanted to send him a self tape for the role of Billy. Regardless of
my headache from the previous night I sent him a video straight back and
thankfully I was offered the part! To
what extent can you relate to Casting Directors' brand of
humour? I
love mockumentaries, many have said to me that this series has a feel of The
Office about it, it’s a much more subtle/dry comedy rather
than mad slapstick humour. Not to mention I get a lot of ‘You look
like Gareth from The Office.’ What can you tell us about your director (and
co-star) Anthony Vander [Anthony
Vander interview - click here], and what was your collaboration like?
Anthony
is the man! Really nice and laid back but so motivational and professional
at the same time. Ever since I've met Anthony I really do admire what he’s
done and is still doing and I was really honored when he asked me to
audition for this project. Anthony was never precious over his material
and gave me the chance to explore my character as I’m sure many other
actors on this project would agree. What
can you tell us about the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere?
In
one word ‘Fun’. It was such a great atmosphere with some really nice
and professional people and I think as a collective we came up with
something pretty special. if I was asked back for series two I
would snap at the chance! Any
future projects you'd like to share? Well
mainly my background is in theatre, I currently am doing a
Fawlty Towers Tribute Show as well as doing a season with the Cambridge
Shakespeare Festival this summer. Filming-wise I’ve been working on a
few short films and music videos, I’ll be working on a new feature film Scales, which will also feature Anthony Vander. I will also be
appearing in videos for the Dogs Trust, which teaches people how to be
around strange dogs. What got you into
acting to begin with, and did you receive any formal education on the
subject? I
was such a shy boy and would barely talk to anyone. My parents sent me to
a local youth theatre to try and help me with my confidence
issues. I was cast as a tramp in a production of There will Always be
an England. I was the comic role and when I heard that
laughter on stage for the first time, I was hooked! I’ve not looked back
since. What can you tell us about your filmwork prior
to Casting Directors? Well
like I say, I’ve not done a huge amount of film work as I come from a
mainly theatre background, I did two years as ‘Shaggy’ from Scooby Doo
as well many other plays both classical and contemporary. I am as of late
doing my filming, working on corporate shoots, short films and music
videos, I’m always up for doing more!
How would you
describe yourself as an actor, and some of your techniques to bring your
characters to life?
My main
background is comedy, I’ve always enjoyed making people laugh, whether
that’s dry humour or slapstick. As an actor I always try and pick out
key words in the dialogue for my character and create a profile
of relationships with the other characters. Any chance I get to add a
big facial expression (when it comes to comedy) I always will!
Actors (and indeed actresses) who
inspire you? I
love comic actors/physical comedians, some of my top being Rowan Atkinson,
John Cleese, Jim Carey, David Mitchell, Robin Williams, David Jason,
Morcambe and Wise. Your favourite movies?
I
love many films! Comedy is usually my favorite but if we are looking at
classic films I would have to say The Lord of the Rings and
Gladiator.
And
of course, films you really deplore?
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Feeling lucky?
Want to
search
any of my partnershops yourself
for more, better results?
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The links below
will take you
just there!!!
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I’m
not really a fan of any chick flick… sorry chick flick lovers! Your website,
Facebook, whatever else?
http://www.spotlight.com/9654-8947-2771
https://www.facebook.com/lawrencewatlingactor/
Thanks for
the interview!
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