{"id":1118,"date":"2020-05-25T18:56:30","date_gmt":"2020-05-25T18:56:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.weaudition.com\/blog\/?p=1118"},"modified":"2020-06-16T01:36:58","modified_gmt":"2020-06-16T01:36:58","slug":"the-future-of-casting-for-nonbinary-actors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.weaudition.com\/blog\/industry-advice\/the-future-of-casting-for-nonbinary-actors\/","title":{"rendered":"The Future Of Casting For: Nonbinary Actors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n



Guest Post by Robyn Holdaway<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n


In the acting industry, one of the quickest, simplest – and most common – ways to filter actors for a role is by gender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently on Spotlight, you have two options: male or female. This is absolutely understandable; the first identifying factor of a human being – rightly or wrongly – tends to be their observed gender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But there are a growing number of individuals who do not<\/em> fit into these brackets. Me and my nonbinary compatriots face a minefield of awkward interactions, invasive questions and continual compromise throughout our work in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We may not be the majority of society – but to be fair, neither are magical sprites, murderous barbers and long dead politicians, all of whom feature in the stories we tell in the arts. We do not baulk at a female serial killer, or victimised men, as society may have done several decades ago. In the arts we have a unique opportunity to look beyond society as it stands, and delve into our imaginations to create both reflective and idealistic works. I believe in a future where this imagination extends beyond our writing and into our casting process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gender does not need to define our characters. These choices are made at a variety of stages – from a story\u2019s conception, to the casting director\u2019s office, to the mind of a producer. At any one of these stages, it can change. And it does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Writers: Could your character be a different gender? Does the world you are creating have a binary concept of gender? If you changed a character\u2019s gender, does it change the story?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Casting Directors: What jumps out to you in a character breakdown, beyond their gender? Can these features be prioritised before<\/em> you clarify the gender?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Producers: Are there different, new ways to see characters that you hadn\u2019t considered? Are you actively pushing to take risks in casting?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the near future, these are some simple tips that can make the casting process more inclusive:<\/p>\n\n\n\n