No denying it, casting is absolutely key for this — but I see it as the most exciting part of the process.
As part of our casting, we need to think about both the kid and the scenario.
Using a combination of casting and real Variety kids is ideal. The more we can dive into what makes them tick, the better.
I think during our call, we should be asking the kids or their parents when, where, or what dream makes our talent feel most Unlimited. It can truly be anything — the more creative, the better.
One last thing to note is the number of cast members we intend to work with. I would encourage us to limit the total. Let’s talk about it, but maybe to stay consistant with stills, we could limit it to 6-8 hero talent -- with the ability to use more as featured OCPs for the final portrait. We could also consider designating certain “hero” setups or cast members to stay efficient and make the most of our time — and our talent’s time.
For the purpose of this treatment, I’d love to run through a couple of “hypothetical” casts using some of the kids the client has pointed out, as well as our potential casting partner, Kellow:
Despite his orthotics, he says his dream is to eventually join a soccer team.
Zoe Cross with Kellow
There are pictures of her on the casting website showing her as an avid painter.
Charlotte as a Variety Kid
To show that this concept works with those who are restricted by speech and movement. She uses an eyetracking device to communicate. Her dream is to study psychology and creative writing.
So, how does that show up in our approach to creative?