Karlee Fomalont, CSA is an Artios Award winning Casting Director, 4-time Artios Award Nominee, and graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, where her acting training made for a seamless transition into casting. She began her career at CBS Primetime NY and ABC Primetime NY before moving into independent casting. Karlee has worked with Rori Bergman for 10 years, film credits include: “A Complete Unknown” (Artios Award, Best Casting BAFTA nominee), Steven Spielberg's "The Post" (Artios Nominee), “Empire Waist” (Artios Nominee), "Private Life" (Artios Nominee), "You Hurt My Feelings” (Sundance ‘23), "Eileen" (Sundance ‘23), "Shortcomings" (Sundance ‘23), “No Hard Feelings,” “Happiness for Beginners” (Netflix), “Darkest Miriam” (Tribeca ’24) “Turn Me On” (San Sebastian ’24) among many others. TV credits include: "The Get Down" (Netflix), "Power Book III: Raising Kanan" (Starz), “The Last Frontier” (Apple+), "Living with Yourself" (Netflix), "Yearly Departed" (Amazon), "Run the World" (Starz), "Love Life" (Netflix), "The Good Cop" (Netflix), "Friends from College" (Netflix), and "Rabbit Hole" (Paramount+). She was awarded the Rosalie Joseph Humanitarian Award at the 2024 Artios Awards for her work with Covenant House NY. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, and currently resides in New York City.
Join us as Karlee Fomalont, a seasoned casting director and actor, shares her insights on the intricacies of casting, navigating acting careers, and fostering collaborative relationships in the entertainment industry. Discover practical tips, behind-the-scenes secrets, and the value of diverse pathways in Hollywood and beyond.
Main Topics Covered:
- The parallels between interior design and casting: building worlds through actor selection
- How successful casting partnerships thrive on balancing practical skills and creative synergy
- Strategies for actors to effectively submit for roles, including maximizing reels and self-tapes
- The significance of staying connected and top of mind through targeted outreach and relationship-building
- Insights into casting for period pieces, limited series, and dream projects with visionary directors
- The evolving landscape of casting during and post-pandemic, and the rise of new opportunities in NYC and Hollywood
- Practical advice for newcomers to stand out
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Karlee Fomalont's approach to casting and career insights
06:00 - First roles in entertainment: ballet and early acting experiences
08:16 - The importance of leaning into love for ballet and staying hobby-active as an adult
10:26 - Transition from NYU musical theater to screen acting and casting
15:31 - The pivotal role of early mentorship and internship experiences
18:30 - Recognizing the realities of an acting career and industry support systems
21:13 - The impact of pandemic-driven adjustments in casting and actor outreach
27:48 - Comparing casting to interior decorating: building worlds with actor choices
30:50 - The art of casting period pieces and the importance of character authenticity
32:45 - Approaching small roles and co-stars/day players with specificity and scene-building techniques
35:00 - The rewarding challenge of casting acclaimed projects like A Complete Unknown
40:30 - Dream projects: collaborations with visionary directors and diverse genres
44:15 - The detailed process of from breakdown to call-in: how many actors get seen?
47:49 - Managing actor expectations: the unpredictability of casting decisions
53:40 - Does she look at actor reels?
57:00 - How actors can stay on casting directors’ radar and build their careers
59:00 - The importance of targeted submissions and personal branding
59:55 - Current projects and the outlook for future opportunities in NYC and Hollywood
Resources & Links:
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