Feature Film Casting

2:30-3:45 pm -- Fashion Theater
Find out how to break into films. Meet the incredible Casting Directors of "Inception," "Zombieland," "The Dark Knight Rises," "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," and "The Help."

Working in studio and major independent films is the Holy Grail for most actors. Hear from top casting directors what it takes to get their attention and how to make the best impression on CDs, directors, and producers when called into auditions. Moderated by Jenelle Riley, Film/TV Editor, Back Stage.

Speakers
-- John Papsidera, Casting Director, "Inception," "Zombieland," "The Dark Knight Rises"
-- Laray Mayfield, Casting Director, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
-- Kerry Barden, Casting Director,  "The Help"

SPEAKER BIOS

John Papsidera
John Papsidera started his professional career as a trained actor, graduating from Florida State University with a BFA and attending postgraduate studies at Circle in the Square in New York City.

Starting as a casting assistant at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, Papsidera moved into feature film casting and worked on such big-budget action films as "Clear and Present Danger," "The Net," "Anaconda," and "Cutthroat Island." In 1997 Papsidera formed his own casting company and over the past 14 years has been the casting director for more than 90 films and television projects.

His film credits include the original "Austin Powers," "Boiler Room," "Memento," "Batman Begins," "The Longest Yard," "The Prestige," "Enchanted," "The Dark Knight," "Zombieland," "Inception," and the soon-to-be-released "The Dark Knight Rises," "Oz: The Great and Powerful," "The Grey," and "Gangster Squad."

Television credits include HBO's "If These Walls Could Talk," "Live From Baghdad," "Carnivale," "Lackawanna Blues," and "Prison Break." His achievements in the field of casting include two prestigious Artios Awards for outstanding casting and 12 nominations and two Emmy Awards and four nominations for his work in television.

Papsidera formed his entertainment company, automatic sweat, in the fall of 2000. With friend and producer Gavin Polone he opened a Hollywood restaurant, The Waffle, in the winter of 2007.

He resides in Los Angeles, still casts feature films and television, is in the process of producing two films, and is looking forward to new horizons of opportunity.

Laray Mayfield
Laray Mayfield has worked as a casting director for Oscar-nominated director David Fincher for more than 20 years, beginning with music videos and commercials before transitioning into feature films such as 1999's "Fight Club," 2008's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "The Social Network," and the Christmas release "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo."

Taraji P. Henson, Kristen Stewart, Dwight Yoakam, Rooney Mara, Tilda Swinton, Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, and Justin Timberlake are some of the dozens of talented actors Mayfield has cast in the films she and Fincher have done together.

In addition to the films she has cast for Fincher, she also cast "The Incredible Hulk" and the 2011 remake of "Footloose." Mayfield was awarded the Casting Society of America's 2011 Artios Award for outstanding achievement in casting in a big budget dramatic feature for "The Social Network."

Kerry Barden
Kerry Barden has been casting for 19 years. He has cast over 200 films, television shows, and plays and has offices in both New York and Los Angeles.

Some of his film credits include "Boys Don¹t Cry," "Good Will Hunting," "Shakespeare in Love," "American Psycho," "I Shot Andy Warhol," "The Cider House Rules," "Unfaithful," "Monster's Ball," "Pineapple Express," "The Visitor," "Conviction," "Winter's Bone," "Conan the Barbarian," "Dolphin Tale, "The Help," "Machine Gun Preacher."

He won a 2011 Artios Award from the Casting Society of America for "Winter's Bone." He was nominated for Emmy Awards for "Sex and the City" and "The Bronx Is Burning."

He has also produced four films, including the award-winning "Conversations With Other Women," starring Helena Bonham Carter and Aaron Eckhart. He is excited to return to Actorfest this year.