As a girl, Amy Lippens studied acting. She fondly recalls assistant directing as a teenager on a school production and taking copious notes for the actors onstage. In college she strayed from theatre into sociology and women's studies. Later, when it came time to work in casting, Lippens' interest in the intricacies of performance and human nature blended perfectly. "I love actors," said Lippens, adding, "Diversity is on everybody's mind, and, with my sociology background, I always focus on trying to reflect the real world."
She is particularly adept at recognizing the emerging talent of young performers. As a casting associate on the pilot for My So-Called Life, Lippens helped launch the careers of then-unknown teens Claire Danes, Jared Leto, and Wilson Cruz. Though Lippens did not continue with the series, her work on the pilot kicked off her relationship with executive producers Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick, who would later hire her to cast the pilot and series Once and Again. Lippens was instrumental in finding talented young actors Evan Rachel Wood, Julia Whelan, and Meredith Deane for the series.
Lippens just wrapped the third season of Once and Again—which, to the dismay of fans, was recently cancelled by ABC (the series finale airs Apr. 15). She also recently cast six episodes of Leap of Faith with casting director Elizabeth Marx and is now finishing the search for George of the Jungle 2 for Disney.
First Casting Job: Casting assistant on Alan Parker's Come See the Paradise. "I had been a PA on Tin Men in Baltimore before that. I learned so much—what the jobs were, respect for each of those roles. With Come See the Paradise we were doing a major search for kids who had to age through the movie. We had to delve into Asian Boy Scout troops, looking for non-actors," Lippens recalled. When casting young performers to play characters who will age over the course of the film, Lippens said that, more than physical resemblance, she is concerned with finding actors who convey "an essence" of another actor. "I see a lot of people and I look for the common charm, the sense of the actor that will be playing the adult role. It takes a lot of focus to get a sense of who they are."
Road to Casting: After college Lippens worked in production on Back to the Future 2 and Tequila Sunrise—during which time she was first told that she would be good at casting. Next she worked as a runner on a TV show and then assisted Henry Winkler on a film he directed. Mary Goldberg was Lippens' mentor. "She took me under her wing and gave me my first screen credit," Milk Money, which involved a lengthy search for the five children in principal roles.
Coolest Casting Gig: The Once and Again pilot. Said Lippens, "It was an amazing experience. We cast in September, so there wasn't the pressure of pilot season. So many actors were available for us to see." Out of 10 series regular roles, four were children. "Ed [Zwick] and Marshall [Herskovitz] really empower the heads of departments here. They were very supportive of my choices. Finding the right mix of actors for these families was a joyful experience. When the writing is so good, and you have been empowered with the trust of the series creators, you can be the best that you can be."
As for working on the series, Lippens was thrilled that her office was just off the set. "I love doing set visits to see how the actors are working. To watch them work, to see the growth of these young people—as performers and as people—is just wonderful for me. I will always hold this experience in the threads of who I am."
Key Things She Looks for in a Young Performer: Once again, Lippens mentioned "essence." She explained, "Kids are who they are. They don't bring a lot of baggage. So I look for what that actor will be bringing to the part. Are you genuine? Are you funny? Kids will say the things that come to their heads, and that's great. I also look for a young actor who really wants to be here, who really wants to be an actor." It is important to Lippens that the young performer not pursue acting because of parental pressure. "The actor needs to find performing fun—not stressful, not a chore."
Most important, a young actor must have stamina. "This is someone who is going to be working and going to school at the same time. They must have the energy for both."
How Parents Can Contribute: "I know it's hard, but let your child make his own decisions with the material and with the roles he's up for," said Lippens. "This process has to be about the individual who wants to be an actor. What you can do to support that is make sure your child is active, eats a well-balanced diet, is healthy. Make sure your child knows it's OK to not go on that audition when he's tired, has homework to do, or feels the role isn't right for him.
Lippens also takes a young actor's family into consideration when casting a project. "I always ask where the family is from. People forget that the parents are schlepping these kids all around town. I remind the children to go outside after the audition and thank their parents. It's a big commitment they've made. They sometimes have to relocate or separate from one another. It's important that I am informed about who the parents are before recommending the child to a producer or director. They're not just hiring a child but a whole family."
Advice for Young Actors: "Live your life," Lippens urged. "Acting is one extra-curricular activity. First there's family, then school, and then all the rest. One element of that 'all the rest' part may be acting. Those priorities are very important. You need life experiences so that you can bring them to the role and expand upon them.
"Remember that we want you to be good," she added. "We want you to be right for the part. If you have a question, speak up. Take your time and be present in the moment. Be prepared, be professional, and remember that this is always a win-win situation. Every audition is cumulative. There's too much pressure to get the job, and that makes kids think they're performing because they have to. No. It's about being creative and having fun."
According to Lippens, there's nothing wrong with kids wanting to take a break from acting. "There is so much that is important to a child's life that only exists through high school graduation. After that, many of the athletics, extra-curricular activities, and honors are all gone. Acting will always be there, so know that it's OK to take a break from it."
Best Way To Get Seen by Her: Lippens provided a list, in order of importance: "Through agents and managers, at showcases, by viewing films and TV shows, by attending theatre, and from producer- and casting-director recommendations. I am open to seeing actors through individual submissions." She insisted that she looks at postcards. "If the timing is right, I'll make a note of when to catch your show. Postcards remind me that you're still around."
She added, "I use the IMDb, The Players Directory, and all of the sides services online. Things are really just beginning with this, though. I am very open to [links to] reels sent online." Still, Lippens stressed that a well-done but inexpensive headshot is a more important tool. "Kids need new headshots at least once a year, more frequently if there is a drastic change in their looks."
Lippens also recommended that young actors use the acting classes available in their schools and at community theatres. "Kids should be doing scenes with other kids, just like adult actors get together to workshop scenes."
Her Greatest Casting Challenge: Her first solo casting job, the film Camp Nowhere. "I had to cast 21 kids in seven weeks. All of them were 12 years old. Everyone is changing at that age. I couldn't use Jessica Alba in a major role, but I kept her on as one of the camp kids. Years later, just before Dark Angel went into production, I saw her at a party and asked if she remembered me from her childhood. She said, 'Of course. You gave me my SAG card.' That's a wonderful feeling."
Most Gratifying Part of Her Job: "To be able to give people jobs. To call an agent or manager, or sometimes even the actor directly, and say, 'You won the job. You did a wonderful reading, you embodied the role, and you are the choice.' Just knowing that they're getting to put food on the table, put money away for their future, pay for college—it's wonderful." BSW
Amy Lippens
8660 Hayden Pl., 1st floor
Culver City, CA 90232
Casting Qs is a weekly column by Bonnie Gillespie focusing on the casting directors behind the projects. Suggestions for Qs are welcome via e-mail at CastingQs@yahoo.com.