When Karen Twins Productions embarked on their ambitious web series "Play It By Ear," they knew they needed a diverse and talented cast capable of bringing an international love story to life. Emily Ann Zisko, co-director of the series, had no doubt where to turn: Backstage.
“For our web series, there was no question that we wanted to use Backstage for our casting because their company is synonymous with talent,” Zisko said. “From my work in independent film, I have had first-hand experience with some of the fantastic, professional, and driven creatives sourced from the site. We were excited to work with an organization whose reputation speaks for itself. And we were not disappointed.”
Casting across continents
"Play It By Ear" follows the story of an intercontinental couple split between Los Angeles and Amsterdam, navigating the challenges of a long-distance relationship while building new lives in countries thousands of miles apart. The six-episode series, available on YouTube, was shot in both Los Angeles and Amsterdam, requiring a casting solution that could accommodate the production's unique needs.
“Given that our production was filmed in both Los Angeles and Amsterdam, Backstage was crucial to secure talent, especially in a country where we did not have many connections to the film industry,” Zisko explained. The platform’s extensive reach and high-quality talent pool made it the ideal choice for Karen Twins Productions.
Finding right-fit talent
The success of "Play It By Ear" at prestigious festivals such as Dances With Films, HollyShorts, and the Nashville Film Festival is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the cast sourced through Backstage. “The cast we hired from Backstage were prompt, attentive, and collaborative on set and invested in the outcome of the project even after wrap,” Zisko said.
One standout moment was the casting of Danny Abrahms as Barry Reed, a character in Episode 3, "Crush."
“We received such an incredible self-tape from Danny that we hired him on the spot,” Zisko recalled. “When he came to set the first day, he was ready to roll with the improvisational aspect of his scene and created such hilarious one-liners that we had to hold our hands over our mouths behind the camera to keep from bursting out laughing. His scene sets the pace for the entire episode.”
Streamlined casting, stellar results
Backstage proved to be an invaluable tool for Karen Twins Productions.
“Using the Backstage platform is intuitive, organized, and efficient. My co-director and I were able to sort headshots, self-tapes, and call-backs with ease. Our casting process only took several weeks,” Zisko shared.
The responsive support from both the actors on Backstage and the platform’s customer service further sold the team on its value.
“I was impressed by how responsive both the actors on Backstage and Backstage support administrators were,” she explained. “If I ever had a question on how to use the site, a quick email to Backstage had my query answered the same day. And the people on the site took the utmost care for their work and were transparent in their communication.”
A show full of heart
Critics have praised "Play It By Ear," with one Rotten Tomatoes critic calling it “full of heart, insight, and drama." The series has resonated with audiences, particularly couples navigating long-distance relationships.
Thanks to Backstage, Karen Twins Productions was able to bring together a talented and dedicated cast that played a crucial role in the success of "Play It By Ear." The series not only highlights the challenges and triumphs of modern relationships but also showcases the power of finding the right talent to tell a compelling story.