Capturing Real Life Storytelling: The Art of Casting for Documentaries

Documentaries are often seen as a window into real-life experiences and perspectives.

However, what many people may not realize is that documentaries often incorporate reenactments to help bring certain aspects of the story to life. This is where casting steps in to provide the perfect actors to portray key figures in these depictions.

Recently, Aura Casting had the opportunity to cast the young version of Sean Miyashiro for an 88 Rising documentary. This project, brilliantly made by Mac House, required finding not only a young actor to portray Sean as a teenager but also actors to play his father and friends, providing a glimpse into his formative years.

But how does one go about finding someone who resembles a real-life person to share the screen with them? It all starts with a photo. By studying imagery and mood boards, our casting team can gain insight into the production's vision and the type of actors needed to bring that vision to life.

Next comes the search. We utilized a diverse array of resources, including our actor database, social media platforms, and our personal network of talent to find potential candidates for the roles. Each audition was carefully considered, with a focus on how closely the actor matched the desired look and feel of the real-life individuals they were portraying.

We think the final product blends together seamlessly. It was such a joy to help bring this story to life and see how reenactments play such a crucial role in documentary storytelling.

If you have a project that requires the perfect casting to help tell your story, don't hesitate to reach out today. And if you want to see more of our film repertoire, click here!