Typically we discover our profession via a lifelong ardour for one thing. Different occasions, we reply a web based advert and discover what we didn’t know we have been in search of. Grace C. Kim falls into the latter class.

Kim is like loads of different casting administrators in that she form of stumbled into the career, however totally different as a result of she answered an advert and located her calling. Now a casting director on the Walt Disney Firm who focuses on animated movies, she not too long ago solid the Disney+ TV sequence Baymax and the musical movie Want. Kim additionally has a slate of upcoming films and TV reveals on the way in which. She spoke with us from her workplace in Burbank.

How did you get into casting?

By full accident, if I’m being sincere. I went to USC Movie College and I had no concept what I needed to do once I left. I slowly crossed issues off of my record. Like, “don’t need to try this, I don’t need to try this, I’m not good at that.”

I assumed perhaps I needed to work with cameras, then in one of many first units I used to be on, the digicam operator put a Steadicam on me and I instantly fell backward. Cameras, are positively not for me. (Laughs)

Once I graduated, I simply determined I used to be going to reply any name to be a PA so I may assist work out what I need to do and the primary one I acquired was for a casting PA in actuality tv. It was a Craigslist posting. The lady who interviewed me, Clarissa Mendola, was the primary casting director that I labored for and it was a lot enjoyable. She employed me off of a telephone name. She requested me to satisfy her at some brick constructing in Santa Monica. There was no signage on it and I used to be similar to, “I’m both gonna die right here or that is gonna be the beginning of my profession.”

I used to be going to say, it sounds sinister.

It positively felt like that to start with.

So your total profession hinges on the low-hanging fruit of the primary advert you answered?

(Laughs) I had no concept what I used to be getting myself into however Clarissa was the perfect first boss anybody may ever ask for. She taught me every little thing within the first week, then flew again to New York and mentioned, “Forged this undertaking.” I mentioned, “I’m simply the PA,” however she mentioned, “No, go on the market, do your interviews, do your analysis, determine it out.” She absolutely trusted me and the affiliate, and simply mentioned, “Have enjoyable with this. I’m right here if you happen to want me.” Then she saved hiring me after that.

So what’s the trail from answering a Craigslist advert to working at Disney?

I labored at Fremantle for a minute on actuality reveals like America’s Obtained Expertise and The X Issue, reveals like that. Then I needed to work in scripted tv, so I utilized on-line at Fox and acquired the job working for Seth Yanklewitz, who was a VP of casting over on the Fox Community and Tess Sanchez, who was the pinnacle of casting there.

I realized every little thing about scripted casting from that workforce. Then in 2019, I needed to return within the room with individuals and be again within the course of. The best way animation is about up on the studio is form of the right mix of each. We’re doing all the casting in-house, we do all the auditions ourselves whereas we’re nonetheless at The Walt Disney Firm.

Is there a distinction between casting live-action and animation?

There’s a distinction. I keep in mind the primary showcase I went to after I began working right here. There was a younger actress on stage and she or he was giving such a lovely efficiency. The minute I closed my eyes, every little thing that she was attempting to convey was out the window. I keep in mind pondering, “Oh, I’m not getting something via her voice.” I wasn’t feeling the way in which that she in all probability needed me to really feel, so there’s that distinction. Some individuals can do it with simply their voice and it’s such a present. I like with the ability to watch individuals simply swap like that.

Do you continue to find yourself closing your eyes so much while you’re while you’re doing that? Or have you ever been doing it lengthy sufficient now to inform by watching?

(Laughs) I’ve been doing it lengthy sufficient now the place I can hear it and I don’t have to shut my eyes, as a result of I additionally like watching the efficiency. We go see loads of theater, loads of reside reveals for that motive as a result of it’s that very same factor. It’s important to make somebody with the worst seats in the home really feel every little thing that the particular person with the perfect seats in the home is feeling.

Now that you simply’ve been doing animation casting for some time, do you suppose you’ve discovered a everlasting residence right here?

I feel if you happen to requested me this a yr in the past, I might have a special reply. However as of now, sure, I do. I adore it. I feel that there’s such a pleasure. I like with the ability to work with actors on this means. I like seeing individuals who can change their voices inside seconds. It’s such a expertise and so cool to see. Particularly at our studio, the place we do the musicals. It sounds so corny, nevertheless it’s a magical place. (Laughs) I hate saying that, nevertheless it’s true.

What recommendation or little bit of knowledge would you give to somebody coming in to audition for you?

I might say there are two issues. The primary is that the individuals within the room all the time need you to win. That’s all the time good to know. Realizing that, ask the questions that you simply need to ask as a result of you may have nonetheless lengthy the casting director goes to offer you. [If it’s] 15, 20 minutes, no matter it might be, that point is absolutely yours.

Ask the questions and get readability, as a result of while you go away the room, you need to go away all of it behind. I hate when the audition is over and the actor asks me the query the place I’m like, “Why didn’t you ask me that firstly?” Have that confidence to ask all of the questions that you could ask to grasp the character higher.

This text initially appeared on Casting Networks.

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Written by Neil Turitz