Today we’d like to introduce you to Lori Wyman.
Lori, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Miami Beach, Florida and I’d always wanted to be in the film industry. When I graduated from the University of Miami with my degree in Speech and Communications, one of the professors announced that the top talent agency, ACT I TALENT AGENCY, was looking for someone to do filing and typing. I jumped at the position because I knew that in order to get in anywhere, I’d have to start small. I worked at ACT I for 5 years doing all of the jobs of a talent agent including putting talent on tape, submitting actors for castings, going over photos with the actors, booking actors and models for various jobs and so on. After working there for many years, I decided I wanted more of a hand in the actual casting process. I was fortunate enough to get a job working on the Miami Vice television series in their casting department, and the rest, as they say, is history. I did a lot of networking. In my early career I accepted any casting job that came my way so I’d have the experience and exposure and to build my resume.
Has it been a smooth road?
No road to success is smooth. Some of the struggles I deal with involve ego. There are a lot of clients who have big egos and sometimes they have thrown me under the bus to save their own face. One such story happened when I was casting a network TV pilot. I had booked an actor who was quite wonderful. Unbeknownst to me, he gave his agent, who gave me, a fake social security number. Apparently, he was an illegal immigrant in the US so he used a fake SS# in order to work. After a week of him working on this TV show, the network found out and they were furious. They blamed me and fired me. It took over 3 years for that producer to call me back and apologize for throwing me under the bus, because he had to blame someone. This was something out of my control and I could have done nothing about it. The biggest obstacle is people and their personalities. Many actors will blame me when they don’t get a job. Some of these actors have gotten quite vicious. I don’t do the final booking selection of the actor. I ONLY submit the actors to the client and then my part in the casting process is over. Oftentimes, actors do not realize that.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Lori Wyman Casting story. Tell us more about the business.
My company, Lori Wyman Casting, is a casting director company. We find the best actors for television, film, and commercial productions. We work with adults and children, in English and Spanish productions. I know the actors in Florida better than anyone else in the state. I have worked very hard to learn who the best actors are and it gives me great pleasure to present them to my clients. I am an award winning casting director. There is an award called the ARTIOS Award. It is given for excellence in casting. I have been nominated for it 6 times and have won twice. I was also nominated for a casting EMMY for HBO’s Recount. When I am given a casting job I go all out, 100%, to find the very best talent for my clients. I pride myself in never making actors wait in my waiting room. This allows the actors to give their very best auditions and not be agitated by long waits. I have my Masters’ degree with a concentration in Drama Therapy. I focused on Audition Anxiety so that I may help actors overcome their auditioning hurdles so that can present their best audition.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Florida used to be the 3rd largest film production area in the country. I do believe we will be right back there as soon as we get a supportive government to stand behind us once again. The biggest shift in casting has been the usage of the internet. More and more castings are being done online and then sent on to the director. Years ago everything was done in person. This way more and more actors can audition via tape from anywhere in the country and even in the world.
Contact Info:
- Address: Lori Wyman Casting
16499 NE 19 Ave #203
North Miami Beach, Fl 33162 - Website: www.loriwymancasting.com
- Phone: 305 354-3901
- Email: lori@loriwymancasting.com
- Instagram: loriwymancasting
- Facebook: facebook/loriwyman
- Twitter: loriwymancasts
Image Credit:
Photo left to right:
Erin Fragetta, Lori S. Wyman, Therese Vergruggen
At the Artios Awards in 2018
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