Reel Talk: Felicia Fasano Talks Casting, Working With Pamela Adlon, and Casting Mikey Madison for Better Things

Felicia Fasano has cast incredible projects, including Californication, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and Better Things. Reel Talk’s Ally Bonsall chatted with Fasano at the ATX TV Festival about the evolution of casting and taking chances on new talent. Does Oscar-winning actress Mikey Madison ring a bell?

Coming from an acting and production background, Fasano shared her experience of discovering her passion for casting. “I fell into it (casting) as most of us do! Once I fell into it, I realized I had the skills that made for a good casting director. I had been an actor as a kid, and I took direction very well. I was communicative, and I loved movies.” It’s refreshing to hear someone fell into the job because they loved storytelling, and Fasano understands how to build a great story.

Californication and King of the Hill star Pamela Adlon enlisted Fasano to cast for FX’s Better Things. This story mirrored Adlon’s real life. It’s hard to imagine trusting someone to help find the right actors to tell your true story. Fasano spoke about the relationship between her and Adlon and the experience of finding the right talent to portray versions of Adlon’s daughters. “Pamela Adlon and I had a very long relationship because I had cast her in Californication. So, I knew her since her daughters were very young, and I knew her mom,” That long-lasting friendship allowed Fasano to understand and imagine ideal versions of each character. Enter: Mikey Madison!

One can imagine it must be surreal to see a young star you had a hand in discovering win an Academy Award. Fasano gushed about Madison and her time working with her. She joked, “It’s crazy! You don’t really think anyone’s going to win an Oscar.” She continued, “To see Mikey, it’s kind of like I still don’t believe it! I’m very proud of her.”

How can you uncover the “it-factor” in an actor? Fasano described it as seeing magic. “There’s training but also just an innate natural ability.” She continued, “It’s magic when you’re in the room. But, we’re not in the room anymore, so we might miss out on that magic!”

Casting has undergone a rapid evolution in recent years, with fewer and fewer auditions taking place face-to-face. While self-tapes have been around for a long time, it’s seeing a rise in popularity. Fasano mentioned that she misses the experience of casting in person, not just for the talent but also for aspiring casting directors. “How are you going to train the young people to come up? That’s how I learned, at the hip of the casting director in the room.” The experience of watching a mentor firsthand run an audition room is slowly disappearing, so what does that mean for the future of casting? Only time will tell.

A disadvantage Fasano noted was the unfortunate fact that fewer and fewer unknown talent are getting their chance in the spotlight due to this new era of casting. “What you’re seeing is people you’ve seen already a lot because they don’t want to take a chance on somebody new.” While casting an A-list star makes sense, it is discouraging to know there’s so much untapped talent waiting to be discovered if only directors would give them a chance once again.

Regardless of a stacked resume or not, Fasano understands talent and likes giving chances to emerging names. When asked what makes an unknown actor stand out in an audition, Fasano explained, “It’s different things for different people. It always starts with the part. Are they right for the part?” Even if an actor might not fit the role they’re auditioning for, Fasano noted, “If there’s something special about them, you’ll remember them. Or, maybe you can make them right for the part by, like figuring out how to sell it to your people.” Fasano explained that having a strong relationship with the showrunner and the confidence to advocate for talent are integral parts of finding the right person for a role. She also praised Adlon for being open-minded with casting, regardless of a stacked resume.

Casting directors constantly work to discover the best talent for each story. Their advocacy for names they believe in is a transformative power that can change the trajectory of a career. It’s truly inspiring to hear how one person's belief in an unknown actor can lead to a career breakthrough. Felicia Fasano, a master in her craft, understands how to spot talent that perfectly fits a role.