Interview with actress Annick Van Couwenberghe: “Finally, casting directors have been included in the Oscar nominations”
From tv series to reality shows to Oscar: actress Annick Van Couwenberghe in conversation
Actress Annick Van Couwenberghe has pursued several projects. She starred in the hit TV series Vloglab #Stories and Billie vs. Benjamin. More recently, she participated in episodes of Move On, on air on Vtm Go, and tv series Dertigers, which aired on VRT1 and VRTMAX and whose online version has received millions of views.
A new category for casting directors has been introduced at the Oscars this year. What do you think about that?
That was high time ! A good script is not all you need to make a movie. The right person for the role creates the connection the audience feels while watching a movie or a series. And that has to do with a lot more than good or bad acting. A person can physically not be the right choice for a role or he/she might not fit in with the other cast for some reason. The chemistry between actors can be important, not only when playing a romance but also when playing a family or a close group of friends. And actors, directors, DOP’s, … have been credited for years for their work, but the casting director was overlooked for a very long time in the Award Season. Finally that has changed. In my eyes, their work together with a good script is at the basis of the success of a project. And this recognition will make less experienced filmmakers much sooner aware of the importance of working together with a good casting director.
How important are casting directors for films?
More important than a lot of people realise. Like I said before, casting is not just about who plays the part best. It’s a combination of good acting, the right physical look, the click with the rest of the cast as well as doing your homework as a casting director on the “personality” of the actor you recommend. Is he/she directable ? Punctual ? What are the actor’s boudaries ? This can all be important and it’s necessary to have to global picture of someone before you even decide on how good he/she plays the part. So, the fact that there hasn’t been award-recognition for so long is insane. Inside the industry, the worth of a good casting director is of course well known, but now the audiences will get more insight in how elaborate the work of a casting director is. That it’s not just picking a couple of actors and presenting them to the project.
As an actress, what is your relationship with casting directors?
Well, as an actress it is my job of course to get myself known by the casting directors. That makes the job of your agent easier. I try to update my showreel with new material and upload exempts of my acting skills on my social media frequently, so the casting directors I know can see what I’m working on and what my most recent look is. And to maybe also get on the radar of new casting directors. The more you can show of your acting skills the easier you make it for them to decide if you would fit into a casting they are doing so they don’t waste time auditioning someone who’s not exactly what they are looking for. And of course you want to be on their radar when they get a new breakdown for a project you could fit in ! It’s a relationship of mutual respect : you don’t waste their time by claiming you’re something you are not and they don’t waste your time auditioning for something you don’t fit in. So when they contact you for an audition you know they want you to be good because they want to present you to their employer fully knowing what you are capable of.
Have you seen any of the Oscar-nominated films, and which impressed you the most?
I’ve seen Fprmule 1 and Frankenstein. I’m planning to see all of them but they’re not all available in Belgium yet. I was surprised Formule 1 got nominated, not because it’s a bad movie, on the contrary, haha ! But it’s an a-typical film for the nomination. I do think it’s a good development because it’s more an action-movie-type of film and they usually get snubbed although there are a lot of action movies with great stories and acting qualities. Maybe the path for more nominations for that genre has been set ! And I absolutely loved Frankenstein ! Great performances, wonderful cinematography and althought it’s a classic the story has a new angle and twist which I loved. Definitely rooting for this movie. I’ve heard a lot of good about Marty Supreme and Bugonia too, so I hope to get to see those two movies before the Oscars’s. Might change who I’m rooting for or maybe not !
Do you think awards are important for films or short films? What is your experience in this regard, especially with regard to Kasteel and the TV series “Dertigers” that won the Rose Award?
Awards are important for the future careers of the filmmakers and actors, I think. It’s a recognition of quality and that’s a “label” that will help negociations on new projects. People want to work with award-winning filmmakers and actors, because audiences are sensitive to those awards too. There are people all over the world who will choose more quickly to see a movie/series from an award-winning filmmaker or with an award-winning actor. Which means bigger income in general for the project, because audience-interest is certain. And that plays at any level of the industry, I think. Whether it’s an award-winning short movie, full feature or a series. That’s why it’s not only an honor to be nominated : this recognition can be carreer-changing !
