May 28th, 2004

Casting Directors Seek 'Impossible' Pix and Résumés
By Simi Horwitz

It's not impossible to be considered by the improbably-named Impossible Casting. In existence for ten years and specializing in TV commercials, independent films, and commercial print work, Impossible Casting is contacted when producers want "hard to find" types, says company head Craig Lechner.

"They come to us when they need the over-seven-foot giant or someone who is vastly overweight," Lechner notes. "They come to us for fire eaters or strange look-alikes or skinheads. The most unusual-looking actors are generally used in commercials. But we also do casting for independent films and for those we're contacted for intense-looking actors. But they must have chops."

Lechner says the photographs most likely to get his attention feature actors "who have unique faces and expressions and look like they're thinking about something, in addition to those actors who may have an unusual feature, like a crazy mustache or haircut. We have one actor whose picture brings to mind a villain from 'Popeye.' You'd be amazed at how many pictures are blank and they're not for us." Still, he is open to receiving headshots, specifically one 8x10 photo.

He warns, however, that he does not want follow-up postcards, phone calls, or, most off-putting to him, dropping in to see him. He promises, "If actors show up without an appointment, their photos will be tossed into the garbage. If you send us a shot and you don't hear from us, the best follow-up is to send us another 8x10 photo in six months. And," he adds, "one photo only."