“WALK WITH ME” AT 25th WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL

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We are so thrilled that the Woodstock Film Festival announced their fantastic lineup. Feature Documentary “Walk With Me” (dir. Heidi Levitt) will be showing on Saturday October 15th at 5:15PM @ Bearsville Theater.

The 2024 Woodstock Film Festival’s feature documentary lineup offers an insightful collection of 32 films exploring pressing social, environmental, and personal narratives. With a focus on powerful storytelling, the lineup showcases documentaries that challenge perceptions and spark meaningful conversations. As the summer draws to a close, the picturesque Hudson Valley, including Woodstock, Saugerties, Rosendale, and Kingston will transform into a hub of cinematic excellence.

Tickets for individual screenings and events are now available for purchase online. Physical box office opens Thursday, September 19th from 11am-6pm. Deluxe, Weekend, 6-Pack, and Student Passes are available now.

“WALK WITH ME” – OCTOBER 15th SHOWING @ 5:15PM

2024 WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL – FEATURE DOCUMENTARY LINEUP

“WALK WITH ME” AT HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2024

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In 2019, casting director Heidi Levitt’s husband Charlie was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. As the symptoms crept in slowly, Levitt realized she had to do something to cope—to create a dialogue and to shed the stigma. She began filming. The resulting documentary depicts her family living with this disease and the ways in which it has irrevocably changed their lives without letting it define them. Levitt’s highly intimate approach captures how they cherish both the solid foundation they have built together and the generous community who walks with them. Ultimately, WALK WITH ME is a testament to the loving bonds that unite us even through the most challenging circumstances.

World Premiere
dir. Heidi Levitt (USA), 2024

THE HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL in East Hampton, NY on October 5th and October 13th. Tickets on sale September 17th.

Official Links

HIFF 2024 FULL LINEUP

WALK WITH ME OFFICIAL WEBSITE

THE BEST CAST FILMS OF 2023 – “ANATOMY OF A FALL”

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“Anatomy of a Fall” — Cynthia Arra

By: Heidi Levitt (“Raymond and Ray,” “The Artist”): In the last decade there has been an emphasis on “real people” casting, meaning casting people who may not be actors but instead are authentic to the story. Watching the brilliantly directed “Anatomy of Fall,” you feel like you are watching “real people” and the essence of each performance feels so true and vulnerable that it could be a documentary. I was on the edge of my couch trying to figure out the truths unfolding in the courtroom and inside their family home nestled in the French Alps. The performances are across the board authentic, and yes, they are actors! I became an observer inside the story witnessing the emotional trauma as it unfolded. 

The leading cast is led by the luminous Sandra Hüller who makes the most complex character shy away from melodrama and instead reveal an interior world that is tormented, fragile, and also sprinkled with levity and love. As I watched I wondered continually, “Could she have done this?” and at the same time I felt torn inside. Her son, played by Milo Machado Granor gives a performance so vulnerable, it reminds me of Jodie Foster’s haunting work in “Taxi Driver.” But, what really blows me away is how all the actors feel like real people, and yet they are actors — skilled actors who disappear into their characters. I only wish more American movies would allow this kind of casting, opening up the process to less recognizable stars and less Hollywood gloss.

Authentic doesn’t mean we can’t cast actors. Wonderful actors are real people too. They are actors who know how to become anyone. Sandra Hüller, who we have seen play so many different roles from comedic to dramatic, is truly that movie star who has the talent to disappear and “act” without ever flaunting it.

Read the Full Article Here:
The Best Cast Films of 2023 – IndieWire

CURRENTLY CASTING “A TOURIST’S GUIDE TO LOVE” STARRING RACHAEL LEIGH COOK FOR NETFLIX

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Rachael Leigh Cook will star in the Netflix original film “A Tourist’s Guide to Love,” that Heidi Levitt is currently casting.

The film is based on an original idea of Cook’s with Eirene Donohue set to write the screenplay. In the film, after an unexpected break up, a travel executive (Cook) accepts an assignment to go undercover and learn about the tourist industry in Vietnam. Along the way she finds adventure and romance with her Vietnamese expat tour guide when they decide to hijack the tour bus in order to explore life and love off the beaten path.

Read the entire Variety Article Here

Congrats to the 2018 Emmy Winners

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On Monday September 17th, the Primetime Emmy’s aired. We wanted to say Congrats to all the winner’s, especially the 3 actors Genie sent out newsletters for. Regina King the winner of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her role in Netflix’s “Seven Seconds.” Claire Foy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, for “The Crown” and Jeff Daniels for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his role in “Godless.”

All 3 newsletters are posted below. Stay tuned for Oscar Season and more great films opening this Fall.

BEST CAST FILMS OF 2017

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Casting directors remain the only job in the opening titles that doesn’t have its own Oscar category, but there’s reason to believe that will change. 15 Casting Directors were asked to write about the best cast films of the year for Indiewire. “What is an authentic performance? Simple, right – it is a performance that we believe so wholly, we never question who the actor is…”

Heidi Levitt was asked to write about “The Florida Project,” Casting By: Carmen Cuba. Read the entire article. The Best Cast Films of 2017, According to Top Casting Directors. 

November Rising

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A scene from “Human Flow” Ai’s Weiwei’s documentary about the global refugee and migrant crisis.

The Fall season has been filled with climate disaster, political doom here and abroad, cries of terrorism, crazy acts of violence, fears of deportations, and every other day there is a new charge of sexual harassment and strife in Hollywood.

Serious stuff is happening and peoples’ lives and jobs are at stake. I am so proud of the many strong women and men who have come out and shared their stories, written intelligently and passionately, and most importantly started a movement, a movement for change.

November is also a month for the best movies to be trotted out for Academy Award consideration. This is the season for important and impactful films. But imagine a world where we could see stories that matter all year long, a world where superhero, sequels and tentpole films were only a small fraction of what was offered. Imagine a world where thoughtful character-driven stories and documentaries could be found in your local theatre. Imagine such a world that represented us all, a world where gender, language, physical ability and color do not set limitations, but rather reflect characters in complex truths.

If we imagine these scenarios, we can write and produce them for audiences to see and be inspired by. We can use the power of film, to change the narrative that we see in today’s’ headline s and push a political movement for change, equality and justice forwards. With the power of good storytelling and equal representation, 2018 may become a little brighter for us all.

 

Genie is Back for the Summer

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School is almost out and Genie is back for the summer.  With the Fall season set and the lineups announced  Genie is reporting on what’s casting and who’s who in Hollywood.  Don’t forget, every day we will feature your favorite actor’s giving advice and insight in Today’s Take.Take the summer to do your best research and try and build your resume. Summer is also a great time to take a new class, get new headshot and improve your audition technique.

Genie is thrilled to be back in action and ready for her close-up. Log on to see What’s Casting in LA and NYC.

Time to Take a Bow

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Dear Family, Friends and Fans of Actor Genie,

We launched our App on iTunes in January 2010 at the Sundance Film Festival. Mark Ruffalo, one of Actor Genie’s first supporters and a frequent contributor, premiered his film Sympathy For Delicious and won a Special Jury prize. Genie cast that film, launched the app, and the journey began.

Since our launch on iTunes in 2010, we expanded to Android and have connected with over 65,000 users. We loved connecting with you, and along the way, we made lasting friendships and our small dent, or as Steve Jobs said, a “ding in the universe”, becoming a true voice in Hollywood.

We were the first app on the market of our kind and chosen twice to be featured by Apple on the front of the iTunes App Store. And, even better than that, we cast a few actors who reached out to us through the app. One of those actresses even got to experience Awards season back in 2012 as we cast her in the Oscar-winning film, “The Artist”. The story was featured in this article in The New York Times. Maybe It Should Be Called ‘The Artists’

As Sundance plays to a close this weekend and The SAG Awards are presented on Sunday, Genie will take a bow. We will no longer update ‘What’s Casting’ after February 1st, 2017. But will continue to update “Todays’ Take,” the opening page of the app where we feature people we admire; Actors, Writers, Producers, Directors. We will continue to share inspiration, advice and Genie’s unique perspective daily. We will also maintain our contact base in LA and NY and our users can still register with Genie on our app to get updates through our newsletter.

We know that this is a bummer for many of you during pilot season, but Actor Genie was never meant to be a job listing service. It was meant as an informative app to empower and educate those interested in pursuing a career in the film and television business. Most importantly, the App will continue to be free on iTunes and Google Play and our Actor Genie website will list resources for you to track what’s casting.

Genie is taking a bow with a heavy heart, but you never know, when we might come back for an encore, a revival or a complete reboot. Stay tuned and stay connected through our Actor Genie Website, Facebook, Twitter & Instagram, which will continue to be active.

Love,
Genie