Casting Call: Jake Szymanski

Casting can make or break work - but it’s one of the least-discussed aspects of our industry. That’s why LBB has teamed up with House Casting, the talent-finding experts with over two decades of experience, to create Casting Call. 

Casting Call is an interview series which invites directors and producers from across the industry to reflect working with talent. How they work alongside agencies to find it, and how they get the best possible performance out of the people in front of the camera. 

Today we’re speaking with Jake Szymanski, represented by Gifted Youth. Jake is a celebrated comedy director who started out with Funny or Die in 2007, before going on to shoot digital shorts for SnL. He’s directed a much-loved Super Bowl spot for Uber Eats, directed TV for streaming giant Amazon Prime, and was behind the camera for the 2016 comedy Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, starring Zac Efron, Aubrey Plaza, Anna Kendrick and Adam DeVine. 

Here, Jake breaks down why casting is so important on any given project, searching for the element of surprise, and why there’s never been a better time for new talent to be discovered. 

LBB> Jake, just how important is casting for you when tackling a new project? 

Jake> Casting is a huge priority. I love casting. It’s where you really start to see the spot  come to life for the first time, especially in comedy. It’s really exciting to see what each performer brings to the table. 

LBB> And what are some of the tell-tale signs which let you know you've found the perfect person for a role? 

Jake> In comedy casting, it’s two things: They’re able to make me laugh, and they have a  surprise element to them. 

LBB> Can you share an example of a project you've been part of where the casting was absolutely nailed? 

Jake> A few examples come to mind: 

A television show I directed called, Jury Duty for Amazon Prime, where we had an ensemble of 17 different characters who were all insanely talented improv actors. 

On the commercial side, I’m almost hesitant to call out one particular spot because I’ve worked with a wide range of very talented actors over the years. One highlight that comes to mind was finding State Farm’s Jeff the Equipment Manager aka Jazz Bath (Mark Sipka). 

LBB> So why do you think the casting worked so well in that instance? 

Jake> You know that casting is working well when the performer is able to bring something  to the spot that heightens the role; a je ne sais quoi, if you will. It’s when you have the feeling that only that actor could play that role.

LBB> Have you ever had to deal with a very specific or niche request in terms of finding talent - and how did your team pull it off, if so? 

Jake> Yeah, all the time. For example, we’ve had to find roller skaters, Brazilian dancers,  ballerinas that look like football players, all while being able to land a joke. 

I’m very lucky to work with some very talented casting teams such as Neil and Mary at House Casting. They’re really great at what they do and are able to find the right pool of talent to see.  

LBB> What are some of the things you can do as a director to ensure you're getting a  strong, authentic performance out of your talent? 

Jake> You have to make them feel comfortable, play to their strengths, and create a safe environment on set where they feel free to give their best performance.

LBB> Are new technologies like virtual production changing the way you work with talent? Do you think the role of an actor is changing because of those tech innovations? 

Jake> Absolutely, new technologies are significantly changing how we work with talent whether it be through remote auditions, virtual casting calls, enhanced pre-visualisation, interactive tools, global casting, data-driven insights, remote collaboration, and new opportunities for actors. (Answer written by ChatGPT). 

LBB> Finally, just in case there's an aspiring actor reading this article - do you have any advice to share on how to be seen or discovered?! 

Jake> It has never been easier to be seen or discovered. Find people and projects that you  want to work with, make something, and put it out there! Resources for making what you want - and how you want - are so accessible now. 

An example would be to use social media. I’ve definitely brought people into a casting  session based on what I’ve seen them do on their social media platforms.