From: The Big Pieces Company
Natasha Ward is an acclaimed Casting Director, CSA member, Producer, an acting coach for many of Hollywood’s emerging and established talent, and also VP of Casting & Talent Relations at UrbanflixTV, a new streaming platform. She began her career working under two veterans, Chemin Bernard (The Inkwell, Moesha, Martin) and Monica Swann (Sister, Sister, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), on the major 20th Century FOX feature Fat Albert. We caught up with Natasha to discuss how she broke into Hollywood, diversity in the film & TV business, and her latest project LOCO, set to premiere On Digital and On Demand November 10.
Q: How did you get into the film business?
Natasha: I was visiting LA from Florida, and my sister who was in the business said stop hanging out with me all day at my job, go hang out with one of my casting director friends. I’m sure they could use an intern. So I went. After four weeks of interning, I became an assistant. That first film was Fat Albert… 20th Century FOX, Bill Cosby, you know this huge budgeted film. I rolled with the same casting director into Roll Bounce, another FOX film, and it just kind of started spiraling after that. So that’s how I got my start. Interning on vacation.
Q: So you went from being on vacation to the set of a big-budget film?
Natasha: Yes! I was at a culinary arts school. That’s what I thought I would be doing right now but as soon as I got off the plane, I was like there is something different about this town. You can say what you want to be and who you are. It happens overnight here in LA. That was the biggest appeal for me.
Q: How did you get involved with LOCO?
Natasha: I got an office with a casting partner. We were doing a couple projects together, Rebel for BET, Brotherly Love, The Perfect Match…. And Justin’s (Justin Galindo, Director, LOCO) office was across the hall from mine. I’m always out in the hallways talking to people. I’m talking in the cafeteria. It doesn’t matter who you are. We had a conversation and he (Justin) told me about his film he was getting ready to do. I was like okay cool and then he called me over and was like no I really want to talk to you about this. He showed me his wall of pictures of people he had already cast, or was really interested in, and said I really need some help. I said you really need some diversity, that’s what you need… and he was like yes!
Q: Was it something that really drew you into the project?
Natasha: The passion in his (Justin) eyes, in his tone, in his speech, and smile. I could tell he’s serious about this and those are the filmmakers I surround myself with and want to work with. It’s not about the paycheck or anything like that. It’s about the full experience and being valued, really appreciated, and taking the casting director’s ideas and seeing them through.
Q: Can you provide an example of an idea being used in LOCO?
Natasha: Sure, one of my ideas was that the lead female should have some type of diversity. There’s so much more to this story. It’s an everyday story. It’s something that lends itself to this neighborhood in Texas or that neighborhood over there in Ohio. I said let’s make it real, an actual world, and Justin agreed. We auditioned tons of different women and Geffri Maya, who I had just worked with on another project, was it. This girl fits the mold. Shyree Mezick (Instagram @shyrees), who was also on the film casting with me, agreed and Justin too, and I was like yeah this is going to be a beautiful project. Justin was with me every step of the way. So was Matt Estremera (Producer).
Q: What were you looking for when casting for LOCO?
Natasha: I just touched on Geffri. With Maestro’s character, I wanted to make sure we got someone who would come in and transform that character so you don’t see color but you actually see his amazing talent shine through as an actor and not just here’s the black dude playing the drug dealer again. He has dimensions, he has levels. Maestro is an amazing musician as well so he was able to bring in all of Maestro which is how I like to cast. Also, I want people who can just come in and be authentic. Same thing with Tim. Genuine actors who study the craft. From Geffri, to Tim, to Maestro, to Ski Carr, to Stark, to Gil…. everyone in the film. When you watch it you just see the natural beauty of it which I think will draw a lot of people in.
Q: Did you work on the film right to the end?
Natasha: Yes. Regardless if I take on certain projects at different budgets or experience levels, I still want to see my true vision throughout. I wanted to make sure the cast reflected both mine and Shyree’s vision as well as what Justin wanted. I don’t ever want to leave anything incomplete, so I want to make sure I’m always there from start to finish. I’m also a producer on the film so there’s that element to where I’m involved from the beginning to the end.
Q: Any advice for aspiring people of color who want to get into the film and TV business?
Natasha: Right now for people of color, we’re hot. We’re in season. We’re fresh. We’re what everybody wants. We’re in our natural authentic state. We’re able to turn on the TV and see commercials with girls with natural hair and braids, and dreads, and things that weren’t necessarily always acceptable, or the first pick. Now we’re able to be the first pick on everything and every platform from film, to TV, to commercials, to music videos, just all across the board it’s changed in that way.
Q: Would you say now it’s more competitive to break in? Less? The same?
Natasha: There’s still a ton of people running to the finish line. You’re still competing against people in your category but you’re being looked at more. Before you were still competing against everyone but the odds of being selected weren’t as high. Now, you’re still competing but more and more of us are being selected for those lead roles and those major supporting roles which maybe before we would have been the co-star, or the best friend, or the drug dealer, or the basketball player.
Q: What more can be done?
Natasha: There’s always more that can be done to open up inclusivity and just make everyone feel like they deserve to be here and they’re not just an extra. Now people are learning names of these actors. Now they’re able to see images of themselves on TV. Like now we have Javicia Leslie who’s the new Batwoman. She’s a super talented actress who studied her craft, who’s young, represents for the LGBTQ+, she’s black, and she can dance. She can do all of these things but we didn’t see it before. We have more outlets out there creating even more opportunities and work for ourselves. Like Lovecraft Country on HBO… it’s an all black show and it’s the shit. That show is amazing. It’s like now with that being done, we can do another, and another, so it’s just continuing to do good work and showing that good work. The hope is it will spiral into even more opportunities.
Q: Is this movement sustainable?
Natasha: I was saying this to someone the other day. It’s on a wave. Hollywood is on a up and down wave so we have to utilize this inclusion time. We’ve been in this boat before. This isn’t the first time and it won’t be the last but hopefully it’s longer.
Q: Excited about the premiere of LOCO on November 10?
Natasha: Definitely! Shout out to the work of the talent, and Justin, and Matt (Producer). We worked really hard and all became greater because of it. And it looks great. I love the movie from the beginning. If I believe in the actors and the project and the people with it, I stick with you and I want to support you throughout. I’m glad that he (Justin) brought me on and we were neighbors.
For more information about Natasha Ward, visit her website Natashawardcasting.co and follow her on Instagram @natashawardcast
