TIFF ’12: HBO picks up “Casting By”

September 13, 2012 by Adam Benzine

Casting By

HBO Documentary Films has acquired the U.S. TV rights to Tom Donahue’s feature documentary Casting By (pictured), which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this week.

The doc looks at the role of the casting director in Hollywood over the last 50 years, profiling pioneers of the trade such as Marion Dougherty and Lynn Stalmaster.

Produced by Kate Lacey, Tom Donahue, Ilan Arboleda and Joanna Colbert, the film combines personal narratives from actors and directors – including Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen, Glenn Close, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and John Travolta – with archival material, to reconstruct “the untold tale of Hollywood’s most invisible and unheralded profession.”

“The creation of Casting By was a collaborative process made in the spirit of the late Marion Dougherty to recognize these unsung heroes,” said Donahue. “We could not be more excited to have found the perfect home for our film at HBO.”

Josh Braun of Submarine negotiated the deal with HBO on behalf of the producers. The film will continue its festival run this fall, screening at the New York Film Festival.

Tags: Casting By, HBO, Josh Braun, Submarine, TIFF, Tom Donahue, Toronto International Film Festival