Forward Together reflections: Sarah Leung Casting Q&A

Sarah Leung is a Manchester-based independent casting director originally from Salford. Coming from a mixed British/Chinese background, making her one of the only casting directors in the UK of Chinese heritage. She’s a full member of the BAFTA jury and is committed to casting a diverse range of talent in film, TV and theatre – and we felt so lucky to sit down with her for a casting Q&A at Forward Together. 

Sarah worked for one of the top casting directors in film and theatre and has worked consistently since then She enjoys what she does so much that sometimes she feels like a fraud.

Sarah has perceived so far that people often see a barrier between actors and casting directors, but actually casting directors want to help actors and rely on great talent to do their job well.

To get in the room, actors need to have something to offer: a self tape, inviting people to see shows. Emails need to be short, simple and to the point so they’re easy to digest.

And if a casting director doesn’t get back to you, don’t take it personally – Sarah gets around 700 emails on an average week. Even if she doesn’t respond, she’s likely seen your email and might consider you in the future. It might feel like shouting into the void, but getting onto a casting director’s radar is possible!

If you miss an opportunity, don’t think of it as rejection. You’re just not the right piece for that jigsaw puzzle, and there might always be a better fit for you in the future.

If you don’t have certain credits yet, get some scripts, practice with actor friends and record/review your progress so you can develop.

Remember – casting directors aren’t looking for a word perfect read. They want to see an offer and essence of a character.

1. Invest in good quality photo – a thumbnail isn’t going to show enough detail.
2. Don’t overthink a reel with a million characters – Sarah just wants to see an essence of you as an actor.
3. Sarah recommends actors send one read that showcases them as a strong, confident actor who can do this and another that showcases you as warm, friendly and good to work with.
4. Don’t send a million photos to make up for lack of credits. Less is more.
5. Organise your CV into different tabs of film, theatre, TV and musicals.
6. Showreels should demonstrate a journey with good quality performance and image.
7. Don’t oversell yourself with things you can’t do (especially accents!). Be very confident in anything you list.
8. You don’t need to spend a fortune on your headshots and showreels. A to camera monologue works just as well. Also, local photographers do headshot deals throughout the year.
9. Your social media follower account doesn’t make a difference to Sarah – just keep it PG and show that you can behave with press.

Acting isn’t just a 9-5 – it’s a whole lifestyle, so it’s important to care for yourself physically and mentally.

On a basic level, make sure you’re drinking enough water, getting your steps in and surrounded by a good circle of friends who support you and want the best for you.

Be aware of people and things that drain you and take you away from your craft.