Volume 2, Issue 10 |
| Sarah Abdullah |
| Dubai Casting Director - Sarah Abdullah (TAKE ONE Casting) |
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Dubai based Casting Director talks about casting actors from around the world.
IAE: Please tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to get into the film business?
SA: I am Lebanese, but born and raised in Dubai. I actually started in the advertising industry first, and stayed
there for seven-and-a-half years, working as a Senior Agency Producer. I’ve always loved watching the casting
tapes we received for our commercials and felt there was something missing, so I started Take One Casting
Agency, in October 2009, and here we are!
IAE: Tell us about Take-One Acting & Casting and how it came about?
SA: As mentioned, Take One Casting started in October 2009. The idea was to have a one stop shop where we’d
have our own database of actors and could provide casting services all within the same company. We concentrate
more on acting and casting, versus modeling and promotions. We don’t take on any catwalks or fashion shows. In
Dubai, there are no agencies that offer actors; instead they offer mostly models. So we started hosting acting
workshops, coaching the actors during auditions, and pushing for local talent to be a part of the features and short
films shooting in Dubai.
IAE: In 2008, you stated that there wasn’t a large enough talent pool in Dubai – has it grown since you’
ve opened your company?
SA: Yes the talent pool has grown a lot. We began seeing more actors taking on training and attending workshops,
and gaining the necessary experience by working on more projects. There’s been a big change in our market
(Dubai) and it’s definitely a positive one.
IAE: Could you please share with us what projects you have completed or have in the pipeline?
SA: Currently, most of our work is in TV commercials and photo shoots; however, we just finished casting on a
feature film titled DJINN, which is currently being shot in Dubai.
IAE: It’s been said that you go above and beyond the normal boundaries of what a casting director
does, to ensure that actors are better prepared for auditions. Please share what your methods are and
why you decided to work this way?
SA: I encourage actors to prepare a lot. Auditioning can be very intense, causing a lot of them (actors) to be
nervous! I work with actors on their lines and help them build the character. I help them understand why they’re
doing what they’re doing or saying what they’re saying. Once that is achieved, they can make good acting choices.
They can play with the emotions they want to portray. So I make sure they know their lines and have read the
script, then I have a proper briefing session with them explaining the background and the story. I sit with them in
the casting room and have one take after the other until I know they’ve showed me all their potential.
IAE: What casting service(s) do you use to accept submissions?
SA: I find talent in my workshops, but it’s not the only way I accept them talent submissions. We have video tests,
and online forms that actors can fill out. The best way, of course, is to see them in person in the casting room, or
watch some of their work. Nothing says more about them than that.
IAE: The internet provides you with endless access to talent from around the world. How often do you
allow actors from other countries to submit taped auditions for roles you’re casting?
SA: It depends on the project, we do that on a lot of TV commercials, where we have the luxury of time, and we also
did that on the feature I mentioned earlier, DJINN. In both cases, actors were chosen off tape and it was great to
see that happen because they were perfect for the roles!
IAE: If someone wants to become a casting professional, what are some of the steps they should take
to get started in the right direction?
SA: A casting professional should have people skills, be able to communicate well with actors, and be able to guide
them. I think attending workshops helps a lot, especially acting workshops where you’re in the actor’s shoes. It
helps you understand what they’re going through so you can guide them better. Most importantly, a casting
director should have full knowledge of the project they’re working on because it’s the only way to find the right
talent for the right job.
IAE: What would you say are the most rewarding, as well as the most difficult, aspects of your job?
SA: The most rewarding part is when I see that the talent who deserves the job most actually gets chosen. By that I
mean the talent with the best performance, versus the one with the best looks. The most difficult part is finding the
right actors required to fill certain roles. It’s still a new industry in Dubai, and people do work on improving their
skills; however, we still have a long way to go. So finding talent is the toughest part of what I do.
IAE: Every industry needs improvement. In your opinion, what needs the most improvement in the
entertainment industry as it pertains to what you do?
SA: Dubai needs more drama schools, acting workshops, and we need to push for more TV series and film
production. Education and career opportunities complement each other and neither of them can exist independent
of the other. Our industry (in Dubai) is a work in progress. It’s happening, but will definitely take some time. I have a
lot of hope for the coming years though.
IAE: Please tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to get into the film business?
SA: I am Lebanese, but born and raised in Dubai. I actually started in the advertising industry first, and stayed
there for seven-and-a-half years, working as a Senior Agency Producer. I’ve always loved watching the casting
tapes we received for our commercials and felt there was something missing, so I started Take One Casting
Agency, in October 2009, and here we are!
IAE: Tell us about Take-One Acting & Casting and how it came about?
SA: As mentioned, Take One Casting started in October 2009. The idea was to have a one stop shop where we’d
have our own database of actors and could provide casting services all within the same company. We concentrate
more on acting and casting, versus modeling and promotions. We don’t take on any catwalks or fashion shows. In
Dubai, there are no agencies that offer actors; instead they offer mostly models. So we started hosting acting
workshops, coaching the actors during auditions, and pushing for local talent to be a part of the features and short
films shooting in Dubai.
IAE: In 2008, you stated that there wasn’t a large enough talent pool in Dubai – has it grown since you’
ve opened your company?
SA: Yes the talent pool has grown a lot. We began seeing more actors taking on training and attending workshops,
and gaining the necessary experience by working on more projects. There’s been a big change in our market
(Dubai) and it’s definitely a positive one.
IAE: Could you please share with us what projects you have completed or have in the pipeline?
SA: Currently, most of our work is in TV commercials and photo shoots; however, we just finished casting on a
feature film titled DJINN, which is currently being shot in Dubai.
IAE: It’s been said that you go above and beyond the normal boundaries of what a casting director
does, to ensure that actors are better prepared for auditions. Please share what your methods are and
why you decided to work this way?
SA: I encourage actors to prepare a lot. Auditioning can be very intense, causing a lot of them (actors) to be
nervous! I work with actors on their lines and help them build the character. I help them understand why they’re
doing what they’re doing or saying what they’re saying. Once that is achieved, they can make good acting choices.
They can play with the emotions they want to portray. So I make sure they know their lines and have read the
script, then I have a proper briefing session with them explaining the background and the story. I sit with them in
the casting room and have one take after the other until I know they’ve showed me all their potential.
IAE: What casting service(s) do you use to accept submissions?
SA: I find talent in my workshops, but it’s not the only way I accept them talent submissions. We have video tests,
and online forms that actors can fill out. The best way, of course, is to see them in person in the casting room, or
watch some of their work. Nothing says more about them than that.
IAE: The internet provides you with endless access to talent from around the world. How often do you
allow actors from other countries to submit taped auditions for roles you’re casting?
SA: It depends on the project, we do that on a lot of TV commercials, where we have the luxury of time, and we also
did that on the feature I mentioned earlier, DJINN. In both cases, actors were chosen off tape and it was great to
see that happen because they were perfect for the roles!
IAE: If someone wants to become a casting professional, what are some of the steps they should take
to get started in the right direction?
SA: A casting professional should have people skills, be able to communicate well with actors, and be able to guide
them. I think attending workshops helps a lot, especially acting workshops where you’re in the actor’s shoes. It
helps you understand what they’re going through so you can guide them better. Most importantly, a casting
director should have full knowledge of the project they’re working on because it’s the only way to find the right
talent for the right job.
IAE: What would you say are the most rewarding, as well as the most difficult, aspects of your job?
SA: The most rewarding part is when I see that the talent who deserves the job most actually gets chosen. By that I
mean the talent with the best performance, versus the one with the best looks. The most difficult part is finding the
right actors required to fill certain roles. It’s still a new industry in Dubai, and people do work on improving their
skills; however, we still have a long way to go. So finding talent is the toughest part of what I do.
IAE: Every industry needs improvement. In your opinion, what needs the most improvement in the
entertainment industry as it pertains to what you do?
SA: Dubai needs more drama schools, acting workshops, and we need to push for more TV series and film
production. Education and career opportunities complement each other and neither of them can exist independent
of the other. Our industry (in Dubai) is a work in progress. It’s happening, but will definitely take some time. I have a
lot of hope for the coming years though.
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