The women who bring local talent to the big screen
By Nina Livingstone
When “CODA” won an Oscar for Best Picture no one was more surprised than the women behind the film’s casting.
This was “the biggest moment in our career — so far,” said Angela Peri, owner and founder of Boston Casting.
Angela Peri Headshot, courtesy of Boston Casting
When Peri started Boston Casting some 30 years ago, making films in Massachusetts wasn’t nearly so common. “There was no incentive,” she said. “Hollywood would only come here and shoot the exteriors which would be the Swan Boats, the snow, the foliage. All the things that they didn’t have in Hollywood.”
Then, in 2006, Gov. Deval Patrick created a tax incentive to attract filmmakers to Massachusetts. That’s when the floodgates opened.
“In the beginning we didn’t have enough crew people,” said Peri. “We only had like 700 SAG actors in our database.”
Today, Boston Casting has more than 100,000 union and non-union actors in its database, including children and special-ability actors, plus casting directors, and an extras casting department.
“We now rival Toronto,” said Peri, who credits the tax incentive for making Massachusetts an economic first choice.
While Peri admits that Boston is not L.A. or New York, she points out that that’s what makes it perfect. “You really have a shot at the big time here,” she said.
Lisa Lobel Headshot, courtesy of Boston Casting
Peri and co-owner Lisa Lobel are quick to list actors who are now doing leads in TV series and feature films: Steve Robertson in “Dexter: New Blood”; Charlie Thurston in “Julia” and “Dexter: New Blood”; Skyler Wright in “Dexter: New Blood”; Camille Kostek in “Free Guy”; Daniel Washington, Jaquan M. Jones, and Dave M. Heard, all cast in “I Wanna Dance with Somebody”; Justin Grace as Marcus in “Kevin Can F Himself”; and Lance Williams as Moreno in “Kevin Can F Himself.”
Lobel points out that the acting community in New England is growing because actors are moving here … and staying, citing Lenny Clarke and Dennis Staroselsky as examples. (Clarke’s most recent film is “Halloween Kills,” from the widely popular slasher franchise. Staroselsky is known for his roles in “Detroit,” “Madam Secretary,” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”)
Whether it’s big time or steady work, local actress Donna Ognibene gives Boston Casting rave reviews.
Donna Ognibene, courtesy of Donna Ognibene
“Most every major film shot in Boston is thanks to Boston Casting,” said Ognibene, who has been with them for the past 20 years.
“I submitted my headshot to Boston Casting and have worked on just about every major film shot here in Boston,” she said. “They are bringing the most accomplished directors, actors, and films to our doorstep. Last year I actually got an email after being selected for ‘The Tender Bar,’ which read ‘You have been hand-picked by George Clooney.’ It doesn’t get any better than that!”
Most recently, Ognibene was cast as a stand-in for Bebe Neuwirth in the popular HBO Max series “Julia.” You’ll also find her in every bar scene in “The Tender Bar” and four of Ognibene’s family members can be spotted in the church scene in “The Unholy.”
Donna Ognibene at “The Tender Bar” with the Cast
Belmont Citizens Herald Article on Donna Ognibene in “The Tender Bar”
“It has been a thrill to work with them and it is hard to explain just how exciting it is to wait and wonder what your next role or job could be,” she said.
“CODA,” filmed in Gloucester and Greater Boston, starred Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur, who won an Academy Award for his performance as Matlin’s husband. Standing alongside the stars was local talent Kayla Caulfield, 24, who found herself landing a principal role in the Oscar-winning film. She credits Boston Casting for making that happen.
“I’ve been with Boston Casting since I was 12 years old,” she said. “Everyone there is great at what they do, and I love how it’s been a woman-run business for 30 years.”
Kayla Caulfield, pc: Ania Cosma
Although “CODA’s” recent recognition has stayed in the spotlight, it was the second film Boston Casting had worked on that involved the deaf community. “Sound of Metal,” nominated for five Oscars and winning two, was their first.
“For me the most challenging [film to cast] was ‘Sound of Metal’ because everyone we were casting was deaf and we had never tapped into that community before,” explained Lobel. “We couldn’t use any of the local actors we already knew and had to start fresh and go into the community and meet deaf people and audition them and communicate with them.
“I was completely immersed in ASL [American Sign Language] and deaf culture,” said Lobel, who appreciates the insight it brings to filmgoers. “It’s becoming a little bit more diversified, which is good and we’re working toward helping that swing even further. There are so many stories that are just wonderful to see come to the big screen and that makes me happy.”
Finding the right actor for the right part is what keeps it interesting for Peri and Lobel.
“Every movie is a challenge for me and I love the challenge,” Peri said. “From fishermen to boxers to old people … I had to find an elderly couple for the Emma Roberts’ movie ‘About Fate.’ It was really hard to find the right couple — in their 80s — that had chemistry.
“We don’t go to work every day and do the same thing, we’re really lucky like that,” she added.
In March 2020 COVID brought filmmaking to a grinding halt around the globe, including at Boston Casting. Then things started rolling with COVID protocols in place for every scenario.
“I think Hollywood just figured it out and knew people still needed content, people still needed to be entertained,” said Lobel.
Although Peri and Lobel can’t discuss upcoming films, they did mention that Peri is working on a second season of “Kevin Can F Himself,” which airs on AMC and Lobel is working on a Netflix series. American filmmaker and Oscar-winning director Alexander Payne just completed a film in the area. So things are busy.
Peri’s background includes acting, stand-up comedy, and even teaching English to a community of women in Italy.
“I taught English in Rome when I was living there. I taught these 40 teachers how to speak English, but with a really thick Boston accent,” said Peri. “The Italian women were correcting me. ‘Scusa … sorry no mothha, it is Mother!’ And I was like, oh my God, I am teaching them how to talk with a Boston accent!”
“So there’s like a whole community of women in Rome who sound like they’re from [Boston],” Lobel added with a laugh.
