Today confirmed the fact that, in addition to a great script, Casting is everything. I remember the day I met Danielle White for the first time in downtown Sarasota to discuss the possibility of her playing the lead female role of "Dez", the 20-something, hippy dippy Bohemian girl who has such a tremendous impact on the people she meets throughout the film. She impressed me then as someone who was wise beyond her 18 years and someone I could count on to throw herself passionately into "Beautiful Noise" - so I was sold on her from the get-go. Even though she's been nailing all her performances throughout the shoot, today was The Day I realized how brilliant casting Danielle truly was. She spent the day acting out scenes that ran the full gamut of emotions - from the gleeful para-sailing sequence with a frightened 'Noah' (Jay White) to an incredibly tense scene where she had to reach deep down inside in order to convey the darkest despair, to another scene where her Character literally transforms into an Audrey Hepburn-type beauty that simply stunned me and Jay and the Crew. This young actress/singer displayed a range of acting talent that was nothing less than amazing. She possesses the tools to become a highly acclaimed actress and the intellect to know exactly what to do with this rare opportunity.
My gut instinct to cast Danielle over a few other 'name' actresses that were made available to me has already paid off. The role is so demanding that the weight of the entire film, though also carried by Jay & Kimber, is heaviest on Danielle - because in the final analysis, if she's not believable to movie audiences, the film would collapse. It's too cliche to simply say that "a new star was born on the set of "Beautiful Noise" - but I do want to state clearly here and now how thankful I am to the movie gods for sending Danielle my way for this film and to the better angels in me who encouraged me to cast this relative unknown without hesitation. She has embraced the moment and is taking her Character to depths I never thought possible when I wrote the screenplay. I can't express enough what a joy it is to direct this young phenom in what is undoubtedly a star-making turn for her.
It takes an entire Team to pull off this miracle of a movie - but I can honestly say that my film has a terrific chance to become a huge hit thanks in no small part to a beautiful young talent who is giving her all every single day on the set and who has complete Faith and trust in the Story, in her Director and in her ability to transform herself on a daily basis into the mystical 'Dez'.
Casting Danielle White is one of the best decisions I made for "Beautiful Noise". Check out the Trailer & Music video on this website to see what I'm talking about. And keep checking back, 'cause there's much more to come from Danielle and the the rest of my incredible Cast.
Steve
