THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:For aspiring actors, this is the perfect launchpad. Picture this. A platform which brings together filmmakers and aspiring actors; the filmmakers have a vibrant pool of talents to choose from, while the aspirants get to showcase their works and talents before reputed names in the movie industry. Where you can bid adieu to long, serpentine queues that at an audition, cast away the anxieties that cloud your thoughts and attend a casting call knowing that the credibility of the filmmaker has been ascertained. In short, a professional and transparent manner to address all the ghosts that loom in the casting process in the filmdom.
It was in November that Castmeperfect was launched, creating ripples, by making casting and auditioning an easy and transparent process. With a dedicated portal and a new app which would help the film aspirants showcase their works to filmmakers and thereby act a channel to facilitate the casting of talents, the firm has pioneered a move which will help the industry shed the rogue names it has achieved over the years.
Arguably it is the first ever casting portal in Kerala and comes as a relief to countless film aspirants who can now waltz into an audition knowing that its authentic.
Nazim Viswas couldn't be happier, he is set to make his big debut in a movie. He figures among the six aspirants who have been cast across various fields via Castmeperfect. “On any day, the number of casting calls you get hovers around 10. But there is no way to know if they are all genuine. Like any industry, the film industry also has its share of cheaters and dupers. With the ever-burgeoning rise in the number of film aspirants, it is essential that we need to have some mechanism to ascertain the authenticity of the casting calls,” says Nazim.
Started by youngsters Rakenth R Pai and Sachin Salim, the firm has already garnered 2,000 plus registrations cutting across all age spectrum, from 2 years to 66 years, from various parts of the country. More than 40 film and ad-makers are already part of this, making casting calls via Castmeperfect. “This is envisaged as a professional and transparent way to enter into the industry,” says Rakenth.
It all started when Rakenth, who has been associated with the film industry felt a huge gap in the casting segment thereby adding its share of problems to the industry. “So we thought of addressing this using technology and reduce the gap,” recalls Rakenth. Castmeperfect was thus born.
“The casting calls we announce goes through a whole range of filtering process. Only when we are sure of the authenticity of the filmmaker do we post the casting call or share the details of the aspirants,” says Rakenth. “We are trying to bring in professionalism and transparency in the casting process. In future we intend to develop it as a platform which can suggest not just aspiring actors but also crew members,” he adds.
“The film industry is very unsegmented. One is aware of the plethora of issues gripping the industry including the threat of casting couch. We are trying to be a channel that can realise the dreams of those passionate about acting,” says Sachin. Several talented artists never get a platform to showcase their talent. Via our portal and app, the aspirants get an opportunity to showcase their portfolio and work and get notified when a casting call is announced, he adds.
“We want everyone to treat the film industry like you would treat any other profession. Our vision revolves around that,” adds Rakenth.