Casting: Southern Actors

[Belief Pictures]

Hello,

Has anyone had any problems doing this/had issues doing this. I'm a filmmaker not from the south though. I've had a few actors from the south read for various parts of a feature film we will be doing. What are the pros and cons?

I am mostly concerned about continuity issues.

Chris

 

[David Jimerson]

What "problems" are you worried about?

 

[Belief Pictures]

What "problems" are you worried about?

Just for continuity. If I have a daughter playing one role does the mother have to have an accent to match? That's what I am wondering about just continuity in regards to casting.

Chris

 

[David Jimerson]

I would think that most actors worth hiring can modify their accents, wherever they're from.

 

[Erik Olson]

I live in Charlotte, but moved here from California - kids were born in Berkeley. They've lived here since 2003 and have absolutely no southern accent whatever. Most of the Charlotteans we know don't. Get outside of a major city like Charlotte or Atlanta and the accent will be there in native residents. I don't know if it's this way everywhere. Dialect is different in Charleston than Savannah and, I'd wager, in Shrieveport, LA. It depends where you are and the backstory / lineage of your characters. Actors should be able to learn a dialect in a short period of time.

 

[J Michael]

Just look at what happens in real life. People move and acquire accents different from those of the locals who stay put. So, if the daughter moved from Bopunk Alabama to Atlanta, and returned home for a visit, she might have less of a southern accent than the mother. This isn't specific to the South, it should be a cross-cultural phenomenon.

 

[yrpfilms]

I think that audiences have a specific tolerance for suspension of disbelieve.
So long as you work within a reasonable margin of error you should be fine.

Remember ...... it is not what is real, it is what the audience perceives as real. And this can be two very different things.
As an example I always use bubblegum.
Strawberry Bubblegum doesn't taste like an actual strawberry....but we accept it as Strawberry Flavor.
(This can also work with Reeses Peanutbutter Cups and actual Peanut Butter)

..Hope that helps.

 

[Postmaster]

As a German, I really love that southern drawl. Especially at women.
I once had coffee with Jake Lloyd`s mum, most charming accent I ever heard.

Frank

 

[Belief Pictures]

I think that audiences have a specific tolerance for suspension of disbelieve.
So long as you work within a reasonable margin of error you should be fine.

Remember ...... it is not what is real, it is what the audience perceives as real. And this can be two very different things.
As an example I always use bubblegum.
Strawberry Bubblegum doesn't taste like an actual strawberry....but we accept it as Strawberry Flavor.
(This can also work with Reeses Peanutbutter Cups and actual Peanut Butter)

..Hope that helps.

So what you are saying is do not worry about it.

 

[David Jimerson]

If you find it to be an issue, it's a directorial issue far more than it is an acting issue.

And such that it is an issue, it doesn't just apply to southern accents; there are different Northeastern accents, different Midwestern accents, different West Coast accents. Different accents around Canada, too.

 

[yrpfilms]

So what you are saying is do not worry about it.

You are the Director...you decide what to worry about.

Look at it this way, either people will notice....or they won't.

 

[Belief Pictures]

Just look at what happens in real life. People move and acquire accents different from those of the locals who stay put. So, if the daughter moved from Bopunk Alabama to Atlanta, and returned home for a visit, she might have less of a southern accent than the mother. This isn't specific to the South, it should be a cross-cultural phenomenon.

Yes but should the mother not have an accent just as much or less?

 

[Belief Pictures]

You are the Director...you decide what to worry about.

Look at it this way, either people will notice....or they won't.

Yes my point! Which to me means a very big risk.

 

[Tommy K]

Yes my point! Which to me means a very big risk.

To me the story should dictate whether diifferent accents would/could be an issue. For example, if the story takes place in the deep south and is about a rural southern family, then I sure wouldn't cast a mom with a Bronx accent. Unless the mismatch has a reason and it is part of the story and integral to her character... Like the mom is hiding from her ex husband who was in the Bronx mob and she went south to start over, and married a farmer... get my point?

Yes there are mismatches in accents sometimes in family's.. but there is always a story behind it... Do you want the viewers to wonder why they have different accents, and if there is more to this story? Will this detract from the credibility of your story? Remember everything in a script and on screen should have reason and reveal information about the characters, locations. motives, sub plots etc in the story. Every little nuance should aid in telling your story. All things being equal I match the accents unless you can justify it.