We recently connected with Kara Sullivan and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kara, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
A combinations of things.
First, I was raised by a strong woman who was a single mother. During my childhood she definitely had to overcome many struggles both personal and some financial especially after a tough divorce. This was all while raising not only me but my brother who is 8 years older. No matter what was going on she made sure we were loved and remained being a great Mom. Also, once my brother went to college it was just me and my Mom so I learned to be a very independent kid since she was working. Once I could stay home alone I was responsible for getting home and getting my homework done after school plus getting myself to any after school activities on my bike. At some point I started cooking dinner in case she had to work late which was rare, it may sound weird but I am sure this helped too.
Secondly, as a Casting Director for 20 years who is independent and owns my business I have had to learn how to be strong and determined and believe in myself even when things seem slow. Not working for a big studio or large production company means I am freelance so sometimes I am busy and sometimes I have slow periods. Last year or two has not been easy for us freelancers with COVID and the strikes. Over the 20 years I have learned to remain to be resilient when things are slow and have trust that fate will keep me going. Much of it is believing in myself and remembering this is my calling and it is what makes me happy. Fate somehow when things seem to get slow will remind me whether it is a feast of jobs or a few jobs that will keep the lights on that I am meant to keep this business going and this what I am good at so don’t give up.
Again, I can credit my Mom who made it through tough times, was a great Mom and with work made sure she was always in some capacity making sure yes she kept us fed and clothed but was also as a Nurse Practitioner who made sure she was working at places that she was passionate about that always provided health care for those who could not afford it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am a Casting Director.I help Producers and Directors doing films, commercials, web series and sometimes even plays find their actors.
The casting process involves posting what you need for each project on websites that are designed for actors to submit their materials. My job then becomes to go through the thousands of submissions for each role and get it down to my top 30 people to bring in to audition for me for the first round, which I put on tape for the Director and Producer. Then we do a final casting session in which the Director and Producer meet with their top choices for each role.
I love what I do. It brings joy to my heart and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. It is my passion and I get to meet all kinds of new and interesting people.
I always hope that what I help to create makes a difference in the world or for my fun projects will bring people joy. Overall, I strive to be part of projects that are all different genres, that are interesting and that people love. Whether they laugh or cry or a bit of both it puts the biggest smile on my face when I am told the casting was stellar and spot on.
I have gotten to cast some amazing name actors like Raymond Cruz, Tamara Taylor and several of my projects have won student Oscars. In fact this year Neither Donkey Nor Horse won the Bronze student Oscar and now we are in the running to be nominated for an Oscar in the short film category. Finally, next summer I am going to try my hand at directing a short that I am co writing with my nephew that is about a part of my life and the last two years I have been Producing.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
My ability to talk to anyone, my good instincts and my stubborness in a way and never give up attitude.
If you love what you are doing my advice is to do whatever it takes to keep on your path.
I think you have to be strong when things get tough. Believe in yourself and never lose the passion for your dream.
If you need to get a part time job or a job that will allow you to pursue your dream. Once you get to a place where you don’t need it you can always let it go. I had to build my business and my clients so this meant for the first couple of years while doing my own projects I had to work as a freelance casting assistant and I always had a steady part time job as a personal assistant. All the hard work paid off in the end.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
It is simple. Both my parents and even my Dad who is no longer with us taught me to never give up on your dreams and to be strong. They also taught me to do what needs to be done even it sometimes it is hard.
Even when they thought I was crazy when I started my career at the end of the day I know they are so proud of me.
Contact Info:
- Website: karasullivancasting.com
- Instagram: ksccasting
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kara.sullivan.9404
Image Credits
Joe Majestic
