Legandary Casting Director Deborah Aquila Gives Us A Look Into Behind The Scenes of Casting

INTRO: Today’s guest is legendary casting director Deborah Aquila, one of the most respected and influential casting professionals in the entertainment industry. With a career spanning more than four decades, Deborah has helped shape some of the most iconic films and and television series of our time, including The Shawshank Redemption, La La Land, CODA, Primal Fear, Mission: Impossible II, Varsity Blues, Dexter, and many more.

In this episode, Deborah takes us behind the scenes of a remarkable career - from discovering emerging talent and building unforgettable ensembles to the evolution of casting in film and television. Deborah, welcome to VersaVision. We are honored to have you.

Deborah's Word of the Week:  FAITH

Film and television recommendations:  WIDOW'S BAY and HBO's THE PITT

 

Producer: Devyn Arnold

Intro: Tamika Katon-Donegal

Deborah Aquila Biography:

DEB’S BIO: After graduating from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and The Stella Adler Conservatory, Deborah Aquila worked on the first two seasons of MIAMI VICE and several feature films including Michael Mann's MAN HUNTER and THE POPE OF GREENWICH VILLAGE as an associate. Her independent casting director career began with Steven Soderbergh's SEX, LIES AND VIDEOTAPE and Uli Edel's THE LAST EXIT TO BROOKLYN. Before moving to Los Angeles in 1993 to cast Frank Darabont's THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, Deborah had completed over 18 independent films in New York. 

In 1993, she was named Senior Vice-President of Features Casting for Paramount Pictures. During her nine-year tenure at the Studio, Deborah cast such notable films as PRIMAL FEAR, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE II, DOUBLE JEOPARDY, VARSITY BLUES, THE BRADY BUNCH, KISS THE GIRLS, MOTHER, and WHAT WOMEN WANT. In March of 2020, Deborah returned to Paramount as Executive Vice President of PTVS Casting. In February 2023, Deborah was elevated to Executive Vice President, Head of Casting for both CBS Studios and Paramount Television Studios. 

Most recent film credits: CODA,” “CHERRY, THE TOMORROW WAR, LA LA LAND, WONDER, STRONGER, DEEP WATER HORIZON, and WOMAN IN GOLD. Television credits include the critically acclaimed Showtime Series DEXTER, FX’s THE SHIELD, and TNT’s MOB CITY. 

Deborah is a proud member of the CSA and has been nominated 18 times by the Casting Society of America for the Artios Award, winning for the features RED, MY WEEK WITH MARILYN, LA LA LAND, and CODA. In 2003, Deborah was recognized by the Hollywood community with the HOLLYWOOD FILM FESTIVAL CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. In 2020, Deborah was recognized with the CSA’S HOYT BOWERS’ AWARD FOR CAREER ACHIEVEMENT. In 2021, the SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL honored CODA with the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast.  Deborah has been a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 1994.

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