‘Beef’ Casting Directors Charlene Lee and Claire Koonce on Keeping Kindness in the Audition Room
variety.comJenelle Riley Deputy Awards and Features Editor This article first appeared as part of Jenelle Riley’s Acting Up newsletter – to subscribe for early content and weekly updates on all things acting, visit the Acting Up signup page.
Charlene Lee and Claire Koonce want actors to succeed. At CLCK casting, which they founded in 2019 after working together on various projects, they share similar work ethics and values. “Charlene and I really focus on inclusivity, authenticity and kindness,” says Koonce. “We feel there’s a lot of talent in this town.
And the way that every single person is treated throughout the casting process is important to us. We want to cast authentically and inclusively and do quality work, but kindly.” That skillset came in handy when the pair were tasked with casting “Beef,” Netflix’s heralded limited series starring Ali Wong and Steven Yeun as Amy and Danny, strangers who continue to antagonize each other after a random road rage incident.
The dark and funny show created by Lee Sung Jin is populated with characters who make some questionable choices. And while they don’t always come off as likable, they are always presented as human.
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