Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2, Part 3

Jumping back on the Turtle Train! I must admit I'm having a ton of fun with this one. There's something really nice about playing the turtles. The sense of adventure and fun, the family dynamics, the iconic characters with their distinct personas that have transcended so many different media. Everyone is absolutely nailing their parts and also making them their own. I'll go ahead and toot my own horn and say that I cast this one very well.

How I cast is not something I think I've really explored in this space, but it's absolutely crucial. In fact possibly the most crucial individual factor to a reroll's success. I actually put a ton of thought into the casting, like more than you'd think. There's often a first thought, just pure instinct. And then usually I'll write down a few permutations and stare at them. I might ask Tim his thoughts of my favorite ways to cast it. I'll agonize and think about the dynamics. I'll go back and forth, crossing off different versions for various reasons. And then about 90% of the time I'll end up right back at my initial casting.

But what makes for good casting? Honestly, this is very different than casting a play or a movie. If I was casting a piece of scripted fiction, I'd be considering how the actor evokes a part; how well equipped they are to play that character. But actually that's not the primary thing I think about when planning a reroll. Oh, it helps. Being able to evoke the character is nice. For instance, Scott's Loomis is iconic because Scott could just bring out that character, the personality, the voice, the mannerisms. But Andy had zero chance of evoking Tim and Lex in Jurassic Park and I thought the casting was perfect.

So what am I mainly thinking about in casting if not the ability to play the role? It's really about improvising instincts. This is not scripted fiction. We have literally limitless possibilities. That can be exciting, but also paralyzing. Every actor has instincts they go to, axes along which they tend to improvise. Some actors focus more on given circumstances, others on character desires, others on group dynamic. The key to a good reroll is in lining up performer's strengths with the challenges they will face. Put them in a position to succeed by putting them in situations where their creativity will be stimulated.

Anyway, that's it for today. Back in just a few days with TMNT2 P4 to get back on our regular schedule!