the casting director who changed cinema

Meeting with casting director Bonnie Timmermann, one of the most important in the world, in Rome to present the documentary film “Bonnie” dedicated to her.

We owe it to her Patrick Swayze as Johnny Castle in Cult Dirty dancingan unforgettable and late performer who made generations of viewers dream, we owe it to the multinational cast Miami Viceand the discovery of talents who later became great Hollywood stars: Liam Neeson, Steve Buscemi, Benicio Del Toro, Natalie Portman, Mark Ruffalo, Melissa Leo, Sigourney Weaver, Bruce Willis, Chris Rock. Bonnie TimmermannThe New Yorker, born in 1947, is one of the most important casting directors in the world, having worked with Michael Mann for thirty years (for thirty years). Manhunter – Fragments of a Murder, The Last of the Mohicans, The Insider, Heat – The Challenge and other masterpieces signed by the director), and also chose the cast of films that have rightfully entered the history of cinema: Armchair for two John Landis (1983) with Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd, Karate kid (1984), Johnny handsome Walter Hill with Mickey Rourke Awakenings Penny Marshall with Robin Williams and Robert De Niro, Americans (1992) with a star cast: Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alan Arkin, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Spacey, Ed Harris and Jonathan

, Carlito’s Way Brian De Palma Armageddon Michael Bay Quiz Robert Redford, and the list goes on.

A profession whose importance few people know, but it is thanks to Bonnie Timmermann that the aforementioned films, like many others, entered the collective imagination, if they made us dream, if they made us fall in love with the performers who entered to become part of our world. It is she, together with the directors with whom she collaborates, who lays the foundations for creating magic, for finding the right face for the heroes we see on the screen, and obviously for the enemies, for finding an image that can change or change. not the history of film and cinema. Its cast is full of African-American, Indigenous, Latino and Asian actors, bringing them to the forefront in a way that has never been seen on television or in American cinema. Timmermann has, in fact, always fought for principles such as authenticity, equality and gender equality. Bonnie often changed the character’s personality, choosing a woman instead of a man. Casting directors need to know how to look, and Bonnie Timmermann knew how to do it and continues to do so.

We met Bonnie Timmermann in Rome on the occasion of the presentation at Cinema Troisi of a documentary dedicated to her by director Simon Vallon, presented at the 79th Venice International Film Festival. Bonnie, during which he answered questions from the public in a meeting moderated by Piera Detassis. The event was organized by UICD – Union of Italian Casting Directors, with the patronage of the Cinematography Commission of Rome Lazio, the contribution of David di Donatello – Italian Film Academy, the support of e-TALENTA and I Wonder Pictures.

Our meeting in Rome with Bonnie Timmermann

What did you see in the eyes of the actors and actresses you chose that stood out to you from others?

“I get a strong feeling when an actor or actress walks into my room, I can already see them on the big screen. I put them in front of the camera and I can already see their faces in the film, the room changes color. Maybe I’m only right 9 times out of 10, I don’t know how to learn to understand who that person is, but maybe through kindness you can bring out more things. When Liam Neeson walked into my room everyone turned to look at him, he was so handsome and sexy and he had the perfect role in Miami Vice, playing an Irishman, an IRA terrorist, I called Michael Mann and I told him: “If you don’t take this actor, I’ll leave” (laughs). Then Benicio del Toro, he was even a handsome guy on the inside, how could you not want him in the film? Instead, Natalie Portman told me during her Heat audition that if she hadn’t continued acting she could have become a doctor or a lawyer, such a smart girl, she had a fantastic audition. I also auditioned for this role with Kate Winslet, who was exceptional, but this role suited Natalie better.“

“When the right actors come into my room, I can already see them on the big screen.”

Millions of viewers dreamed and continue to dream thanks to the extraordinary performances of your chosen performers who changed the history of cinema, how does this make you feel?

“I’m happy, I would like people to continue to love them, you know, the more you see an actor, the more the audience knows and loves him. It’s very nice to know that you did something good.”

What is your relationship like with the directors you collaborate with?

“I think it’s extremely important to love your director and for him to love you back, in a sense the casting director is the first director of the film. With Michael Mann, for example, we have an excellent relationship, he really likes my ideas, we made three TV series and many films together. Perhaps especially today, you need to establish trust even with producers who are the hardest to convince, especially today with streaming platforms. I also became a producer, producing a film with Roman Polanski and Mike Nichol, and most recently the film went to Venice. So I see how much work goes into production, money, hiring, and it allows me to be a better casting director because I know more things and now challenge producers, especially if the director is on my side. , but it’s no use if I think for a moment that I’m wrong

“