Neighbours’ casting shake-up
FremantleMedia is giving Neighbours an overhaul and bringing an external casting agency to work with casting guru Jan Russ.
- Published by David Knox
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It’s almost inconceivable. FremantleMedia is giving Neighbours casting processes an overhaul and bringing an external casting agency on board to work with casting guru Jan Russ.
The move could significantly change the way the show casts its actors.
Russ has been with the series since its beginnings, including when the show was on the Seven Network. She is widely regarded as the starmaker of careers including Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Guy Pearce, Craig Maclachlan, Daniel McPherson, Natalie Imbruglia, Madeleine West, Carla Bonner, Holly Valance, Ryan Moloney, Kym Valentine, Natalie Blair (pictured) and countless household names. While some performers had a start elsewhere (Kylie had done Henderson Kids and Skyways), Russ was instrumental in cementing their place on the box.
“It is part of the evolution of the program,” Fremantle spokesman Steve Murphy said. “We have looked at every facet of Neighbours production, and what will be the best practice moving forward.
“The casting role is critical to the show, it is an enormous job and it continues to grow by the day.
“We continue to discuss with Jan her role with the show as her skill and talents are incredible.”
Russ’ eye for talent and knowledge of jobbing actors is legendary. For many years she has been credited as an Associate Producer on the soap in recognition of her value to the series. She is fiercely defended by actors who have worked on the show and constantly invited to give Masterclasses around the country.
Source: news.com.au
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- Tagged with Henderson Kids, Neighbours, Skyways
10 Responses
They should cast just 1 new cast member into neighbors an axe
Good move, since casting Dean Geyer and other reality losers was such a great idea.
I love how they make it sound like it is going to be something cool that will change the show. More likely it’s just that Jan wants to retire (who wouldn’t after such a long time in the industry?) so they need a new casting agent on board.
This is either going to be a very good thing or a very bad thing
What?
No more appauling no talents?
Okay won’t bother making any more sarcastic remarks.
Clearly this is a good move. The filter for actors on to Neighbours is terrible.
These days the number of actors who actually have talent is dwindling more and more.
The two most recent families have been blackholes of talent and charisma.
Thank god for Kim Valentine and the Kennedy’s for still hanging around.
Yes, not a cast shake up, so no need for an axe. Also Big Brother (reality, so different casts each series) is quite a bit different to drama.
Also I’d be lost without Neighbours! It was bad enough when Hey Hey It’s Saturday ended, so to think of this ending is just unthinkable. Neighbours has been going for so long (that I’ve relied on it to always be there), and is quite an Australian icon as it is known throughout the world.
This is probably because people were saying that the cast was not culturally diverse, so they blamed the casting, and this is a step to getting a more culturally diverse cast.
It’s not a cast shake-up, it’s a casting agent shake-up. It may mean different kinds of actors will be up for the new roles that inevitably stream through soapy shows.
As long as Neighbours continues to be popular overseas it won’t be axed.
It’s screened in so many countries, that alone will save the show. Even if channel 10 ever axe it – overseas popularity & sales will keep it going!
Jan is fantastic – just look at all the wonderful talent she has given a start on the show. Kylie wouldn’t be where she is today without Neighbours!
They shouldn’t change the cast to try and save a show, They should just drop the axe on it!, Remember they tried to do that to Big Brother and that was the end of that show.