Casting

I posted a listing on an agency website called StarNow to recruit some professional actors to feature in the music video as I want a professional looking music video and this was a professional approach.  7 people applied for the ad but most didn't live near Norwich and wanted me to pay for their travel despite me explaining that I was unable to.  I arranged to meet one of the actors who lived near Norwich but he cancelled on me last minute which led me to believe that he wasn't as serious about my project as I am.

I confided in some friends who are incredibly passionate about music and know how important my projects are to me, out of the 5 of them, only 2 fitted the character I had wanted of someone of colour who has predominant features relating to their ethnicity, and after auditioning them, they said they were more than happy to help. I found some other extras through mutual friends who were also of an African/ Caribbean decent who applied to be in the video.

Reasons for casting:

Main Actor:

At first I was going to cast the role to someone between the ages of 17-40 to represent a sister or a mother affected by police brutality, but because my music video is aimed at a fairly young audience, I  then decided to present the main actor as a young woman to make it more relatable and to show that any one of us young people could experience this when we grow up if we don't do something to stop it.  My main actor is also in the LGBT+ community.  A black woman in the LGBT+ community is one of the most discriminated against people in my opinion.  Racially for being black, in regards to gender equality and the fact that women have less rights, and because of homophobia still existing.

I decided to cast my flatmate and best friend as she fits this criteria perfectly.  This role also requires professionalism, commitment and passion.  The Black Lives Matter movement means a lot to her, and myself, and this music video means a lot to her too because she understands how important it is to me.
I'm able to direct her easily, and because we live together, I can retake the shots as many times as I need to without having travel problems.  She knows the song very well and knows all the lyrics off by heart which makes editing in post-production much easier because the correct words will be rapped in time.

Foreground Extra 1:
Natasha is very organised and reliable and also incredibly professional.  I can rely on her to show up on time and put in her 110% effort.  As I am close friends with her she knows how important this is to me and is much more likely to try her hardest.  This is much better than using someone from an add agency who isn't very committed as I experienced before with StarNow.

Foreground Extra 2:
Stephen has very predominantly black features which is perfect for the music video as it's all about racism against black people.  Stephen is very loyal and I can depend on him to perform well. He also raps so he is able to lip synch to the song if needed.

Foreground Extra 3:
I decided to cast myself as I too know this song very well.  I am incredibly passionate about the Black Lives Matter movement and everything this music video is about.  It's very easy to direct myself, and I could also record myself to show everyone else in the music video how I want things done.

Foreground Extra 4:
Will Sims lives quite close to my house meaning I can film with him easily.  He has dreadlocks which is stereotypically associated with black ethnicity which works well with my music video theme.
Will is going to be doing an amazing thing and he's shaving off his dreadlocks for Macmillan Cancer Support.  Depending on how my production schedule goes, hopefully I'll be able to film him with his dreadlocks before they go.