Location casting directors Richmond-based Anne Chapman and Erica Arvold from Charlottesville were responsible for casting the majority of the speaking roles in the Focus Features film “Loving,” opening nationally this month. The film was shot in Virginia last fall.
The pair knew their job would be challenging because the story is part of history. “When you are casting a historical film, you have the responsibility not only to have the aura of that person embodied authentically but also the physical resemblance,” says Arvold, noting that it took about five months to cast the film.
She and Chapman conducted extensive research. “Anne and I study the story and the characters as well as the director and producer of the project,” Arvold says.
In order to see as many people possible, they held three open casting calls in Bowling Green, Petersburg and Richmond. They were pleased with the large turnouts. “So many people were excited to audition or be in the process because they were so familiar with the story,” Arvold says. “In our open calls we saw what the Lovings were able to allow to happen in the state legally right there in front of us. It was awe inspiring to see what had happened in our lifetime.”
Three of the most challenging roles to cast were the Lovings’ children because they age over the course of the story. “That was the very first conversation we had when we were hired,” Chapman says. “Everyone knew that age progression of the children was imperative to the film. We saw in the hundreds, even thousands of children. That was incredibly rewarding.”
“It was a wonderful Rubik’s Cube to solve,” Arvold adds.
