Interview with Theo Park (Ted Lasso):

Emmy Award Winning Casting Director - Advice on achieving work-life balance without compromise as a female working in film.

On this latest episode I had the tremendous privilege of interviewing the incredibly talented and kind Emmy Award Winning Casting Director Theo Park, Theo is known for her work as Casting Director for all three seasons of the hit Apple+ Series Ted Lasso, her dynamic CV also includes casting for

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi , The Amazon Prime Series, Lord of the Rings, Rings of Power, you also know her work from films like Far from the Madding Crowd starring Carey Mulligans, The Martian starring Matt Damon and The Hustle staring Rebel Wilson and Anne Hathaway,  just to name a very few from her storied career.

Throughout our conversation we were able to dig deep into her process of creating the incredible worlds that she has designed as a casting director and we even mused about possible Ted Lasso spin off series — but first we got to take a look Behind The Scenes at her career and how she found her way into casting— We discussed the people who encouraged her and inspired her throughout her journey from her initial desire to be an actor herself all the way through her dynamic career in casting,

beginning under the likes of casting legend Nina Gold and how she became attached to Ted Lasso at the recommendation of comedy casting director aficionado, Allison Jones.

We also explored how the world of casting has afforded her a career that has allowed her to prioritize her family all while leading the game at the top of her field.

Needless to say, I left our conversation inspired and so uplifted both as a woman working in film and as a mom making my own way in the world of entertainment— I was so encouraged to hear how this female professional has been able to successfully create a work life balance that prioritizes boundaries for her family and yet still continues to be at the top of her industry.

At the end of our conversation she shared what she would tell her younger self now and gave a few insider tips for how actors can gain the attention of a list casting directors like herself.

I could honestly go on and on with all the insight and advice I gleaned from our conversation, but instead I’ll let you hear it from Theo herself. So let’s get started with our second episode of Babe, Forward. Conversations in Film.

You won’t want to miss this master class on the art of writing a cold email, developing your authentic voice and pitching your way into the rooms where decisions are made in the entertainment industry.

I learned so much from my conversation with Maia and can’t wait for listeners to benefit from her insight and wisdom. Maia’s passion for her craft is TRULY contagious! In our conversation she breaks down her process from the page to the pitch room & shares how she has successfully written herself into the rooms where big decisions are happening in film and entertainment.

BIO:

Maia Henkin is an award-winning Off-Broadway playwright, actor, and filmmaker. Before moving to LA, she was a resident artist of the Drama Desk Award®-Winning Flea Theatre (under Sigourney Weaver).

She has placed on the Short List for The Black List/WIF Feature Residency, the semi-finals for the Sundance Episodic Lab, the semi-finals for ISA’s Pilot Launch, and she was in the top 4% of scripts for the Final Draft Big Break Contest.

As a filmmaker, her projects have premiered at the Oscar®-Qualifying HollyShorts Film Fest and HBO’s Catalyst Film Festival among others. currently, she is developing a pilot with Chris Hardwick’s production company Fish Ladder and she is repped by Fourth Wall Management. MaiaHenkin.com

Credits: Intro-Outro Music Original Composition by Daniel Vincent