September 28: Maryland Morning Screen Test presents Pat Moran

Maryland Morning Screen Test film series presents Pat Moran
Wednesday, September 28 at 7pm
The Windup Space, 12 W. North Ave., Baltimore
Admission is Free and Drinks are Cheap

Four seconds.  That’s how long it takes veteran casting director Pat Moran to know whether an actor is right for a part.  The Baltimore native got her start in the business with her friend from childhood, John Waters.  She cast his 1988 film HAIRSPRAY.  “Ricki Lake was about to go to work for the Gap.  She came in, did the audition, I looked at John, and we knew.”

That particular audition took place in New York.  Since then, Pat Moran has become known for scouting talent up and down the East Coast.  Her discoveries include Frederick native Shawn Hatosy, who got his start as a guest star on HOMICIDE:  LIFE ON THE STREET, Baltimore School for the Arts alumnus Josh Charles, who she cast in HAIRSPRAY, and Robert Chew, who played Proposition Joe in THE WIRE.  She won an Emmy for her work on HOMICIDE, and she’s also received two Artios casting awards from the Casting Society of America.  Her other projects are as varied as AVALON, WEDDING CRASHERS, SYRIANA, and VEEP.  You can see the full list — and submit a headshot– at patmoranandassociates.com.

On September 28, at 7 pm, Pat Moran will take a moment to stop watching screen tests, and take one herself:  the Maryland Morning Screen Test.  WYPR’s Tom Hall will interview Pat Moran about how she finds talent, and we’ll screen clips of several of the actors she’s discovered.  The event will take place at the Windup Space on Baltimore’s North Avenue.  We’ll save time at the end for audience questions and conversation.

As always, the Screen Test is free and open to the public.  Maryland Morning will air Tom’s conversation with Pat Moran on Friday, September 30 at9:40.  You can listen to other Screen Test interviews with filmmakers including Pierre and Jamyla Bennu, Matt Porterfield, and Skizz Cyzyk—and see Christopher Moore‘s wonderful photos of the events—here.