{"id":39622,"date":"2025-06-15T18:07:04","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T01:07:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/behindthelensonline.net\/site\/?p=39622"},"modified":"2025-06-15T18:07:04","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T01:07:04","slug":"kim-coleman-casting-fyc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/behindthelensonline.net\/site\/interviews\/interview-exclusives\/kim-coleman-casting-fyc\/","title":{"rendered":"Emmy FYC: Casting Director KIM COLEMAN talks the challenges, joys, and discoveries in casting CROSS – Exclusive Interview"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Casting Director KIM COLEMAN goes in-depth with me in this exclusive interview, talking about casting the smash Prime Video series CROSS, serving as a Governor of the Casting Branch of the Academy, and the importance of casting, be it for television or the big screen.<\/p>\n

SYNOPSIS:\u00a0 CROSS brings James Patterson\u2019s legendary detective Alex Cross to life in a gripping series packed with suspense, action, and psychological depth. Starring Aldis Hodge as the brilliant yet haunted investigator, the show delves into Cross\u2019s mind as he hunts dangerous criminals while battling his own demons. With intense storytelling and a fresh take on the beloved character, CROSS is a must-watch crime thriller.\u00a0 In Season One, CROSS follows Alex Cross, a decorated D.C. homicide detective and forensic psychologist who faces a sadistic serial killer leaving a string of bodies strewn around the city. As Alex and his partner, John Sampson (Isaiah Mustafa), track this killer, a mysterious threat from Cross\u2019 past appears, aiming to destroy what he\u2019s done to keep his grieving family, career, and life together.<\/em><\/p>\n

Created by Ben Watkins, CROSS stars, among others, Aldis Hodge, Isaiah Mustafa, Ryan Eggold, Alona Tal, Johnny Ray Gill, Eloise Mumford, Juanita Jennings, Jennifer Wigmore, Sharon Taylor, and Karen Robinson.<\/p>\n

Motivated by her lifelong love of television and film, which started when she watched old TV shows and black and white movies with her grandmother, one of the driving forces that keeps KIM COLEMAN going in this career path as a casting director is how much she enjoys helping actors, discovering new talent, watching actors grow, and being passionate about finding the right people for roles. She feels blessed to do work she loves and finds joy in the creative process of casting, particularly in supporting young and emerging actors.<\/p>\n

One of her greatest accomplishments, however, is not just her work on screen, but that behind the scenes as one of the Governors of the Casting Directors Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.\u00a0 Together with Richard Hicks and Debra Zane they fought for Academy Award recognition for Casting Directors, and presented compelling cases to the Awards Committee and Board of Governors as to why Casting Directors should be acknowledged and honored.\u00a0 They received overwhelming support from directors, actors, and producers and now, starting in 2026, Casting Directors will finally be recognized at the Academy Awards, highlighting the critical role casting directors play in bringing stories to life.<\/p>\n

Over the course of her decades in the business and extensive experience as a casting director, Kim has worked with some of the most talented directors, creators, and actors in the business, such as Tyler Perry and projects ranging from Madea to \u201cThe Six Triple Eight\u201d to his latest film \u201cStraw\u201d, Spike Lee, Deon Taylor, and established writers like George Nolfi who move into the director\u2019s chair.\u00a0 She seamlessly moves between film and television, and for my money, is at the top of her game with her casting of the new soap opera \u201cBeyond the Gates\u201d, and the Amazon smash hit CROSS.<\/p>\n

A series that I openly admit I have binge-watched four times already since its debut on Amazon last Fall, I think it\u2019s safe to say that were it not for Kim\u2019s work and the impeccable casting and her understanding of creator Ben Watkins\u2019 vision for the series, CROSS would not be a success, let alone the hit that it is.\u00a0 You can have the words on the page.\u00a0 You can have the prettiest or scariest pictures on screen.\u00a0 You can have rapier editing that holds it all together.\u00a0 But if you don\u2019t have the actors who can bring those words on the page to life and do so with realism, authenticity, and palpable emotion for the camera to capture, it doesn\u2019t matter how pretty the picture or how crisp the cut.\u00a0 \u00a0Casting is critical.\u00a0 \u00a0(And yes, we are getting Season Two, which Kim had already cast before we got together on the phone for this interview.)<\/p>\n

As we dug into CROSS, Kim discussed her casting process in general before we zeroed in on CROSS and character specificity.\u00a0 Her approach emphasized finding talented actors who could make characters feel real and relatable, rather than relying on stereotypes.<\/p>\n

When it comes to CROSS, Kim focused on creating a diverse and authentic cast by:<\/p>\n