Dana Kiu Woodman Casting Info

Woodman’s dual heritage (Asian-American and European) heavily informs her "identity-first" casting approach. Unlike many casting directors who rely on databases of SAG-AFTRA headshots, Woodman is known for street scouting, university theatre program visits, and a notorious "open call" policy that actively seeks non-traditional performers.

Some introverted actors report feeling lost in the group improv setting. Woodman’s response: "Acting is a collaborative art. If you can't share focus in a room of three people, you cannot share focus on a set of fifty. This is not a flaw in the process; it is a filter." Dana Kiu Woodman Casting

This is false. Woodman is a proud signatory to the CSA (Casting Society of America). However, she frequently uses Taft-Hartley waivers to bring non-union talent in. The union has flagged this, but Woodman argues that diversity requires breaking the guild's historical gatekeeping. Woodman’s response: "Acting is a collaborative art

The "Kiu" in the name has become an unofficial industry shorthand for "Keep It Unconventional." Dana Kiu Woodman Casting is the go-to firm when a production needs to discover a new face rather than rent an existing one. What sets this firm apart from larger agencies like Braun Entertainment or Marci Liroff Casting? The answer lies in three distinct pillars: 1. The "Character Ecosystem" Audition Most casting sessions are linear: read sides, slate, leave. Woodman has pioneered the "Ecosystem Read." In this process, actors are never auditioned alone. They are brought into small groups (3-5 people) and asked to improvise a mundane scenario—ordering coffee, getting lost in an airport, arguing over a parking spot. Woodman is a proud signatory to the CSA