The Hidden Work of Acting Coaches and Acting Directors

ABSTRACT The paper sketches out the emerging relevance of acting coaches and casting directors, shedding light on a profound change within the Italian film industry. Around the mid-2000s, a new generation of directors (Di Costanzo, Rohrwacher) developed a style which implies that acting is not merely an individual matter. This process encouraged emerging casting directors and acting coaches, who increasingly became acknowledged professional figures. At the same time, the birth of high-budget TV productions increasingly required new actors, creating unprecedented opportunities for performers.