Casting Director Brittani Ward Answers Five Questions with SCREEN

What do Jason Statham, Ludacris, and Wilson Phillips have in common? They are all center stage on the page today as Chicago-based Casting Director Brittani Ward, whose casting credits include Marvel Studios series The Punisher, The Defenders, and Iron Fist, stopped by for Five Questions with SCREEN…

SCREEN: Most famous person you’ve ever met?

BRITTANI: Working as a casting director, I’ve met many famous people while working on movies. A few favorite memorable moments that stand out: Jason Statham kissed me on the cheek on my 25th birthday, I had dinner with Ludacris in Napa, and I got to sing a duet with a Broadway star Javier Munoz!

[Editor’s Note: here is Hamilton star Javier Munoz singing his heart out on some Pearl Jam for you…]

SCREEN: Your best summer vacation ever? 

BRITTANI: My husband and I went to Reykjavik, Iceland as our honeymoon, and that is certainly the best summer vacation I’ve ever had. We also love Idyllwild, CA – an eccletic hippie mountain town near Palm Springs – or anywhere we can hike and swim in the same day!

SCREEN: Your favorite Olympic event?

BRITTANI: Gymnastics, especially the floor routine! 

SCREEN: Whats your go-to karaoke song?

BRITTANI: I’ve sang Black Velvet by Alannah Miles about 100 times karaoke, because it’s a song few think of but everyone recognizes, I can sing it well no matter the time of the night, and it’s a good fit for my and nostalgic & passionate personality.

[Editor’s note: Let’s leap back to 1990 for this fave Grammy winning track of Brittani’s]

SCREEN: If you could be a member of any band/musical group in music history, what would it be?

BRITTANI: Wilson Phillips, I think, so that I could sing “Hold On For One More Day” over and over again — another one of my karaoke go-tos!

[Editor’s note: back to the 90’s once again, as we break free break from the chains with Wilson Phillips]

SCREEN: Your favorite restaurant on the planet?

BRITTANI: In Chicago, I’m dying to go back to Avec – a friend took me there right before the pandemic and ordered just about everything on the menu. In Crystal Lake, IL, where my family lives and I grew up, there is breakfast restaurant called Benedict’s La Strada, which might be my favorite restaurant on the planet. 

SCREEN: Worst job ever? 

BRITTANI: Telemarketing. 100%. 

SCREEN: What’s that TV show you’re a little embarrassed to admit you love to watch?

BRITTANI: Over the past 18 months, I have watched more procedurals and first responder television that I had in the 10 years prior. I watch 9-11 Lone Star for the great cast and the over-the-top drama. The episodic situations are ridiculous and I am here for it! Because they get completely solved within the 1-hour episode which is very cathartic.

SCREEN: What’s inspiring you today? 

BRITTANI: Science, medical professionals, teachers — heroes of this pandemic and the effectiveness of the Covid vaccine are definitely atop the list. And I am pretty constantly inspired by my students and clients at AoC – the way they interact with, consider, respect, and care for one another while doing vulnerable acting and writing work.

For more from Brittani Ward Casting, click here to follow her on Instagram and click here for her latest casting work.

Photo Credit: Chuck Oluabi