Interview with Jigar Shah
1. How have online casting calls changed the way you discover talent?
It’s like the world suddenly turned into one giant audition room. I can discover a face in Montreal, a voice in Manila, and charisma from London. Online casting has taken away borders and time zones. It’s democratized the process completely. The reach and visibility is massive!
Insight:
Online casting has created a truly global talent pool — removing geographic limitations and opening up opportunities for actors who previously couldn’t access large city auditions.
2. What makes someone stand out in global auditions today?
Authenticity. Everyone’s trying to ‘fit’ a look or vibe, but the ones who shine are the ones who don’t — they bring a sense of self. A spark of individuality reads even through a shaky iPhone video self-tape.
Insight:
Perfect production isn’t required. A real, grounded, individual presence is far more powerful than a polished but generic audition.
3. What’s the biggest challenge of remote casting — and how do you solve it?
Honestly, half the battle is getting actors to actually read the full Casting Breakdown before submitting. Communication online can be challenging, and add to that the mystery of whether someone is real and reliable or just great with AI filters.
For online callbacks, there’s always the chance of dropped connections, laggy self-tapes, bad lighting… But hey, I focus on energy. Even through pixels and patchy Wi-Fi, you can always spot that rare spark.”
Insight:
Technical issues happen — but clarity, reliability, and consistent communication are what set serious actors apart.
4. How do you keep performances authentic when working across borders?
Context and communication. I make sure every actor understands not just the sides or lines from the script, but the world of the project — culturally, emotionally, visually.
There could be cultural or language differences in interpreting roles, but when actors are given a precise brief on the meaning and scope of the role, authenticity follows naturally.
Insight:
Authenticity requires alignment — when actors understand the story, tone, and culture behind the role, performances translate universally.
5. What new casting trends are emerging in global collaborations?
Vertical dramas are huge right now — short-form storytelling means we’re casting actors who can attract attention in the first few seconds of appearing on screen.
With these projects being filmed in Canada, the US, China, Turkey, the UK, Hungary, and new markets being added, we’re seeing global micro-productions where actors from different continents share screen time seamlessly.
Insight:
2026 casting is defined by:
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Short-form vertical content
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Projects filmed across multiple countries
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Mixed-continent casts in the same storyline
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Rapid-fire auditioning and fast turnaround production cycles
This diversity makes casting more innovative — and sometimes delightfully unpredictable.
6. One tip for actors preparing for remote casting opportunities?
Be clear, grounded, and genuine. And please, name your file properly.
‘FinalSelfTape_Version34.mov’ haunts casting directors’ dreams :D
Insight:
The little things matter. Professionalism + clarity + personality = higher callback chances.
Conclusion
Jigar Shah shows how 2026 casting is more global, more collaborative, and more accessible than any era before it. Technology has opened the doors to talent everywhere — and the actors who succeed will be those who stay authentic, communicate clearly, and show up ready to work across cultures, formats, and continents.
Borders are gone. Opportunities are everywhere. And genuine presence remains the ultimate superpower.
