The Academy Awards have been around for over 80 years and in those years we have celebrated brilliant talents such as actors, directors, writers, producers and so on. But have we ever thought of those particularly behind the scenes that look for those who are actually on screen? Casting directors have been less appreciated than those who are in front or behind the camera. Director Woody Allen (Manhattan, Annie Hall, Midnight in Paris, Hannah and Her Sisters) wrote an open letter to the Academy asking for casting directors to be finally recognized, stating that casting directors “find the needles in headshot haystacks.”

Through the years casting directors such as Marion Dougherty have been responsible for incredible films such as “Midnight Cowboy”, “Full Metal Jacket”, and “The Sting” just to name a few. Finding talents like Jon Voight, Lee Emery, and Christopher Walken, Marion Dougherty is almost unheard of to audiences. The ability to find these talents in head shots or videotapes should be hailed. In the years of the Academy make up, costumes, and hair have all been noticed and praised almost, but what about those who find the actual talent to put the makeup on, dress up and prepare their hair? Why throughout all these years have these bold scouts been unnoticed?

Casting these actors and actresses is a vital part of filmmaking. Searching for the perfect person to fit a role is a difficult and long process. The actor or actress may not not have “the look” but they have something more than that, they have an insight that no other has and it goes unnoticed until finally someone can see that they have impeccable talent.

Meryl Streep was almost unknown until 1979 when Juliet Taylor casted her in Woody Allen’s Manhattan. Allen claims to have discovered her along with Dianne Wiest who starred in Hannah and Her Sisters, also Mariel Hemingway who played Allen’s 17 year old girlfriend in Manhattan, all because of the eye of Juliet Taylor. Taylor discovered some these women on stage and introduced them to film with Allen. In his open letter Allen writes, “A number of discoveries and careers have been launched by the energies and resourcefulness of my casting director.”

Many casting directors have been sitting in the dark too long without being recognized for their valuable eye and hard work. Its time to finally appreciate and acknowledge those who have found flawless talent amongst thousands of people. With Woody Allen’s open letter, hopefully the Academy will consider casting directors for a great win that they highly deserve.