Join us for an unforgettable behind-the-scenes conversation with Lisa as she shares hilarious Hollywood tales, career twists, and what it really takes to cast a star. With nearly 40 years in the business and a résumé that reads like a blockbuster playlist, Lisa brings heart, humor, and honesty to everything she does—and this is one event you won’t want to miss.
View more info at https://alumni.harvard.edu/programs-events/sleeper-to-scream-conversation-with-legendary-casting-director-lisa-beach
Please be sure to register if you haven't already. Harvardwood admin@harvardwood.org MM/DD/YYYY
What do WEDDING CRASHERS, SCREAM, LOGAN, and HORRIBLE BOSSES have in common? The brilliant casting eye of Lisa Beach—who once went to Harvard to find a husband (thanks, LOVE STORY) and ended up building one of the most impressive casting careers in Hollywood instead. Join us for an unforgettable behind-the-scenes conversation with Lisa as she shares hilarious Hollywood tales, career twists, and what it really takes to cast a star. With nearly 40 years in the business and a résumé that reads like a blockbuster playlist, Lisa brings heart, humor, and honesty to everything she does—and this is one event you won’t want to miss.
Back in 1973, Lisa went to see SLEEPER, and as Lynn Stalmaster’s name came up in the credits, her mother turned and whispered to her, “Now wouldn’t that be a fun job! You should write to her!” Some 30 years later, as Lisa received the Artios Award for best comedy feature casting for Wedding Crashers, she was able to tell Lynn Stalmaster that very story and thank HIM for influencing a young girl in Pittsburgh all those years ago.
It was a circuitous route to get into casting, as it wasn’t offered as a major at Harvard, where she went to find a husband after seeing Love Story 13 times— but that’s another story altogether. Failing in her life’s dream to find Mr. Right, she headed to TinselTown in 1984, found a job as a Director’s assistant, and was then fortuitously espied by David Rubin when he was casting a movie for said Director. On October 20, 1986, Lisa started working with David as his Assistant, and her career was finally born.
After a few years of an invaluable learning experience with David, she spread her wings to go off on her own, and over the next decades established herself as both an independent Casting Director, and as a Casting executive at both Hollywood Pictures and HBO.
She began working with such directors as Alexander Payne, Wes Craven, David Dobkin, and James Mangold, and has in the ensuing decades established herself as an independent Casting Director with an eye for both comedy and drama, and a work ethic that leaves no stone unturned in finding the perfect fit for each role. She has been partnered with Sarah Katzman since 2001, and together they have cast such features as Scream 1-3, Election, Wedding Crashers, Horrible Bosses, We’re The Millers, Wolverine, and Logan. Branching out into television, Lisa and Sarah have successfully worked in both network and cable on numerous shows including Hawaii 5-0, The Detour, Hung, and Impulse.
Creative and collaborative, Casting has been a dream career. Almost 40 years on, Lisa still has the same love for the job as she did when she started. Long may that continue!
By RSVPing to this event, you are agreeing to the Harvardwood Code of Conduct.