Being based in Hollywood, Florida hasn’t prevented Lori Wyman from partaking in the limelight that the Hollywood, California movie business offers.
The Hollywood resident owns her own casting directing business and has worked on dozens of high-profile movies, including “Marley & Me,” “Analyze This” and “Ali,” and currently casts for the hit T.V. series of “The Glades” and “Burn Notice,” both of which film in South Florida. And even with the fast-paced and sometimes stressful show-business environment, Wyman doesn’t consider her job work.
“I’m one of those people who get to say that I do what I love and love what I do,” she said. “And I get paid for it. I’m very fortunate.”
After graduating with a degree in speech and communications from the University of Miami, Wyman started her movie-biz career working with a talent agency. She represented “the talent” for five years, booking jobs for her actors, but she decided she wanted more of a handle on bringing in the actors for auditions. So Wyman embarked on a different career path and got her first job as a casting director with the television show “Miami Vice.” After a subsequent year of casting in Jupiter for shows like “21 Jump Street” and “Wise Guys,” Wyman again decided to take a risk.
“I wanted to own my own company because I had limitations with the amount of projects I could take on with the casting directing business in Jupiter,” she said. “I knew I wanted to cast as many actors as I could.”
After establishing Lori Wyman Casting in North Miami Beach in 1990, Wyman has found actors for feature films, television series and pilots, commercials and even live shows and conventions, building a reputable business in the process. Her 30 years of casting experience earned Wyman an Emmy nomination for her casting in the HBO film “Recount” about the 2000 presidential election. She had to cast around 80 speaking roles, needing to find look-a-likes as well as good actors for the roles.
“It was a very special production to be a part of, and I’m so glad I was invited to work on it,” Wyman said.
And while “Miami Vice” launched her casting directing career and helped get her to where she is today, the Miami television series also launched her personal life. While working with “Miami Vice,” Wyman met her husband, Marc Macaulay, who is no stranger to the limelight either. Macaulay has starred in movies like “Premonition” with Sandra Bullock and “Monster” with Charlize Theron and had recurring roles on T.V. series like “Prison Break” and “Burn Notice.”
“He’s a really, really excellent actor,” Wyman said. “It’s funny because any time we go out, people point and some even ask him how they know him. This is how we make our living, and it’s great.”
However, the appeal of the spotlight pales in comparison to the appeal of being parents for the couple. Wyman said she loves spending time with her 8-year-old daughter, Ali, who wants to stray from the family business and become an “animal doctor,” and loves spending time enjoying Hollywood.
“I’ve been living in Hollywood since ’94,” Wyman said. “It’s quaint and it’s home.”
Despite the fact “Burn Notice” and “The Glades” are on hiatus from filming until February, Wyman has found other projects to keep her occupied. She is currently working on “Dolphin Tale,” a movie starring Morgan Freeman, and is taking classes at Nova Southeastern University for her master’s degree in drama therapy. And in addition to all her accomplishments, Wyman also wrote a book titled “The Organic Actor,” which offers tips for people trying to make it as an actor. Wyman said she is extremely fortunate to have found something that she enjoys and loves all the opportunities her profession has presented her.
“I love my job,” she said. “Just to sit on a set and see the magic people create is neat.”
For more information on Lori Wyman Casting, visit www.loriwymancasting.com.
