Watching the Oscars last night, there was a moment that felt long in the making- casting directors finally being recognized on that stage. Five years ago I watched Chloé Zhao accept the Oscar for Nomadland. What struck me most was her approach to casting — blending professional actors with real people she and her team discovered on the road. That kind of discovery I have so loved since I was a kid in the early 90s when Bruce Weber started sending me around the world with a Polaroid camera in hand and a backpack filled with film to find special souls for his campaigns and editorials. When she accepted Best Director in 2021 — no makeup, Hermes dress, white sneakers, hair in braids, with a smile full of braces — it felt completely genuine. I texted the CD at GAP and said “ How about her for the Individuals campaign?“ We photographed her with Jashaun St John — someone she discovered in that same spirit of finding people who simply are. Last night Chloé and her casting director were both nominated, though neither took home the award. I was also rooting for my friend Jennifer Venditti, whose amazing work discovering real people for film carries that same spirit. A lovely moment to see casting recognized on that stage — the quiet art of finding the right people finally being celebrated. | Jennifer Starr Casting