Meet David Bellantoni | Casting Director & Playwright & Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with David Bellantoni and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi David, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
“This is the true joy in life; being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, and being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.” – Bernard Shaw

For me, this is an invigorating and restorative quote especially in those moments when I begin to feel sorry for myself. I open my tattered book of handwritten quotes and land on this one by Bernard Shaw. It’s a reality check that says “Guess what? The universe doesn’t revolve around me.” I’m trying to write the script for my life but the characters in my world often go their own way. It’s important to embrace those unruly people and the plot twists that result from that dissonance. Bernard Shaw was basically saying, “Get off your ass and get back to the work you love.”

And as a playwright, the fact that this comes from a fellow (far more accomplished😊) playwright just hits home for me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Wow, good questions. I love creating characters out of thin air and watching their lives take hold on the page. And if the process goes well the characters develop to the point where they tell me what they’re going to do and not the other way around. I particularly enjoy writing for the stage where the story is driven by dialogue between the characters and there’s a bit of magic that happens when the relationships build and the story starts to flow. It’s like music. Sometimes it’s staccato. Sometimes it’s languid. Sometimes I know exactly where the story is headed. Sometimes I have no idea and I follow the trail wherever it might lead.

I particularly enjoy adapting stage to film which is more of a visual medium. What may set me apart is the combination of casting director and writer/director. I don’t know of many other CD’s that also write for stage & screen. Kazan said directing is 80% casting so that tells you how important casting is to any production. Casting the right actors is a beautiful thing. It becomes more of a collaboration and a labor of love. And when that’s combined with great writing then you have something extraordinary.

This is not an easy business. There are a lot of egos and insecurities. All of us are essentially free-lance which means we are only as good as our last job. It’s all about staying in the game and weathering the ups and downs. I’ve seen a lot of people come and go. This is not like a city job where you do your twenty years and retire. There is no retiring here. Marty Scorcese once said, “I’m gonna die behind a camera.” We are in it for life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ok, I live in NYC so unfortunately there’s not much to do here. (Ha-psych!) Actually, I have no idea where to start. What season is it? Who’s the friend? Is is pre-pandemic or someday in the utopian future when this virus finally goes underground?

I’ll assume summer with the pandemic under control. Outdoor things to do first. This list is by no means exhaustive but things I would do or have done recently.

Parks: Have to start with Central Park, the mother of all parks first. Sheep meadow, poets walk, Belvedere Fountain, Strawberry fields. Bow Bridge. Then Prospect in Brooklyn. Also amazing and designed by Olmstead, more hilly, less tourists. And then the smaller more urban parks like Washington Square, Union Square and Madison Square. One of my favorite walks is the direct line from Washington Square to Union Square to Madison Square where I used to work. All through wonderful historic neighborhoods with great architecture. Bryant Park, Riverside Park and then the Highline are also cool but the highland can be a stampede of tourists.

Also, the parks have films, concerts and theatre at night. Shakespeare in the park, The NY Philharmonic (free in the summer) and films in Socrates Sculpture park near where I live in Queens. Also swimming in the Olympic sized pool in Astoria Park. The pool is free. What? In NYC? Yes, just bring a bathing suit, towel and a lock.

Beaches: We have them. Jones Beach. Robert Moses. Jacob Riis. Helpful to have a car for these.

Restaurants: Yes, of course we could go to the tourist places around Times Square (every New Yorker avoids this hood unless going to the theatre) or Little Italy or Chinatown. I live in Astoria, Queens and this is a Mecca for International food. I really don’t need to go to Manhattan for dinner ever. Within a three block radius of my apartment there is Greek, Thai, Brazilian, Korean, Japanese, Palestinian, Turkish, Salvadoran, Mexican, Colombian, Croatian and yes Italian and Chinese. I just walk out of my apartment, throw a stick in particular direction and wherever it hits, that’s where I’ll eat.

Theatre: I prefer non-musical theatre. Recently, I’ve seen American Buffalo, Hangmen, and How I Learned to Drive. One of my favorite companies in Manhattan Theatre Club and I love the space in Circle in the Square. Some wonderful historic Off-Broadway venues like Cherry Lane (on one of the most picturesque block in the city) and Minetta Lane down in the Village have thankfully withstood the pandemic. I go to Off-Broadway theatre all the time here not only for my own plays but because I know like a thousand actors in this city and I love to support their work. This is a hidden gem.

Ok, listen. I could go on and on but how much room does this article have? These are the main things for me. Parks, restaurants, theatre. Of course, galleries should be included. I used to live in Soho when it was an artists colony but now it’s kind of like an expensive outdoor mall but there are a few holdouts left. and there are probably more galleries now in Chelsea. There is so much more but I will stop here.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Oh, that would be my mother, no doubt. She deserves huge credit and recognition in my story. I have already written & directed two plays and a film in her honor. She raised me essentially by herself in a rough neighborhood in uptown Manhattan. Trained as an educator, she taught me perseverance, a love for the arts and a healthy skepticism of authority. When I was seven years old, I was gang assaulted and robbed of a bicycle in Central Park, the first time I had ever ridden by myself.

A different mother would never let their kid out of the apartment again, instilling fear, suspicion and distrust in the heart of her son. But she stayed true to her principles of perseverance along with a better sense of caution about where and where not to ride. Granted, it took me a while to feel comfortable in the park again but it was a valuable lesson. She told me this would be a singular incident. This was a rough neighborhood but not a war zone. There was no reason to fear every person along my path. As opposed to closing the world off, she remained open. People in the building heard about the incident and raised money for a new bike. Neighbors started to look out for one another a bit more, especially for a blue eyed kid who’s mother taught all day then went to Columbia for her Master’s at night. People took notice and looked out for us. It was a good feeling. And that became more important than the fear.

It was a great life-long lesson. Feel the fear and do it anyway. She taught me that. I never forgot it.

Website: davidbellantoni.com

Instagram: @d3bella

Linkedin: David Bellantoni

Facebook: David Bellantoni

Youtube: David Bellantoni