Meet Ally Beans | Casting Director & Producer

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

Hi Ally, what do you attribute your success to?
I think the driving force behind my success as of late has been my pursuit of honesty. Am I passionate about this content? Do I want to tell this story? Should I be the person to tell this story? Is this representative of my values? I have struggled a lot in the past with saying “no” and would find myself attached to commitments I wasn’t actually ready to make or ventures it turns out I wasn’t very excited about. If I can’t get revved up about something, how can I be expected to do my best work on it? And worse – am I taking this opportunity from somebody who would be excited by it? I’ve been asking myself these questions when I’m approached with a project or a role to take on and the result is a slate that I’m genuinely energized by and proud of.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a Casting Director and Producer for independent film and theatre. I pursued casting right out of college and was very fortunate in my trajectory – after 2 internships I landed my first Casting Assistant position in New York. As an Assistant and Associate, I worked on a TV show, several films I’m proud of, and an off-Broadway production of Sweet Charity that got me my first Artios nomination. I was looking to make a move when my former boss, Daryl Eisenberg, offered me an opportunity I couldn’t pass up – to go into business with her as a partner. She told me, “I know you and I don’t think you’ll be truly happy unless your name is on the door”. She was right. Having the autonomy to create the work environment I so badly wished I had had when I worked under other people is a gift – it’s kept me in show business, frankly. Like any new venture, however, it came with a new set of challenges. Going through a dry spell, losing a big account, or not getting a project I was already feeling passionate about can leave me feeling so utterly hopeless sometimes. I am a highly motivated human who has the tendency to get obsessive about my work in a borderline unhealthy way. These setbacks used to eat me alive. The best thing I have done for my career is develop interests outside of it and spend dedicated time away from my work. In the past 2-3 years especially I have become somewhat of a houseplant and vegetable gardening enthusiast. Stepping away from my desk and into my garden is something I look forward to, it’s peaceful and life-giving. Another move that helped me, especially creatively, was expanding into producing. One of the greatest parts of my job is collaborating with some of the most creative minds out there and cultivating relationships is extremely important to me – a strong suit of mine certainly. I’m very proud of the number of repeat clients I have and working relationships that friendships organically sprung from. I’d had a growing interest in producing film and turned to these very relationships when I decided I’d like to try and get a foot in the door to that world. My producing work isn’t my primary focus like casting is, but I’ve learned so much from developing stories and being on set that has strongly informed my work in casting, it has made me better. To date, I’ve produced two feature films and developed a musical here in Dallas. Speaking of Dallas, I am originally from Farmers Branch, born and raised. I helped start The Firehouse Theatre, and then went to college at ACU before departing for NYC. You know my story up until 2019, when I had the opportunity to come back home. Eisenberg/Beans was coming off of a great year and we were starting to do a lot of work out of Los Angeles, so much that I was considering a cross-country move. But when an offer came our way to work with Dallas Theater Center, I seized it. Growing up, DTC was my Broadway. I’ve seen a countless number of DTC productions and idolize many of the acting company members from over the years. DTC was a formative part of my pursuit of a career in the arts, so to have them as a client is a dream fulfilled. These days, I have my home base here in Farmers Branch, office out of DTC, and travel to Los Angeles for work stints. Daryl is originally from the New York area and maintains Eisenberg/Beans’ presence on the east coast. It’s a personal victory greater than I could’ve imagined and I’m looking forward to getting even more involved in the local film and theatre scene here when we’re on the other side of the pandemic.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Something I am known for in New York is convincing people to visit home with me. I simply love Dallas, Texas. I would never let a guest leave without checking out Dallas Theater Center (obviously) but especially if a show is playing at the Kalita Humphreys Theater – my favorite venue in the whole world. I also love hopping on the train and heading to watch the Stars or Mavs play at the AAC, visiting the Sixth Floor Museum, the Arboretum, Klyde Warren Park, and catching performances by the DSO at the Meyerson and DSM at Music Hall at Fair Park. There is no better place to spend a Saturday than the Dallas Farmers Market followed by endlessly strolling Ruibal’s. My fellow fans of fresh produce must also pay a visit to Cox Farms Market, I am the resident queen of the Farmers Branch location. Seriously, pop in sometime. I’m probably there buying the place out of Cita’s horchata. For dining out, I stand by Dallas being an underrated food destination. First and foremost: Cattleack BBQ in Farmers Branch, no other BBQ in the country compares and I’m willing to go on the record with that statement. Our taco options are strong and plentiful in the metroplex but Velvet Taco rises to the top for me, try the spicy tikka chicken taco and weep tears of joy. My husband and I ate all of the burgers on Zagat’s ranking of Dallas burgers a few years ago, so I really excel here: Keller’s, Maple and Motor (clutch before a Stars game), and Snuffer’s are strong faves, but I recently told somebody that even if the EasySlider truck drove all the way to hell, I would go there. I stand by that. My husband and I also love sushi and recently fell in love with Nori Handroll Bar in Deep Ellum which reminds me of KazuNori, my favorite handrolls in NYC and Santa Monica, although Nori totally stands on its own, check it out. For brunching, Ida Claire in Addison has been a consistent savior for me in the pandemic between their curbside kits and dining on the patio, so I have to give them credit here. Looking for an experience? A favorite of my family’s is dinner at Monica’s (get the Mexican lasagna) on S. Lamar followed by a drink on the rooftop bar at CANVAS. A staycation at CANVAS is something I also heartily endorse. For an upscale experience, tea in the French Room at the Adolphus is something I could do every day of my life but I do not because I would run out of money very quickly. Honorable mention for experience goes to taking an out of town friend to a cheap movie at AMC and subsequently having to explain Valley View Mall to them (may it and its Holiday Village rest in peace). Ultimately, you can’t go wrong here. My friends who have toured through DFW with shows tell me that our town is a consistent favorite among cast and crew members. Amazing hospitality and plenty of fun things to do. I’ve always been very proud of that.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
So many people deserve credit in my story and success: my family, my friends, my business partner, and, of course, my husband immediately come to mind. I rely on these people ad nauseam. I come from a family of entrepreneurs and I’d be especially remiss if I didn’t acknowledge how they inspire me every day to be a better businesswoman and a better person. I’ve had great examples to look up to my entire life. Both of my grandfathers were salesmen, one a traveling salesman who went on to be a business owner and the other a salesman as well as an accomplished wood worker and handyman (we built and sold bird houses together). My dad first worked for his own father before starting his own (very different) business, Todd Bonneau Homes. In addition to being a programmer, software developer, and king of original ideas, my brother creates video games at his own startup, Triverske. Don’t get me started on my mom, who can do everything from corporate finance to building and painting theater sets. Most people don’t know this but she’s a wonderful writer and illustrator, perhaps if I declare this on the internet she will be inspired to finally finish the children’s book she’s been dreaming up…All of this to say, the entrepreneurial spirit is in my very DNA and when it comes to family, I won the lottery.

Website: www.ebcastingco.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/castingbyally/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/castingbyally

Other: Clubhouse: @allybeans