Double casting!

[redmoose]

Hi, I am very new to film making and am about to shoot my first ever indie feature film, so forgive me if this comes across as naive!

I have managed to cast actors in all the roles for my movie but I now have a problem!

As far as I was concerned I had all the roles filled, (as this is a very low budget feature I've just had to pick the best from what was available) but now a really good actor has just applied for a different role (that he wouldn't be suited for) and I have realised that he would be absolutely perfect for the role I had already filled.
We haven't signed contracts or anything, but how do I tell the other actor that I have decided to do a u-turn because I have a better fit for the role after I have verbally offered it to him? Is it Ok to just say this? (I only really have small roles I could offer the other actor as a consolation)

I feel really bad having to do this, but this movie is my vision and obviously I have invested a lot of my own time and money into it, so if a better actor comes along I should probably be ruthless, but what is the etiquette here? Just come out and say it?

 

[Sweetie]

You've kind of screwed up. There are two sides to this.

A). Your primary job is to do what's best for your movie.
B). Is your word really worth anything?

If you've made your decision, then you should just come out and say it. The sooner the better. The last thing you want to do is to string him/her along with no pot of gold at the end. Think of it like this, how much worse do you think it'll get if they've turned down other roles in loyalty to you. The longer you leave it, the worse it will be.

 

[GuerrillaAngel]

1) Your film comes first. Tell them it's a business decision. Don't feel guilty.
2) Producers often have to lie to get a film completed. There are always going to be bad feelings. Expect it.

 

[A.D.]

(I only really have small roles I could offer the other actor as a consolation)

That there is your get out of jail card I think. Put a positive spin on it at least, and tell them that you have a different role for them, something more suited to their look on screen, rather than crushing thier ego by telling them that their acting sucks.

It deflects the blow a bit at least anyway.

 

[sfoster]

I hope this new actors doesn't back out on you in a month with a better part in a different movie