Mark Teschner on Casting General Hospital, Discovering Stars & the Vulnerability of Acting | SOM Vault

But wait a minute.

Why didn't you...

Because we can get into this discussion.

Which is because I don't love acting, obviously, like I used to.

It's too painful.

And before, I invited the pain.

I'm a young actor.

I don't care.

Come on.

But for my health, it wasn't good.

Why didn't you love acting?

Doing it? Because...

Maybe it's the acting lifestyle, the life of an actor, the dynamic of being an actor, that sense of no control.

Although in real life, what control do we have? Also, if you want to get philosophical, but it just felt like I felt like I was drifting and I wanted to get some semblance of control back, whatever that means.

Because when you're acting, a lot of it's out of control.

Well, it wasn't so much that I don't mind being out of control as an actor.

I mean, the business, the lifestyle, you know, it's very, you know, pounding the pavement in New York.

And I just don't think.

I was cut out for that kind of life.

And it's interesting, now that I'm in casting, I totally made the right decision when I see the process and how many actors, et cetera.

I never looked back to begin with, but now I really don't look back.

But the great thing for me about being trained as an actor is it made me the casting director I am.

Now, that doesn't mean great casting directors have to have an acting background.

Many don't.

But that was my background.