Fresh off winning the first-ever Academy Award for Casting, casting director Cassandra Kulukundis used the moment to highlight what set One Battle After Another apart: a fearless mix of trained actors and real people bringing lived experience to the screen.
“Authenticity,” Kulukundis said when asked why she and director Paul Thomas Anderson continue to seek out fresh faces alongside established talent. “In a lot of ways, it keeps everyone on their toes. We don’t really know what’s going to come out of real people’s mouths.”
That unpredictability is the point. From military personnel playing soldiers to real-life professionals stepping into versions of their own worlds, Kulukundis described the process as collaborative, with non-actors often serving as consultants on their own roles. “That’s what life is,” she said. “A mix of people, all with stories to tell.”
The Oscar marks a major milestone in Kulukundis’ long-running partnership with Anderson, which now spans a decade of films. “We grew up watching movies, and then we grew up making movies together,” she said. “This is our 10th movie, and it feels full circle. Every collaboration is different. Phantom Thread is nothing like Boogie Nights or Magnolia. But this one… it kind of combines everything we’ve ever done.”
That evolution is also reflected in the film’s standout performances, particularly from Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti, whom Kulukundis praised for bringing completely different energies to their roles.
“Teyana is a fighter,” she said. “She wanted it, she fought for it, and she kept fighting even after she got it.” In contrast, Infiniti brought a quieter, more reserved presence. “She was so demure and fresh and innocent,” Kulukundis said. “But she found that strength within herself. Now she’s a shooting star.”
Looking back on the finished film, Kulukundis said it’s difficult to single out just one defining moment, pointing instead to the cumulative impact of its performances. “Every 10 minutes there’s something that makes me go, ‘I’m so glad I worked on this movie,’” she said, recalling watching the film repeatedly with audiences in New York.
Still, a few moments stand out. A pivotal letter scene, elevated by Taylor’s emotional delivery, continues to move her, as does a quieter moment involving a father struggling with a simple task for his daughter.
“It’s iconic and funny and heartfelt,” Kulukundis said. “The whole movie is so good. I shouldn’t say it, but it’s true.”
With the Academy finally recognizing casting as a craft, Kulukundis’ win not only celebrates a career built on instinct and collaboration, but also underscores the power of putting the right people, trained or not, in the right roles.
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