‘Mindhunter’ casting directors speak to Cal U. students
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Trevor Williams, casting director of “Mindhunter,” answers questions from Cal U. students last week.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Noah Dohanich, center, and other Cal U. students fill out applications to be extras in the second season of “Mindhunter.”
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Cal U. student Trinity Harris gets her photo taken as part of the application process to be an extra in the second season of “Mindhunter.”
California University of Pennsylvania students learning about social deviance heard about the real-life characters that are studied and their TV portrayals during a “Mindhunter” event and casting call.
The Netflix original series, set in 1977, follows FBI agent Holden Ford as he attempts to get inside serial killers’ minds to solve cases. Ford, Agent Bill Tench and psychologist Wendy Carr developed the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit at the FBI training center on the show. The three main characters were based on real people, although the show changed their names. Many of the cases studied on the show are based on real-life serial killers and their investigative interviews.
Among those real-life killers was Edmund Kemper, who murdered 10 people between 1964 and 1973, including his paternal grandparents and mother. He decapitated his victims, engaged in necrophilia and claimed to have cannibalized at least one of his victims.
“He collected their dismembered heads in his apartment,” said extras casting associate Trevor Williams.
Kemper showed signs of psychotic behavior since childhood, including an intense hatred for his mother. Killing her was Kemper’s “ultimate fantasy,” Williams said.
Like other infamous serial killers, Kemper had an obsession with recognition for his crime. Afterward, Kemper called local law enforcement and nonchalantly told them about his latest murder, according to Williams.
“It’s quite disturbing how normal he makes his awful crimes sound,” Williams said.
In casting Kemper, directors chose Cameron Britton, who performed a “spot on” portrayal of the serial killer, Williams said. Britton’s wife initially tried to help Britton with his lines, but said she was too disturbed to continue. Britton occasionally startled others on the set with his authenticity, Williams said.
Kemper was 6 feet, 5 inches tall, and Britton was roughly the same height. To accentuate Kemper’s size, directors chose background actors who were shorter than average to make Kemper seem like an even more imposing figure.
About half of the students who attended the event are in the school’s sociology program with a focus on deviance, said Dr. Emily Sweitzer, who directs the program. Sweitzer also works as a consultant for shows including “CSI,” “Lucifer,” “Rosewood,” “Bones,” “The Blacklist” and “Notorious.” She started the program three years ago.
“I wanted to see the program address what students are really going to see out in the world,” she said.
Studies in the program include child abuse and neglect, drug and alcohol addiction, aberrant social behavior, elder abuse and domestic violence.
An online class, Society and the Sociopath, looks at aspects of society – such as social expectations, pop culture and careers – that can encourage sociopathic behavior. Students also learn how common behaviors, such as subtle manipulation, can blur the lines between sociopathy and normalcy.
About 30 students responded to the casting call following the presentation. “Mindhunter” will be filming locally until Dec. 14.