Hollywood Reporter Casting Director Profiles

AuditionPortal.com has scoured the internet this week for a good Casting resource for our fellow actors, and found some juicy information about Casting Directors. The Hollywood Reporter and Back Stage produced an extensive survey across the film industry and have singled out 25 independent casting directors of undisputed excellence. These are unaffiliated Casting Directors, rather than the many who function as part of a larger team within the studios and networks. Among the criteria they have considered - distinguished credits; affiliation with the leading directors; depth of experience and, of course, reputation. AuditionPortal.com approves this list and hope you guys enjoy it.

Actor Farah Fawcett Treated For Cancer In Her Liver

Actor Farrah Fawcett has been hospitalized for complications of treatment for cancer that has spread to her liver. The cancer originated as anal cancer.

According to her doctor, "She had a minor procedure that led to a small amount of bleeding into a muscle in her abdominal wall," which created a hematoma. It is typically a simple routine procedure from a medical procedure she received in Germany. "She is not on death's door," said the actor’s producer.

Her producer said "She's on the mend and will be going home very shortly, She's doing fantastic. Her fight goes on. ... She's not going anywhere anytime soon."

However, confirmation that the cancer had spread to such a distant site was dire news. The 62-year-old "Charlie's Angels" star was diagnosed with anal cancer in 2006, and originally was treated at The Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center with chemotherapy and radiation, but not surgery.

She was declared in remission over a year ago, but three months later, scans showed "not only had it recurred, it metastasized to her liver," said the actor’s producer, Craig Nevius.

The latest treatment in Germany attacked the cancer's spread to that organ, he said.

Nevius would not say where in Germany she was being treated, just that it was a clinic affiliated with some hospitals. He also would not give details on her treatments there, but said media reports that she was getting stem cell treatments were false.

"It's never had anything to do with stem cells," or alternative treatments such as shark cartilage, coffee enemas or unproven "detoxification" diets, Nevius said.

"It's much more scientific than that. It's not a fringe treatment," he said, and “the doctors are more than highly qualified.”

An upcoming documentary on which Fawcett has worked for several years, "A Wing and a Prayer," co-produced with Nevius and others, will air on NBC soon and give details, he said.

After the procedure in Germany, Piro said Fawcett flew back to Los Angeles because she was eager to go home. In a statement released earlier, Piro said Fawcett was using a wheelchair because it was painful for her to walk. "That pain, which was coming from the hematoma, had nothing directly to do with the cancer," said Dr. Lawrence Piro, a cancer specialist.

"She remains in good spirits with her usual sense of humor," he added. "She's been in great shape her whole life and has an incredible resolve and an incredible resilience."

Anal cancer is relatively uncommon, but occurs a little more often in women than men. An estimated 5,070 cases were diagnosed in the United States last year, leading to about 680 deaths, according to the American Cancer Society.

Nevius said Fawcett is expected to leave the hospital in a few days. He said her support system includes former partner actor Ryan O'Neal, her father and "Charlie's Angels" co-stars actor Kate Jackson and actor Jaclyn Smith.

"Let me tell you what she's not," Nevius said. "As previously reported by everybody, she's not unconscious. She is not on death's door. The family has not gathered to say goodbye."