Casting for Authenticity: The Search for NOTORIOUS B.I.G.

Finding an actor who brings home the title role in a biographical homage to Christopher Wallace was the most difficult challenge for this film. They wanted someone who so realistically portrayed NOTORIOUS B.I.G. that his mother, his friends, and his business associates would all agree wholeheartedly. The first week of high volume casting auditions left the team feeling discouraged.

The next week a miracle occured. Jamal Woolard delivered the complexity, performance, energy, essence, attitude, warmth, charisma and desire of Christopher in a way that no one else could begin to approach. Casting Director Wendy McKenzie met Jamal, and said to herself "it's him". Casting Director Tracy "Twinkie" Byrd saw "the swagger". Biggie's mother, Voletta Wallace, felt that Jamal "came in looking like Christopher, my son, sounding like Christopher, my son, and had that old attitude, too". When she saw him in the monitor, she honestly thought that it was her son.

That's the kind of authenticity that makes characters real, that suspends the audience' disbelief. I can hardly wait for the premiere.