This month we visit Raul and the team at Unum Casting in Mexico City, situated across the road from Iglesia del Purísimo Corazón de María - the iconic Church from Baz Luhrmann’s “Romeo + Juliet”.
We chatted about the early days of Unum, the pursuit of creativity and what's next for the team.
The story behind Unum
“Unum comes from the term E pluribus Unum, Latin for out of many, one. You’ll find it on coins, banknotes, and more. In a way, that’s what casting is all about: many actors audition, but only one gets the part. With over 30 years of being cast myself - in commercials, film, TV, and theatre - Unum just... happened. It wasn’t about one specific project. Unum was born from passion and experience.”
on Unum’s early start
" It’s been two and a half years - though it feels like ten (in the best way). I started alone: casting, editing, building photo lists, calling actors. My first big commercial came after months of persistence with one of the top production companies. When they finally gave me a shot, it was a project with 11 roles - and a street casting of 10 more. That was the turning point. What began as one guy with two spotlights and a camera in a storage room is now a team of 20 creatives.
In the early days, I was scared - afraid of failing, afraid the industry might not take me seriously or ever hire me again.That’s when the Unicorn (Romero) was born. He became my alter ego, my creative shield. The first thing agencies would ask when they got a brief from us was, “Who is that unicorn?” Eventually, he stayed on - not just as a symbol, but as part of the crew. He always shows up in a suit and tennis shoes."
"Here at Unum, we have what's called “St. Mary of Callbacks", where actors can write prayers for their auditions."
The most unique commercial you’ve worked on
Finding someone who could shoot a bow with their feet. Yes, you read that right. We had to find someone with that specific skill, and it was very complicated. It's not like people go through life saying, "Oh, sure, I shoot arrows with my feet in my spare time. Between circuses, physical theater companies, and even acrobatic gyms, we managed to find them. And when we did, believe me, it was one of those moments when you think, "Yeah, my job is weird, but what a treat."
Street casting is like being Indiana Jones - but instead of ancient treasures, you discover unexpected talent. That’s what makes each project unforgettable.
“My advice for actors auditioning at Unum would be to understand something very simple: casting starts from the moment you walk through the door.”
Unum's front courtyard
Tips for actors
“Read the brief carefully - it might seem obvious, but the number of people who don’t is honestly surprising. If you apply the information correctly, you’re already ahead. Take care of yourself; we’re in an audiovisual world. Good natural light and a clean background can make all the difference. Maintain a positive, professional attitude - your intro is the first impression, and it shows the kind of person they’ll be working with.”
On what’s next for Unum
“So far, we’ve dominated the world of commercials. Now we’re making the big leap to fiction. We’ve already worked on a feature film with a director, and we’re currently in talks for new series and film projects. This is the next chapter - and we couldn’t be more excited.”
