Alums Work Behind the Scenes to Make Lone Survivor a Success

Alum John Brace, casting director of the hit television series Grey’s Anatomy, served as the casting director for the surprise hit film, Lone Survivor. The film, starring Mark Wahlberg as a Navy SEAL trapped in a Taliban-held village in Afghanistan, pulled in $12.6 million for a cumulative $93.6 million in its third week of wide release.

In addition to Grey’s Anatomy, Brace was the casting director of ABC’s Private Practice, and NBC’s Friday Night Lights. He was nominated for Outstanding Casting of a Drama Series for six consecutive years, from 2005-2010, winning the Emmy in 2006 for Grey’s Anatomy and 2007 for Friday Night Lights. Other film credits include Battleship, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio, and Under the Tuscan Sun.

John was not the only alum working on Lone Survivor. MFA Costume Design alum Erika Walthall served as assistant costume designer on the film. Some of her past credits include assistant designer for the series Pretty Little Liars for ABC Family and costume assistant on Weeds for Showtime. Her design work will be seen on the new NBC series Chicago PD, which airs at 10pm on Wednesday evenings.