Search the Stage 32 Lounge

Hester Schell

Optioned Screenwriter at Studio Schell ♦ Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Script Supervisor, Theatre Director, Filmmaker

posted in Filmmaking / Directing Sign in to subscribe

13 years ago

CASTING BETTER ACTORS MAKES A BETTER MOVIE - Got Actors? Bay Area Casting Director seeking next projects.

I'm about to finish principals casting (over 23 speaking roles) on the feature, WEAPON OF CHOICE by Jino Kang (Fist 2 Fist) and Tony Urgo, shooting in San Francisco spring 2013. I'm seeking my next casting project: features, shorts, TV Pilots, Commercials. Sliding scale for all budgets. Also, this b...

Expand post

Kris A. Leiter

Works at KanFilms ♦ Actor, Production Coordinator

posted in Acting Sign in to subscribe

12 years ago

Why didn't I get cast for the Role?

Expand post

The million dollar question that we always ask ourselves as Actors. We see Facebook posts about our acting colleagues getting cast or booked for the same commercial or film that we auditioned for and after a few weeks, still no phone call, no email, and no booking. So what did we do wrong, or not do right? We start rehashing our audition..was it good enough? Did I forget a line? What did the Casting Director not like about my Headshot or Resume? We have asked those same questions time and time again, audition after audition and we continue to self-analyze, self-doubt, self-criticize. We keep scratching our heads and beating ourselves up. We think we did something wrong. Granted, there are times when we can always improve our habits, cold reads and update our Headshots, but we as Actors, like every other candidate looking for that job, want to do the best performance possible. We were born with that instinct. Our parents brought us up to "Do your Best in everything you do.." So we carry those words into our lives and our Acting toolbox. We rehearse, read, memorize, re-read, record and then perform..and then nothing....rejection...again. Let me cast some comfort for a moment if I may... You probably did nothing wrong. What??...You may have done everything correct and had the best read and still not get the role. Yes, acting can be and is probably one the most subjective occupations in the universe. Yes, there are the industry standards of the trade if you will, the right and wrong way to stand on your mark, etc, but the acting world, is a "world" that things can change on a whim, due to things totally out of your control..which is my whole point in this exercise... Sometimes, and bear with me on this and it may totally surprise you (grab your chair on this shocker..drum role. ...The best Actor does not always....get cast..True...I said it. As much as people think that Tim Robbins was the first candidate for the film "The Shawshank Redemption", which recieved great compliments, but contrary to most people knowing, that there were a few other Actors highly considered for that role. Now I am not saying that the other candidates had bad auditions. As a matter of fact, I have been on the other side of the Casting table and heard many stories of why so-and-so did not get booked. Strange things happen over an 10 hour day of casting and when you review the tapes, many variables come into play. The Actor that we have in mind for the "Father" role may have had the best read, but the "child" who we definitely want to cast will not look anything like the "Father" who had the best read, and so our choice for the initial "Father" simply would not get a callback. Nothing personal, just the "look" was a better fit for our second choice "Father". The second choice Actor may have skipped a line in the script, but looks more believable and would still be congenial to work with, hence he gets cast. And many more stories follow: • One instance, the casting associates had thrown 3 finalists Headshots in the air. The one who landed face up, got the role. (true story told by a Hollywood Television Director) • The first choice candidate had the best read, but looked too much like the Casting Director's Ex-wife..any guesses?..Not Booked • An actress who had a great read, very nice personality but had one single eyelash that needed trimmed and had a great read...guess what?..one of the Casting associates suggested to the Director that they could trim the single hair..the decision was not changed..again, not cast.. Crazy as it seems. it happens and more often than not, who you see bring home the Academy award, might not have been the first choice.

Anna Sahlstrom

1
1 person likes this
- Kris A. Leiter
12 years ago

The problem can be not even being able to get in that room. I think if you get into the room, especially in big markets, that is one great victory in itself. On the theatre side, I don't appreciate th...

Expand comment

Doug Nelson

2
2 people like this
- Rock Kitaro
- Kris A. Leiter
12 years ago

The Producer/Director must make it clear who they are seeking. I try very hard to do just that but when I’m looking for a petite blond teenage valley girl type, I nearly never get her. I get actors wh...

Expand comment

Dave McCrea

2
2 people like this
- Rock Kitaro
- Kris A. Leiter
12 years ago

Every role I've gotten was when I really couldn't care less if I booked it or not... weird.

Maurice Vaughan

Screenwriter

posted in Filmmaking / Directing Sign in to subscribe

1 year ago

Working With Actors: The Casting Conundrum

In today’s blog, Mark W. Travis talks about the director/actor relationship and two casting processes (the traditional process and the process with the focus on the character, not the actor). www.stage32.com/blog/working-with-actors-the-casting-conundrum-4089...

Expand post

Tammy Hunt

Manager at Sandstone Artists ♦ Filmmaker, Manager, Producer

posted in Acting Sign in to subscribe

2 years ago

Tips for Casting Call Auditions

Before you submit your resume and headshot, read the breakdown thoroughly.

Make sure you are the perfect fit.

Most breakdowns will clearly describe the type of person they are looking for as well as the filming dates.

Make sure you fit that description and that you are available for those shoot date...

Expand post

Before you submit your resume and headshot, read the breakdown thoroughly.

Make sure you are the perfect fit.

Most breakdowns will clearly describe the type of person they are looking for as well as the filming dates.

Make sure you fit that description and that you are available for those shoot dates.

Follow the instructions in the breakdown. Unless stated otherwise, address the subject line with the name of the character or position you are applying for, along with your name (i.e. Submission for the role of Andrew by John Doe).

When the casting call includes a contact name, make sure you address that person in your email and use the right gender and correct spelling. In the body of the email, state the role(s) you are applying for and give a brief description of why you consider yourself the perfect fit for that role or what makes you eager to join that production.

Include any details requested in the breakdown like your weight, height, and size of your shirt, pants, and/or shoes, and where you are based. Make sure you include an eye-grabbing digital headshot which should be 500kb or less and your resume in PDF.

The files should simply be your name (john_doe.jpg, john_doe.pdf). You can also provide a link to additional photos, your website, and two to three links of clips of your work. Keep your email simple.

At the end of the email add a short and polite note indicating the materials you are submitting.

Use a professional email address. While this may sound silly many forget this simple rule. Imagine receiving an email from I_am_the_actor_for_you@gmail.com instead of john_doe@gmail.com

When signing off, use your full name. It is best if you create an email signature which links to your website and has your contact details.

#actor #audition #film #tv #casting

Sam Sokolow

3
3 people like this
2 years ago

Sage advice, as always, Tammy Hunt!

Tammy Hunt

Manager at Sandstone Artists ♦ Filmmaker, Manager, Producer

posted in Acting Sign in to subscribe

2 years ago

Auditioning for Commercials

Commercial Audition Advice for Actors

Looking to break in? Casting directors Ellen Jacoby of Miami and Los Angeles–based Stuart Stone, author of the book “The Keys to Commercial Acting,” can help. They know a thing or two about what works—and what doesn’t—in the commercial casting room.

- Put the pro...

Expand post

Commercial Audition Advice for Actors

- Put the product first. “When you’re casting a commercial, you become a part of the product, so you’re not just selling yourself,” says Jacoby. “The product is No. 1, we have to believe you like the product.”

- Get comfortable with the fourth wall. “A lot of times, you’re talking right to the camera. You have to be able to create that space.”

- Practice on products you love. “To be believable in a commercial, actors should take a product they use every day that they know and love and do a commercial for their product. That’s when you’re being real, because you use it! Then transpose that into the product that you’re doing.”

- Dress appropriately. “You should never wear black or white in front of the camera. It’s not great for your face. No geometric prints. Dress according to what you’re going out for. An upscale dinner guest at an upscale restaurant, we don’t expect you to be in jeans. Directors and producers recognize that. We show them a whole lot of people, and they’re looking first at all the stills, and then they click on the video. If you don’t look right, they won’t even click to see your video.”

- When you get the job, know your place on set. “You don’t want to go and get behind the [directors, writers and producers] that are there and get in their way and try to chum up to them,” Stone warns. “You become an annoyance. They’ve got work to do. If they’re in their own little area with their monitor watching what’s going on and you’re over there trying to schmooze them, it’s a hindrance. The ideal way is to always stay in camera view of the director, just off to the side, because then they can call you at the last minute. Always make sure that you check with a second A.D. before you leave the set, because he’s responsible for you as an actor. First and foremost, your second A.D. needs to be your contact throughout the whole job.”

#commercial #audition

Maurice Vaughan

2
2 people like this
- Suzanne Bronson
- Tammy Hunt
2 years ago

I thought auditioning for commercials was the same as auditioning for movies and shows, Tammy Hunt. Excellent advice! Thanks for sharing it!

Suzanne Bronson

1
1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
2 years ago

Oh yes Maurice commercials are a whole different animal. There's workshops just on commercial audition.

Sam Sokolow

Producer

posted in Producing Sign in to subscribe

2 years ago

Stage 32 Certification Success Story... and a possible assist to actors in your network

Happy Thursday, Producers! Check out yesterday's blog by community member Hector Alfaro Dobles. Hector completed the Stage 32 Certification program in a partnership with the Costa Rica Film Commission and is now casting his first English-speaking film that he is producing in Costa Rica. Hector credi...

Expand post

Elizabeth Pencavel

Assistant Director

posted in Filmmaking / Directing Sign in to subscribe

13 years ago

Casting Indian Actors

Hello I have a feature film project that I'm in early development stages with. I have some ideas for the casting. I'm not ready to audition and cast actors as yet, but I've been thinking a lot about my main character, who is Indian. I have some strong ideas for cast to play some of the other charact...

Expand post

Tiffy Diamond

13 years ago

You should probably watch a few Indian based films so you have references on what you would like your characters to look like. That's what I would do I would also just search more for films that had a...

Expand comment

Elizabeth Pencavel

13 years ago

Hi Tiffy Thanks for that. I have already done most of the above. As yet I haven't found any actors who fit the bill that I'm looking for. I've also worked on 2 indian films. I would think there are ag...

Expand comment

Marci Liroff

Casting Director, Producer, Other

posted in Anything Goes Sign in to subscribe

14 years ago

Do you know what a casting director actually does?! Find out here in my 3 part blog series

New Bloggity Blog is up. Do you know what a casting director actually does?! http://marciliroff.blogspot.com/2012/08/inside-world-of-casting-director......

Expand post

Marci Liroff

Casting Director, Producer, Other

posted in Acting Sign in to subscribe

14 years ago

Do you know what a casting director actually does?! Find out here in my 3 part blog series

New Bloggity Blog is up. Do you know what a casting director actually does?! http://marciliroff.blogspot.com/2012/08/inside-world-of-casting-director......

Expand post

Nicholas A. Jones

Works at Visionary Minds Production ♦ Director, Screenwriter

posted in Introduce Yourself Sign in to subscribe

14 years ago

Casting for an Independent Feature Film

"It's a story about a man who is an opportunist to the fullest, with no conscience to stop his ambitions." Visionary Minds Production is casting for an independent feature film entitled "The Truth About Jarred". "The Truth About Jarred," is a feature film about people you come in contact with everyd...

Expand post