Resource Guide To be a working actor includes working hard to get the audition. Not simply to be hired and then working. Listed below are some basic tools to use to seek out auditions and ways to stay in action, even when the auditions may not be flowing forth. But, know that it will require a strong commitment and resilience to any one of the following categories. I recommend focusing on the medium that you most want to make headway on as a starting point. THE THOUGHTS EXPRESSED HERE ARE SIMPLY MY OPINIONS BASED ON MY EXPERIENCES. THERE IS NO GOLDEN RULE ON HOW TO BE HIRED Please note that all Resources that are listed here are really the tip of the iceberg. Other actors have suggested many of these websites and many new website resources are being launched constantly. You can add to this list by maintaining your own ear to the ground. Social Media (Facebook, Twitter) is an excellent place to hear about new site launches and recommendations. There are many endless possibilities! The most important thing is to see the resources as endless opportunities and not limitations imposed. May the force be with you as you create your opportunities. Your fan, Heidi Resource Guide CHASING THE BREAKDOWN First Steps to getting auditions: 1. Live by this maxim that I break down in detail in my classes: TELL THEM HOW TO CAST YOU. Tell the casting director which role(s) you are right for. Casting Directors do not know you as well as you know yourself. You have to tell everyone what to do with you. Very specifically. Being mushy wishy washy about this will get you mushy results. Don’t live in the gray on your marketability. 2. If you have not gotten some clarity, start by thinking about the medium(s) that you really want to target and then you will naturally start to figure out how to focus on it. Choose a medium of focus to spend your time researching and honing. In time, you can be focusing on multiple mediums. Once you establish the connections in one it is easier. (I’m assuming everyone in this class is focusing on Film/TV right now.) 3. Research current castings. From your research (breakdowns), find specific projects and roles that you are right for. 4. Submit electronically. 5. Not able to submit electronically? You have 3 options to pursue. a. Find someone to refer you to the CD, Director, Producer, Actor attached to project, etc. A personal referral is always helpful! b. Find the CD email address online. Email them with the header line “PROJECT TILE + ROLE TITLE”. Include a one-sentence description of why you are perfect for this role and something friendly. Then include your website link. In my opinion, don’t include attachments because it may end up in Spam or just be too overwhelming to the CD. c. Find the CD mailing address online. Go the old-fashioned route. Believer it or not, people don’t submit hard copy headshots any more so that means you have a chance that yours might stand out! Mail your resume and headshot to the casting office and mark on the outside of the envelope: “Attention RENT/Maureen”. And if you are right for more than one role, mail again in a separate envelope with the other role title on the envelope. Each project, and sometimes each role in the project, have separate submission piles. You want to get into that specific pile! Resource Guide ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS The Electronic Submission process has evolved to accommodate the immediacy and urgency of the casting process. HOW CASTING DIRECTORS POST BREAKDOWNS When a CD posts a casting project to any one of the multiple sites, they get the chance to select WHO the breakdown is sent to. Ie, Chicago, NYC, Miami, LA, London, etc. On Breakdowns Express, which is then released on Actors Access, they also get to select if it goes to All Actors or only to Agents/Managers. This is why you can’t see all breakdowns – the CD opted out of sharing it with the larger mass of Actors. As you can imagine, there are thousands of actors following breakdowns and their offices (1-2 person team) can’t possibly sort through all of the submissions. So, they limit who they send them to at the start, or which sites they post it on. If I am looking for a body builder who is Indian and 6 feet tall, I may even post only on specific sites that will target that actor audience. SO, WHY WOULD A CD OPEN THE CASTING CALL TO EVERYONE? 1) The casting is happening immediately and the hunt is urgent 2) The talent the project needs is very specific and tougher to find and is often an actor who may not be represented I KNOW ABOUT A CASTING, BUT I CAN’T SUBMIT MYSELF ELECTRONICALLY Solution: how to submit yourself when you see that a project is ONLY accepting Electronic Submissions… Start by doing every possible google search on the CD person or office and seek out an email. You can submit via email but I suggest only including a one sentence intro and friendly Hello plus a website link. Attachments could cause you to end up in spam. Note that you might be at risk of annoying a CD if you do it too often. But, if it is a specific role that seems hard to cast, they might really welcome your submission! Alternatively, CDs never refuse receipt of a paper hard copy submission. And very few people are submitting hard copies anymore. So it might actually get read! Just mail, or drop off, your submission immediately at their office. It might get opened by the right person and put into the right pile at the right moment. It does still happen! Resource Guide WHERE TO FIND CASTING DIRECTOR CONTACTS (mailing labels, addresses, numbers, names of assistants, maybe emails) 1) Here is an awesome APP! It is called ACTOR GENIE. (you have to pay a fee but actors tell me that it is always updated) 2) www.castingabout.com – you can purchase an updated list here as well. and other suggestions: Google www.playersdirectory.com www.actorslife.com www.Actorsresource.biz www.Variety.org Ross Reports www.redbirdstudio.com/AWOL/cdinfo.html www.exploretalent.com Resource Guide Where to MEET agents and casting directors 1. SEMINARS/NETWORK EVENTS If you haven’t done it already, it is worth a few attempts at least. Yes, one on one “seminars” with casting directors or assistants is a bit of an industry scam that is now booming as a resource for actors. However, it is a guaranteed moment of someone’s time who could help you land auditions and hires. Look at it this way: it is about establishing familiarity with the industry people, so putting your face in front of them will begin that relationship. They are typically more relaxed at these seminars because they are not at work and under other pressures (deadlines, producers, etc). Sometimes they will be moody and impatient – but they are simply coming from a long day of work, so do not bother to take that personally. I have heard many times from actors that it requires more than one meet and greet to get them familiar enough with you to recall you for auditions. Some actors have returned to the exact same CDs every few months. I know for me while I was CD, out of sight out of my mind. So, stay in their sights. Also, do not be scared off by only meeting casting assistants… they are the ones doing the scheduling and are more likely to slip you in if there are open audition slots. The assistants become the agents or casting directors! Top ones: Also: www.theNetworkNYC.com www.Breakthroughstudios.com www.theactorsgreenroomnyc.com www.actorsconnection.com www.oneononenyc.com www.Tvistudios.com The Actors’ Center www.auditions.com www.actorsinsite.com www.Stagelighter.com 2. OPEN CALLS or EPA’s Open calls. If you seek an audition for a musical, they often have larger open call scenarios which are definitely worth your time because they are seriously looking! They will always need replacements or understudies or ensemble. EPAs. Again, there are always understudies and ensemble parts that they will need to fill. At the very least, you become a familiar face to the auditors who may be Casting Directors or their Equity-approved Assistants/Associates. The ones that are not Equity required are particularly great because it truly means that the office is looking for actors. Overall: you get to practice auditioning, you meet another casting director or casting assistant, you become a familiar face, and you might be called in for another project by that auditor. Relax while you wait and don’t expect anything… then you can have fun with it. Resource Guide 3. OPENING NIGHTS Yup. Agents and Managers proudly attend. The only glitch is spotting them! 4. FILM FESTIVALS – Especially Opening Nights. For example, check out Tribeca Film Festival and events. Resource Guide INDEPENDENT FILM auditions The nature of indie films evolves from their budgets. It is small. Everything is made by hand. Actors are often cast by either word of mouth or by a hired casting director who may not yet have a huge amount of experience and limited knowledge of actors. In this area in particular, casting directors audition who they know! So, get to know them. Track the indie films you like, that were made in your city, and send a letter (yes, letter, think “indie personal”) to their casting directors.