Yep it's that other time of year again...no, not pilot season but episodic season where work is to be had and credits are to be gained! Comparatively speaking right now it's fairly quiet in the TV industry and a lot of folks are still on vacation but soon enough we will turn that metaphorical corner in August and production season will kick into high gear. Which means that this is the perfect time to be setting specific goals for what you want to accomplish this Fall. So, what are your goals? If you haven't set any yet, then start thinkin' and get movin' cause time is a clickin!
Be specific with your goals. If there is a particular casting office you haven't been in yet, make it your goal to meet that casting director or his/her associate. Casting Director workshops are a great way to do this. But again, be specific. There are a lot of casting workshops out there to choose from, and it can get confusing and concerning...which one is the right one, is one better than the other, are certain casting houses looked upon as being more legitimate than others? These are all good questions to ask, and you'll definitely want to do your due diligence. When I worked in casting and my schedule permitted, I would participate in casting director workshops. Often these workshops were at the end of a long workday or workweek and I was tired. And if I was really tired, then putting a lot of invested thought into the scenes I pulled for actors was probably not high on my priority list. So here's a little prudent guidance from the other side of the table.
First, I recommend that you choose casting director workshops in which you can bring your own prepared material. Not only does this give you more control over how you showcase yourself, but you also avert being assigned a scene by a fatigued casting director who pulls a scene for you that either (A) isn't exactly appropriate for your type but was convenient for the CD at the time or (B) they've seen a million other actors do in other workshops so it's not as fresh. Second, make a target list and see only those casting directors on this list and tailor your scene choice based on the shows they cast for which you're trying to get called in. Do not prepare scenes from the shows they cast or have cast in the past. Here are some good casting director workshops that permit you to bring your own material, per approval: The Actor's Key, The Collective Studio and House of Actors.
When it comes to the subject of goal setting, we can go on and on. But what's most important is that you be specific with your goals. Don't just say, "I want to work." Be specific: what type of work. If you want to book 3 guest star roles before next pilot season, then target the casting directors of the shows you want to work on and follow through with meeting them. And never bypass the opportunity to meet either the casting associate or the assistant, they have incredible influence in their offices.
As always, success happens when opportunity meets preparation...so if you haven't worked or been in class in awhile, what are you waiting for? Get your booty back in shape! The last thing you want to be is rusty when that call comes in!
© 2012. Christinna Chauncey. All Rights Reserved.
Be specific with your goals. If there is a particular casting office you haven't been in yet, make it your goal to meet that casting director or his/her associate. Casting Director workshops are a great way to do this. But again, be specific. There are a lot of casting workshops out there to choose from, and it can get confusing and concerning...which one is the right one, is one better than the other, are certain casting houses looked upon as being more legitimate than others? These are all good questions to ask, and you'll definitely want to do your due diligence. When I worked in casting and my schedule permitted, I would participate in casting director workshops. Often these workshops were at the end of a long workday or workweek and I was tired. And if I was really tired, then putting a lot of invested thought into the scenes I pulled for actors was probably not high on my priority list. So here's a little prudent guidance from the other side of the table.
First, I recommend that you choose casting director workshops in which you can bring your own prepared material. Not only does this give you more control over how you showcase yourself, but you also avert being assigned a scene by a fatigued casting director who pulls a scene for you that either (A) isn't exactly appropriate for your type but was convenient for the CD at the time or (B) they've seen a million other actors do in other workshops so it's not as fresh. Second, make a target list and see only those casting directors on this list and tailor your scene choice based on the shows they cast for which you're trying to get called in. Do not prepare scenes from the shows they cast or have cast in the past. Here are some good casting director workshops that permit you to bring your own material, per approval: The Actor's Key, The Collective Studio and House of Actors.
When it comes to the subject of goal setting, we can go on and on. But what's most important is that you be specific with your goals. Don't just say, "I want to work." Be specific: what type of work. If you want to book 3 guest star roles before next pilot season, then target the casting directors of the shows you want to work on and follow through with meeting them. And never bypass the opportunity to meet either the casting associate or the assistant, they have incredible influence in their offices.
As always, success happens when opportunity meets preparation...so if you haven't worked or been in class in awhile, what are you waiting for? Get your booty back in shape! The last thing you want to be is rusty when that call comes in!
© 2012. Christinna Chauncey. All Rights Reserved.