how to impress a casting director...

how do you impress a casting director? don’t act like many actors! that will impress them!

okay, so now you’re angry at me for saying that…well, it’s true…and if you know me at all by now, you know that i speak the truth! but what do i mean by not acting like many actors? and how do i know this? this was told to me by a prominent child actor casting director in a conversation…

they said this…and it goes for adults also – probably more so when you think about it – when an actor comes into their office, they expect a real, live human being who can relate and connect to them on an intellectual and emotional level to walk through the door…not a fake ‘over the top’ personality…not someone who is physically all over them…not a child actor that isn’t prepared with his sides and obviously spent no time on the script at all…not someone who is angry or hostile or desperate…not someone who has a chip on their shoulder…can you fill in the rest?

do me a favor…imagine you are the casting person…you are sitting behind a desk day in and day out watching hundreds of actors come in your office, many of them not even ready re: talent, and they get angry at you b/c you don’t give them a callback…better yet, the parent doesn’t live anywhere even near the realm of reality and suddenly dislikes you, the casting person b/c of not loving their child like they do…i personally don’t know how casting people do it…they have amazing patience to me…
and much against popular opinion, they ARE human…so being human, what do they look for?

first of all…casting directors are your allies, not your enemies…so how do you impress your ally? by being on time…being friendly and sincere…by being easy to work with, with a positive attitude and can take direction well when given…also, don’t forget to dress neatly, followed the script’s directions and above all be able to ACT! just be as pleasant as you can, no matter how pressuring the situation is, b/c if your child stays in this business, they will run into this casting director over and over again…it’s always best to put your best foot forward at all times…it really is a small business, and if you can get them to like you and enjoy your time with them, they will get to know you and call you in for future roles…also, word to the wise…be very careful what you say on acting forums…casting people do lurk there and believe me, they will find out who you are if you say something negative about them…wouldn’t you do the same?

when i think back to when my child actor first got into this business, i honestly wish she hadn’t gotten a manager as quickly as she had…she wasn’t ready to audition in front of anyone…but sometimes, as parents, they are so cute to us even if they aren’t that great, we think they are going to get cast just b/c of that! she was seen by some casting people that remember her at that stage in her acting…and sometimes it’s hard to get rid of that perspective…so make sure your budding actor is ready…take some classes first and above all, DON’T come to l.a. for pilot season in that state! you’ll waste a ton of money and if you put them out there pre-maturely, that’s how they will be remembered!

we, in the business, need to have a “love your casting director” day…then maybe people will realize how important these people are to their lives and careers…

have a wonderfully productive day…kiss someone (NOT the casting director!) LOL
hugs and out~