Yo Hollywood Mom!

a day in the life of an extra - the pathway to stardom...what?

2006-09-09T09:09:00.000-07:00

i think one of the biggest rumors (which just won't seem to die!)about being an extra, is that if you could just get on the set, the director or producer will notice you and give you a big role and you're now a star...oh boy, if I had a nickel for everytime someone said that! lol

and even if that did happen, the chances of someone becoming a huge star from one role is extremely minimal...sorry, but this biz is all about hard work, endurance and perseverance! and believe me, you and your child actor will be tested in all of those areas...it is a tough business...

okay, now back to my cheery, positive self! the director of a film/TV show, whatever, does have the authority to give you a speaking role if he sees you in a crowd and needs someone your type...also, if you have a skill, and they need that skill at the moment, there is another chance for you...as I said in a previous blog, that happened to the character gunther (james michael tyler)...e was an extra in the coffee shop and they needed a person to run the cappuccino machine... he was in the right place at the right time...and the rest is history...

so, yes, is it possible that you can become a star as an extra? of course, anything is possible...but in my humble opinoin...you have a better chance of winning the lottery!

so go, take your child actor and enjoy yourself...great time of bonding if they need both of you...and lots of down time to hang together and talk...just don't expect much more out of it than that...but honestly, isn't that worth more than anything? being paid to spend time with your child...life doesn't get much better than that!

have a great day...
hugs and out~

a day in the life of an extra - part 2

2006-09-04T08:15:00.000-07:00

for child actor extras, depending on their age, this may not hold true…they work less hours and in California, (unlike NY and other areas of the country), they still have to go to school with a set teacher from their first day on set…which is why, if you watch a lot of films, there are very few, very young extras…too much involved for too little effect…unless of course the movie is something like “kindergarten cop” or one that centers around children…

but for adults, your day would be a bit more exciting than the day that a set prop has! i’ve done extra work, and although it may seem glamorous at first, it really is not…but here’s pretty much how it goes…

you arrive early, before your call time, to make sure that locations have not changed and that you have everything right…then you check in with the person they assign you to check in with (usually the a.d. – assistant director)…and from this point, you wait with others usually, until you’re called for make-up and/or costuming…
but, know this also…with most extra work, you use your own clothing (they will tell you what to wear – many times that will decide if you get the job or not) and you do your own make-up…so this process can take from one to several hours…

now more waiting, b/c you have to wait until the stars are made up and dressed and ready to go which usually takes most of the morning…and if you’re lucky, you’ll all be held in an area that you can watch the scenes that are being filmed that you are not in…if not, it gets even more boring…

lunch is ready…stars, producers, directors usually eat first, or are able to get to the tables first so they get a place to sit…then the minor actors stand in line, then the camera people, carpenters, gaffers, security people and anyone else that is not an extra…NOW it’s your turn…

one word to you thought that is good…the set food is “usually” very good and very plentiful…of course there is always the exception! after lunch, you’ll still be hanging around b/c usually they decide to film another scene to redo parts of the previous scene…

okay, now it’s your turn! if you’re lucky, everyone will remember their lines (has nothing to do with you) and a plane won’t fly overhead or someone won’t get sick…or a bulb won’t burn out…or a million other things that always seems to keep the extras standing around for hours!

and the above repeats itself over and over until you’re released to go home! and although the above is true and can be aggravating, don’t forget that sometimes you can be in the right place at the right time…just look at gunther from the series “friends”…he was an extra and the set people were looking for someone to run the cappuccino machine…they asked if anyone knew how to do it and he said that he did (he lied btw!)…the rest is history…he ended up with a recurring role on one of the most popular sitcoms of all times!

so enjoy yourself! maybe you’ll spot a star or two on the lot…just know though that if you really want to become an actor that has lines and is hired that way, you need to go beyond this and get classes, an agent, etc…but for now…have fun…if you’re a starving actor, it will give you food every day!

have a wonderful, holiday weekend!
hugs and out~

should you or your child actor work as an extra? part 1

2006-08-30T19:29:00.000-07:00

the good thing about this, is that anybody can be an extra regardless of look, sex, age…you just have to live and breathe…that’s pretty much the only requirement…
but don’t sell this short…some people spend their lives doing this and love every minute of it…i mean, after all, could you imagine any TV show or film without the “atmosphere” that extras provide? watch a show or movie and imagine them not being there…it would be downright unrealistic! so they do provide a great service…but do you really want to do that?

to get a feel for how importantly unimportant extras are, let me tell you the true story behind the extras in the james cameron film, “titanic”…

cameron filmed in rosarito beach, mexico – about 60 miles south of san diego, California…he needed hundreds of extras, and b/c most of their faces would never be seen, he dressed up the local Mexicans in costumes and had them stroll the deck of the ship, as wealthy first-class passengers from great Britain…
after all…this is the magic of the movies!

there are 3 types of extras:

*day extras – this is the lowest paid extra…they are basically a “live” body…
*special extras – they perform a special skill in the background…i.e. skateboard, play an instrument, etc.
*silent bit extras – (also known sometimes as ‘featured’ extras) – they often interact with the principals in
the film or TV show…

okay…gotta run…will continue this interesting topic tomorrow…

have a great “rest of your week!”
hugs and out~

auditioning for voice-overs

2006-08-28T14:49:00.000-07:00

most voice-over auditions are going to be realized through an agent…so if this is a real love of yours or your child actor’s, then contact screen actors guild (SAG) or american federation of television and radio artists (AFTRA) union offices and they will provide you with a list of union franchised agencies…

now, take the time and call them to find out if they represent voice-over artists…if they do, find out whom you should send your child actor’s demo tape to, alone with a resume and cover letter…if any of the agents are interested, you will here from them right away…but if you don’t hear from them after a couple of weeks, you could call them…but personally, i would call to just make sure that they received your package…if they want to meet you, i promise, they will call…

okay, all that is behind you, and you finally get that elusive audition…what now? this audition is similar to the typical acting audition, except that the casting director is only interested in your voice and not your look…

also, your audition will be recorded, so you will sit or stand where the microphone is…and normally, you may have to do a ‘check’ so that the recording engineer can adjust his levels for your particular voice…

after the above is finished, the cd will then ask your child actor to read from the script a couple of times…remember, they will keep all the recordings, whether you did two or ten, so it’s wise to change it a bit every time it is recorded…your child actor may want to change vocal tone, voice, inflections, pitch, phrasing, etc…this way they can really see the voice-over actors talent and will have a few different types of voices to choose from…more than not, if you do it the same every time, the cd will figure that you can only do that one type of voice…

hope this helps you and your kiddos…voice-overs are fun…break a leg!

hugs and out~

preparing and auditioning for voice-over work

2006-08-27T08:37:00.000-07:00

for the next leg of this topic, maybe before discussing auditioning, we should discuss voice and diction classes…

when my daughter first started auditioning in nyc, almost every time, the casting director would ask her where she was from…we just couldn’t understand why she kept being asked this…
one day i was talking to someone about this and they said, “that’s b/c she has an accent”…
what? no she doesn’t…she sounds find…but being the type of person i am, I trusted this person’s opinion and I brought her to the best speech coach in the business, sam chwat…

he spent an hour with her and then brought me into the room…he told me that she did not pronounce her “th”…she dropped the “d” off the end of her words…her inflection was very hard new york, and she dropped her jaw every time she would say the sounds “aw”…p.s., she had tons of work to do to get rid of her “new yawk accent”, which i didn’t even realize she had…
now she speaks “american standard” – and after learning from sam, most people do not…oh yeah, she slips now and then…especially when she gets excited…and yes, she has new york “inflections” and accents, but that aids her usually and she can control it…did this take a lot of work on her part…you bet…the better part of a year…diligently practicing and recording and listening to herself several times a day!

okay…so I didn’t get to auditioning…but I did cover preparing! [pat on the back]…

tomorrow, i’ll get into auditioning…but please remember, unless you or your child actor is going to be a character voice-over specialist, he has to speak in american standard english or pretty darn close to it…he/she should be minus any regional accents…

we’ll pick this topic up again tomorrow…
hugs and out~

preparing a voice-over demo tape...

2006-08-22T08:57:00.000-07:00

okay, so we’ve established that your headshot is your calling card…it gives people an idea of what you really look like…but in voice-overs, your headshot is non-essential…in this case, you need a demo tape or recording which actors use to showcase their voices…

but don’t be too quick to do this for your child actor…we’ve learned all too well, through experience, that they need to be able to demonstrate their vocal range and present all of their capabilities…

when my daughter first got involved in acting in nyc, she was told my agents and casting people that she had an accent and needed to develop amercian standard speaking…after all, your voice is part of the actor’s instrument, and needs to be fine tuned…

she took speech and diction classes and now you wouldn’t know that she comes from ny…(except when she gets very excited and then you hear it slip in now and then!)…if we had done a voice-over tape early in her career, it would have been a mistake…point i’m trying to make is that you need to put your best foot forward…do not produce a tape that you are not proud of and accurately depicts the abilities of you or your child actor…

here are some tips to help with recording your child’s demo tape (if you have to do this one your own)…

1. make sure that each voice that is done, is done well and can be done consistently…last thing you want is to be called in to audition with a specific voice that they heard on the demo tape and it can’t be duplicated…
2. if you have a voice that is your best, put it first…you want to grab the attention of those listening…
3. put different styles on your tape – narratives, cartoons, commercials…then pick little sound bites of of your best parts and edit them together…

your demo tape must be professional quality…if your child actor does not have an agent that has capabilities to create a voice-over demo, then you’ll have to have it done professionally to be able to compete…don’t try to do this yourself, unless you have the sound equipment that is needed…

tomorrow i’ll continue on this topic…how to get an agent…auditioning for voice-over work, etc…so check in tomorrow for part 2…

have a wonderfully, blessed day…
hugs and out~

stage fright...it can really affect an actor...

2006-08-19T09:04:00.000-07:00

i don’t think it matters much how old you are or how many times you’ve been in productions, even the best of them (child actor or not) will get nervous before an audition or performing…that is not stage fright… i’ve seen this first hand and with some very talented, experienced actors…in fact one of them, in one of my productions, literally froze (not onstage thank God) but when she was about to go on…she ended up in a “fight or flight” mode and for her, being the trooper that she is, “fight” was what she did…

stage fright can happen to your child actor or anyone for that matter…it isn’t “age conscious” although i have to say that even though i’ve seen it happen to kids, it does happen to adults more often…

stage fright occurs when, as an actor, you are too overly concerned about your performance…when your thoughts are compulsively drawn to how you appear to others and if you will do badly…if this ever happens, you need to take your focus off yourself and put it on others immediately…and believe me, that is easier said than done…but know, stage fright can really paralyze someone…

what i would normally do is create a situation that would get their minds off of them about to go onstage or be filmed…i.e. someone needs something pinned or someone is sick and they need that person’s help…

this is so real, that there is a group called toastmasters (toastmasters.com)…also, there is a homeopathic remedy that helps for this…you can either go into a health food store that carries these remedies or go online and order it…it’s called gelsemium…

it’s very important that your child actor, if he/she deals with any form of this, face their fears and work through it…with kids, i’ve seen it happen in puberty…especially when they are stage actors and have begun to bloom at a young age…they become very self-conscious…for film/TV actors, this can happen in the audition room…many times the child doesn’t even share it with the parent…it also seems to happen after a long dry spell in the child actor’s career…they begin to question themselves…

being aware of this and hitting it head on and getting back up on that horse again is exactly what’s needed…we probably all, at one time or another has felt this or a bit of this feeling…i’ve never seen anyone not get through it…if they know that, it helps…

have a peaceful weekend…and i’ll catch up with everyone on monday…
hugs and out~

making and saving money while you or your child is acting...

2006-08-17T08:59:00.000-07:00

to continue on yesterday’s vein, i guess the best way to handle this is to have a spouse that is able to work and provide the finances to live, if you are about to make the move to “the big city” whether that is nyc or l.a…sometimes this isn’t possible…but sure does help…

in my daughter’s music group, two of the five girls that are in the group live with just one parent b/c there other parent is back at home trying to help support the career situation…and honestly, that’s not so bad…at least there is something tangible going on…some parents make this move with just hopes…and that’s okay, if you realize how expensive it is to live on either coast…but there is some more answers to help…

get a temp. job…this is one of the most popular ways that adult actors and parents of child actor’s support themselves…the main advantage is that it leaves quite a bit of time for either you or your child to pursue acting…you take the job for that particular day and they pay you…you can choose (if it’s available) to work a day, two, several days, a week or a month…it’s up to you…
and some temp. agencies will train you in certain office skills so that they can place you…this temp. deal works especially well if your child is older and can stay by themselves for a period of time safely…also, b/c you will usually know the day or more before an audition, you can plan ahead…

also, much of what you spend for money (besides exorbitant rent) is spent on gas and food…there are a couple of ways to handle that…

auditions take place all over l.a. and surrounding towns, but there are areas that you would normally go for auditions and you will know that pretty quickly…move there…at least closer to the area where you will need to drive to (for l.a.) and learn (in nyc) the subway system pretty quickly…that is very important, b/c there you won’t need a car…and if you take one with you, your budget just skyrocketed to park it monthly! leave it home! of course, in l.a. you HAVE to have a car…so move close to the action, find a gas station that is inexpensive (relatively speaking) and lastly, learn to eat inexpensively…

what do i mean by that? buy a oookbook that is known for having “poor man’s” recipes…those that taste wonderful, but are made with chicken or ground beef…get a crock pot…tons of things that are low in price and high in taste are able to be made in those…treat yourself to fast food every now and then…wendy’s and other fast food places have 99cent menus…

cut coupons on wednesday’s and sunday’s out of the city newspapers…and many places will double coupons all the time…in ny, waldbaums and stop ‘n shop will…and in l.a., ralph’s does…i’m sure there are others…

we are in l.a. right now…after moving from ny, and all i can add is that it is very expensive, so just try to be as frugal and wise as you can so that you don’t run out of money or bankrupt your family to follow yours or your child actor’s dream…sometimes you get caught up in them wanting it so badly, that you throw caution to the wind and put your entire family on the line…be careful…so many get caught up in the whole tinseltown thing and before you know it, a year has gone by and your child actor hasn’t booked anything…i’m really not being negative, just realistic…and if you know me, i’m the eternal optimist so when i say that, please know that it’s coming out of experience…

we have been in l.a. from a busy career in our hometown area of nyc for almost 3 months and i can tell you that after being here and speaking to others that have moved here, please be ready emotionally, physically, mentally and mostly, financially…b/c you can come to this town and end up running home with your tail between your legs and no money in your pocket…and that’s being said by someone who’s daughter is the middle of a huge opportunity for her career…what do people feel like when months and months and years go by and nothing happens…THAT is what you need to be prepared for…

but through all of this…still, always follow your dream and let your child dream big and plan for his/her future…just be wise doing it and take some of these financial tips and use them…you’ll ride the wave a lot easier if you do…have a very blessed day…
hugs and out~

don’t go broke while aiding your child actor or helping yourself in this business!

2006-08-16T12:49:00.000-07:00

that doesn’t mean they don’t cost you money…they do – and lots of it…but there is ways you can save money…

although “most things acting” that are for adults are many times the same cost for kids with a few exceptions…

1. some acting classes are less expensive for kids…so you can save a few bucks there, but it’s still going to cost you quite a bit…
2. headshots with some photographers are cheaper for kids…ask when you call around for info…that may make the difference in who you go to…
3. clothes for kids are less than clothes for adults…my suggestion, do not allow your child to wear their audition clothes for everyday life…get them 2 or 3 outfits (different colors/types) and put them away specifically for auditions…and every time your child actor puts them on, they will feel good knowing that they feel new and are their “lucky audition clothes”…well, actually, this only works when they are little…as they grow into teens, this idea goes out the window! 

there are also a few websites that give you some interesting ideas for living frugally…

www.cheapskatemonthly.com
www.stretcher.com
www.frugalcorner.com

there are also others…if you have any, please email me or leave a comment here so that others can benefit from it also…

one more important factor in saving money is where you live…if you want to live in l.a. or nyc, be aware that rents for apartments and houses are through the roof! but, if you live in the suburbs of both cities, you can find some less expensive places to live…in both l.a. and nyc, there are people who have apartments in their homes or guest houses which tend to be much cheaper…just be careful…make sure the apartment is legal, or you may find yourself out on the street with a 3 day notice…

i may continue this topic tomorrow…so much to say…so little time…
have a great thrifty day!

hugs and out~

scams! unfortunately, they will always be with us!

2006-08-14T11:20:00.000-07:00

every year...did i say year? every month…umm…month? okay…every DAY thousands of people descend upon los angeles believing that they will be the next tom cruise, hilary duff or dakota fanning…and most believe that they or their child actor is the best thing since sliced bread (oh boy…showing my age with that saying!)…

there are a great many opportunities both in nyc and los angeles, and as time passes, in many other cities in this country and in canada…problem is, along with the opportunities that your child actor has, there are also many opportunists out there who are lurking; waiting to prey upon you…their ultimate goal? to separate you from your money…

okay, so now you know that i’m going to rant here a bit…and no, we’ve not been “taken” by these scam artists, but my niece is in the process of throwing away her money (which she doesn’t have a lot of) to one of these shysters…and her daughter is only 4! she spends $700 every other month on new pics and learning how to walk like a model…at 4 years old mind you…and i’ve tried to speak to her…but to no avail…so i have to bite my tongue and be quiet at this point…

and i’m not going to name these companies…most of us know them…but just be aware of this…if someone thinks your child is amazing…one of a kind…best thing they’ve seen in a long time…cutest, best, greatest, most beautiful, next academy award winner...turn around and walk out the door…they have a hook in your wallet and are playing on the love you have for your child…scumbags…

anyway, just know this…go to reputable acting sites on the web…many i have listed on this blog…and ask questions…DON’T sign anything until you’ve spoken to someone who can direct you to legitimate agencies, acting schools, photographers, etc. AND beware of the companies that allow you “one stop shopping”…what i mean by that is that they will supply you with a headshot photographer, online exposure for your child, acting classes, etc…more times than not, they are again, just cloaked scam artists…

lastly, NEVER pay to get your child signed with an agent or manager…that’s just totally absurd…the money that they make comes out of the funds that your child earns if and when he/she books something…also, some people have issues with paid casting director workshops…in l.a., they seem to be not as needed…in nyc, they’ve always worked well for us with an out of state casting director…other than that, in time, your child will meet the right people at the right time…last thing you want to do is to spend all your money on cd workshops thinking that it will help your child book something…more times than not, it doesn’t…but hey, if you’ve got the funds, knock yourself out…just make sure you know if it’s the casting director, associate or assistant…imho, only go to casting director workshops…

moral of this blog – keep your money in your pocket and question anyone who’s hand is reaching in there…more likely than not, they are professional scammers who will tell you anything to bilk you out of your hard earned money…buyer beware…

have an incredible week…
hugs and out~

Public School, Private School, Homeschool...which one is right for you?

2006-08-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

this seems to be a question that is asked so many times by so many people in so many different areas of the country when your child actor is involved in this industry…and i don’t think there are any correct answers, only answers that are correct for you…so let me share with you a bit of our experience…

when we lived in ny, my daughter went to a private school…and while she was doing some stage and small things, there was never an issue…problem is when she started getting more involved in the business…unfortunately, that happened to coincide with middle school, which seems to be where schools get more antsy about taking time off…

she began missing a lot of days…at first, the teachers were excited for her, but then it got old for them, and they started giving her problems…and it was unfortunate, b/c we really wanted as normal a life for her as possible even if this was the career she chose…so when she finished her sophomore year, we felt to look into alternative schooling…

after investigating many ways to tackle this issue, we decided on distance learning through keystone high school…the reasons for us was of course, firstly, was the school accredited? and it is with even ivy league schools…also, was it available online? that was very important to my daughter, b/c she does much better typing online, reading online, etc. than with conventional schooling…although, she still had textbooks to read, etc., most of the testing and even interactive learning was online…and lastly, was the cost…keystone seemed to be less for what they offered…so that’s who we went with, and it, for us, was the correct decision…

she finished two years of schooling in 8 months…and she loved it b/c she could go to school whenever she wanted and when it worked for her schedule…

now that she’s in a girl singing group who rehearse ALL the time and perform, and then with her acting classes and auditions, she’s freed up to be able to take college courses online…we are right now looking into brigham young university…in fact, one of the girls in my daughter’s group is going to be doing her online high school program with them…great school…so that’s another option…

and believe me, there are many…and what i’m going to try to do is to have someone that is a true homeschool person write an article for this blog one day…hopefully soon…so that you can see what she does in order to teach her children at home…

but don’t forget, some public/private schools will work with you and then that may be the best choice for you and your child actor…everyone’s situation is different…and everyone has their own path…if you are contemplating this, then you just have to find the right one for you!

have a wonderfully blessed weekend…
hugs and out~

working as an extra!

2006-08-08T16:36:00.000-07:00

some may not believe it, but many people do extra work to do just that…work….
they are not looking to get a speaking role or to be rich and famous…
i just ran into someone today that was waiting to get headshots done…as we were talking, they told me that all they want is to be an extra…they have an “extras” agent and they are happy as can be! so for those people, being ‘atmosphere’ is a job that they are proud of…and they should be…

extra work is everywhere and they look for anyone and everyone…but, as with anything else, you have to prove yourself…when you sign up with an extras agency and they call you or your child actor to work, it is important that you show up on time, have the right outfit on and do as you’re told, without causing any problems on set (i.e. bothering the “name” actors, asking for autographs, etc.)…if all went well, you or your child will get called in more and more…

extras are needed for films, TV shows, industrial films, commercials, music videos and may be filmed anywhere and everywhere...b/c of this reason, you can live in kentucky and be an extra…but don’t expect TOO much work if you live there…even with extra work, most of it is in L.A. or NYC…

forgive me for being so blunt, but working as an extra requires not much more than breathing…so if you or your child actor wants to make a little bit (emphasis on ‘little’) of spare cash doing this work, then knock yourself out…some people love it…just don’t plan on getting rich off of it! usually, you’ll get paid $50-100 to sit around on a set for 10-14 hours…you’ll eat and read and many times wonder why you ever thought that this would be a glamorous job…

and yes, you can get your SAG card being an extra…but it is on a voucher system, and usually very difficult to obtain…if you are doing it for that reason, i would suggest you get a speaking role…it probably is easier! lol
and yes, SAG extras get paid more…and you’ll make a little extra money if you have to drive out of a certain zone…also, you are paid a few dollars extra if you are asked to bring more than the outfit your are wearing…

add it all up…not a heck of a lot of money…but sometimes, for you and/or your child actor, it’s worth it to do this a few times just to get the feel of what a real set is like…but, if you are the type that enjoys just sitting around and reading and eating and talking, then knock yourself out…this may be the job for you!

hope this helped some of you…have a wonderful week!
hugs and out~

learning about filming...get some tickets!

2006-08-06T08:23:00.000-07:00

so your child actor really wants to be part of this crazy biz…and you’d like them to see how a real set works…best thing…get tickets to some shows taped in your area…

now, unfortunately, if you’re not in nyc or l.a., that can be pretty tough…so perhaps, next vacation, go to one of those places and see a few shows…just make sure you call or email for tickets very early…most really good shows get filled up months ahead of time…but if you’re lucky, there may be a film taping in your area…TV shoots all their shows in a set…a film does the same, but may also include outside locations that could be right near you…

TV show sets can be very chaotic…it’s crammed with lights, cameras, cables, sets, props and tons of people…everyone has a job and if you watch them carefully, you will know what they do pretty quickly…all except for the group that stand to the side during filming, but then huddle together in between takes…those are the writers and many times, midstream, they will change something in the script that isn’t working when played out…

the taping for a 30 minute sitcom usually takes 3 hours or more so be prepared with food and drink (sometimes they will actually give you pizza or candy/water, etc. but don’t count on it)…

the studio audiences are very important to these shows...not only do they provide a laugh track, but they also give the actors live people to play off of and see how their jokes go over...also, sometimes at the end of the taping, the actors will go up to the audience and sign autographs or whatever...

if you’d like to see a show there are a few websites that seem to be the best at securing you tickets:

studio audiences (www.studioaudiences.com)

television ticket co. (www.freetvshows.com)

free tv tickets (www.tvtix.com)

ny tickets (www.nytix.com)

hollywood tickets (www.hollywoodtickets.com)

on camera audiences (www.ocatv.com)

and also, with the late nite shows, many times you can get them online through the affiliate station…i.e. write or call NBC for jay leno, etc…but first check the above sites…you may be able to secure them through those…

okay…have fun…watching a taping can be very exciting and give you and your child actor a close-up look at how things happen on set…

have a great day…and an even better week…
hugs and out~

fake auditions! be careful...be very careful...

2006-08-04T13:00:00.000-07:00

re: this topic…much easier to speak out of my own knowledge than to explain what to do and not to do…but let’s give you one main rule for yourself and your child actor…don’t trust ANYONE! don’t let your child go with ANYONE! okay, now that that’s out of the way, as an adult you have to be careful also…

when i was an actress in l.a. during the 1980’s i had a very disturbing experience…i was sent out on an audition, gave the cd my headshot/resume…they asked me for my contact phone number (i’ll never forget this…it was a friday and they were going to do callbacks over the weekend, so if they couldn’t get my agent, they wanted to be able to call me directly)…and she wrote it on my resume…didn’t think much of it except that i noted that she did that…

a few days later, i got a call…the man identified himself as a producer of XYZ film and said that he had gotten my name/headshot/resume from such and such casting and was interested in me for the lead in his upcoming film…

okay…yes…you’re right…i was so flattered that it got the best of me and i answered all of his questions…where i lived…my measurements (which a bit of a red flag went up right there)…then he started asking me very personal questions about my body…I answered some of them, but then stopped and said that i didn’t like where the conversation was going and he assured me that he was who he was…i asked him to give me the name of his studio and phone number…he did and i said i’d call him right back…the number was a phony…wow – no duh…but if i didn’t realize at that point what was up, who knows – i might have met him somewhere or whatever…very scary when i think about it…

so how did that happen? after speaking to people, they figured that somebody probably dumped a load of headshots into a dumpster and this pervert looked through them and took some…my phone number was written on the back…p.s, he called me…and YES, within a month i moved…i was very scared, considering i was physically separated from my husband at the time (he was training in phoenix for 12 weeks for his job) so i was basically living alone with my 3 little babies)…eek – frightening…

20+ years later, these menaces are more savvy…now they will even put out an audition call for a screen test to search for new talent! they will ask kids/adults/whatever to show up at this place and time – i’ve even heard of one instance years ago, when they met this man in a mall…he had a camera and was taking pics of all the kids…he asked the parents if he could bring these couple of kids to the playground next door and he’d be right back…the parents ran away at this point realizing what was happening…he immediately got reported to security at the mall…did he get caught? no! and this happens all the time…maybe a different person…different place…different time…same thing!

always be on guard! if you go to an audition and you don’t like the way the place looks, DON’T GO IN! is it worth getting hurt or whatever for a stinkin’ audition? definitely not! follow your gut…if you don’t like the way an audition feels…or if you don’t have an agent or manager, and you don’t like the way someone sounds on the phone or writes their emails…go with your feelings…most of the time they are correct…

tomorrow i’m going to discuss scams…how people will do or say anything to bilk you out of your money!
for now…have a great day in this awesome business! be well and happy…
hugs and out~

cattle calls! are they really worth it?

2006-08-03T09:11:00.000-07:00

open casting calls got there name b/c they look like just that…a bunch of cattle waiting around, moving slowly…being herded one by one into a room…

basically, they are auditions open to anyone – and normally that’s exactly who goes…anyone! this open call could be for a 10 year old blonde girl, yet you’ll see everything from a 60 year old grey-haired woman to a 350 lb. sumo wrestler standing in line next to that little girl…actually, it can be quite interesting…before my daughter had reps. and we went this route, i had many laughs standing in those lines…

there are advantages and disadvantages to ‘cattle calls’ – first of all, they are open to anyone…so it can be a great idea for our child actor to go and get some experience in auditioning…and yes, lightening does strike, and perhaps they will be noticed by a casting person and weeded out of the crowd, as well as meeting some casting director that maybe your child wouldn’t have met otherwise…

now for the bad news  many of these open calls are done for publicity only…it’s an inexpensive way to stir up excitement for a film and get the film’s name out there…it’s just human nature that when you audition for something and don’t book it, you’re interested in who did and will go to that film to see who is the one that skinned you out of that role that was absolutely yours!

many open calls are legit…usually casting only very minor roles…or agents and casting director’s use them to meet new talent…so then they are very useful and can be a real opportunity for your young actor…

either way, if you have the time and your child actor wants to go, enjoy! sometimes just meeting new people and feeling the “possibility” of booking a role is a real ‘dream-maker’ and can inspire both you and your child…

to find open calls, check out the many online services that exist and also entertainment papers on the newsstand as well as your local town or city newspaper…

have fun and remember, it’s all part of the dream…
have a wonderful day…
hugs and out~

audition pointers...revisited!

2006-08-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

right away, if i were you, i'd get an appointment book and begin to chronicle all the auditions that your child gets...then you have all the info. that you'll need in case they are so fortunate to get a callback! mark down the day and date (obviously!)...also, what they wore to the audition...and where it was...
after the audition, write down any comments that your child told you that the casting people said to them...they forget quickly...so make sure that you ask right away! lol

okay, but let's go backwards here...how do you help prepare your child for an audition?
make sure you have the correct address, directions to get there and how long it will take...
be on time! nothing makes a worse first impression than this!
dress neatly – and “hint” at the type of role that your child actor is auditioning for…don’t dress them in a costume…
bring several copies of their headshot/resume with you…most times you’ll only need one, but just last week, my daughter went to a producer’s session, and the cd’s asst. asked her for several…so especially on a callback with producers (where there will be several in the room that would like to see the headshot and resume) ALWAYS bring more…
bring the sides (audition scenes) with you…
leave the gum in the car…
never touch the casting director (unless provoked by them)…
make sure you sign your child in and out…
leave there…buy them an ice cream (better yet a piece of fruit! lol) and then forget about it!

number 9 is probably the hardest thing to do…forgetting about the audition…it really is difficult…but the healthiest thing to do is to talk about it for a few minutes…ask them all the questions that you need to…and then let it go…this is especially hard if the child got really good feedback from the cd’s and really wants the part…but from experience, please try very hard to let it go…it can torment you if you don’t…just know that there is another audition around the corner and a role with your child’s name on it…and again, i will repeat one of my favorite quotes that a dear lady, friend and casting director, bonnie gillespie says… “if the part isn’t yours, there is nothing you can do to get it…and if it is, there’s nothing you can do to mess it up”…bonnie, forgive me…i know i paraphrased!

anyway, that’s the skinny on auditions…oh yeah, there are many more things i could blog about re: this topic, but those are the most important points…if and when your child gets an audition, just be very excited about it…that’s the first step to building a career in this crazy thing called show business!

much happiness today and always…
hugs and out~

your child wants to act - STOP! parents, do you really want to do this???

2006-08-01T10:13:00.000-07:00

job opening – drive someone else around all the time at any time of day…pay someone else’s expenses…be a chauffeur…sacrifice your own free time…blah blah blah…yep, and this is only a small part of what is required for your child actor to be in show business…it’s a massive commitment…so not only does your child want it more than anything in the world, you have to be there with them!

during your journey, you will learn patience…foresight…perseverance…you will develop a thick skin yet have to learn psychological techniques for not only your child but for others around you who think you’ve lost your mind…
then when you get those down, you’ll find yourself disagreeing with an agent, manager, casting director, director, acting coach…etc. etc. etc…you’ll bend or break i’ll tell you…and bend you will…you’ll become as flexible as gumby! LOL

but be careful…watch out for the “bitter bug” – that’s what i and friends of mine call it…that’s the parent who’s child is in the business, but they’ve had it…they haven’t gotten where they feel their child actor should be…so they are bitter and everything that goes on in this business is shaded with bitterness and distrust…
in my humble opinion, if you get to that point, just get out! you will no longer be a help to your child and your will infect everyone around you…for me personally, i don’t go near people like that…and i can smell them a mile away…

look, let me lay it on your straight…to be a parent in this business, you have to be either a masochist or very self-sacrificing or you are living vicariously through your child…and for the sake of time and space, let me just address the last one…

i believe this is where the term "stagemom" came from...or stagedad btw...lol... child actors have been replaced…not b/c of them, but b/c of the behavior of a stage parent that is actually interfering with the production…these parents can be tough to take…they will press their child to become an actor and be the best no matter what the kid wants…they believe there is no one around as good as their child…they don’t live in reality…they believe that hollywood is waiting for their child so that this business can instantly make them the next dakota fanning! so please…heed the warning…what goes around, comes around…you don’t want to plant bad seeds in the soil of this business whether you are on the left or right coast…and it can be hard...we love our kids so much that we want everything for them right away...but there is a process...and you learn that as you go along...

so you’re still here…still reading…then maybe this biz is for you…that is, as long as this is what your CHILD wants to do…first sign of pulling away, allow them to do that…much against popular opinion, not every kid in ny or l.a. is going to stay in the business and become a huge star…my advice – every now and then do an “acting health check”…what is that? twice a year my daughter and i sit down and discuss this business…i ask her if she’s enjoying it…if she still loves it as much as she used to…if she’s happy…questions like that…her answers give me a real good barometer as to where she is re: this crazy love she has for performing…if her interest has diminished, this gives her a great platform to be honest with me, b/c many times if a child knows that the parent wants this for them very badly, they won’t tell the parent that they want to leave it, unless they are asked…then remember, you are the parent and this is your child…do what’s best for them no matter what…

that’s it from this end…running out the door…
have a happy, healthy, blessed day…
hugs and out~

how to impress a casting director...

2006-07-31T08:58:00.000-07:00

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~

PILOT SEASON - PART 2...

2006-07-29T09:02:00.000-07:00

this is part 2 of yesterday's post re: our family coming to pilot season this past february and march...and as much as people want to think that a child actor or even an adult actor will "make it" during this period of time...the truth is...well...keep reading!

so our decision was made…we would spend 8 weeks in l.a. now that lissa was signed with a prominent talent agent…we figured the worse that could happen is that she would get some great experience and begin to meet some of the west coast casting directors… at least i thought i felt that way...

the first day she was here, she was sent out on an audition…then nothing for two weeks…then another audition…and then nothing for 2 more weeks! i know…sounds pretty frustrating, and it was…but the good thing was that during the down time that she had, without friends to distract her, she graduated from high school, nearly 2 years early! so it all worked out for the best…but back to my story…

i wrote to lissa's manager online trying to figure out why lissa wasn’t going on more auditions…she was very honest with me…lissa was new to the area and for some reason, this past pilot season (and actually, it looks like this may be a trend) they were not calling in a lot of kids that didn’t live in this area…her mgr. spoke to several of the more youth-oriented casting people and that’s what they said…that if the child actor was not a local or if they didn’t have heavy duty credits, they were passing on them…the networks were skitsy this year and didn’t want to rest the success of a pilot on some newbie’s shoulders…

great! so here we are and we hear that! but being the oh so optimistic one that i am, i knew that there was always still a chance that things could change…another audition happens…then another…so during pilot season, the average for lissa for theatrical auditions was 1 every two weeks! and that’s total honesty! most people won’t tell you that…they’ll pad it to make their kid look like the best thing since sliced bread! well, it’s a bunch of crap… and yes, of course, some will go out more and some less...but i find that real honesty in this business re: your child actor is as rare as finding diamonds in the middle of hollywood blvd...

so here’s the skinny on pilot season…like it or not…it’s not for the faint-hearted…it’s not for someone that is using their last dime to allow their child actor to “give it a shot”…don’t do it!!! all you will do is spend money (between $10,000-15,000) and get extremely frustrated b/c you, just like everyone else, are going to l.a. with a set of expectations which will only prove to be false…

okay, now the upside! you know i ALWAYS have an upside! that period of time for us was the best thing that could have ever happened to us! it told us that this is where we wanted and needed to be…yes, we spent lots of money to sit around and have lissa graduate from high school…but when it was all said and done, 3 weeks after we moved back to ny, we moved here permanently…and TONS have been popping for her since then!

pilot season will make you or break you…and that’s not an exaggeration! it will make you realize what is out here and put drive under your butt and your child actor’s…or you will get discouraged and leave here broke and broken…

but, let me add this disclaimer...if you want to bring your child out here and the finances isn’t an issue to you and he/she gets into some great classes…gets to meet some casting people…and gets to experience the whole ‘hollywood’ scene…and that’s good enough for you…then you need to come on out this coming season…b/c you will get that…and that in itself can be invaluable!

okay…there it is…don’t get mad at me…you know i’m on your side! but truth does come out of my mouth and lots don’t really like that…pretense is not my middle name and will never be…so you know what i’m saying is real…

so if you’re still coming...you better get busy! you’ll need an agent, a place to stay, housing, classes, and lots of good reading or places to go for all the down time…and you will have lots of down time…trust me on that!

okay…hope your bubble is still intact…but probably a bit deflated…but if you’re still optimistic (in a reality kind of a way) then awesome…go for it! and maybe this year, we’ll get to meet!
wishing you all the best always…and you go and have yourself an amazing weekend!
hugs and out~

PILOT SEASON..the real dirt..PART 1...

2006-07-28T09:23:00.003-07:00

please remember…what you are about to read about acting and show business and the child actor is not necessarily the norm…actually, my life is not the norm – so be it! but I guess that’s why when folks point to this or that and that is the only way things can happen, i’m always the voice that says, ummm…it ain’t necessarily so! (remember that song? that’s for you broadway buffs! lol) okay, back to what i was saying…

for every right there is a wrong…and for everything i or anyone else tells you, there is the exception to the rule…strangely enough, i usually live in the exception…but i guess that’s what keeps hope alive in you and me! anyway, re: pilot season and your little child actor or big child actor…whichever it is…this is our story…hopefully you can glean from it something to aid you in your journey re: pilot season…

lissa did well in her market…nyc…didn’t clean up…but did well…mostly theatre…a couple of featured spots on TV shows…lead in an indie film…you get the idea…BUT we in no way felt that she was ready for pilot season…optimistic we are – stupid we are not! but we “thought” that maybe sometime in the next few years, we may just give it a go if everything lined up the way we felt they should…yeah, right…best laid plans of mice and men!

lissa has a wonderful nyc manager…and she freelanced with 4 prominent talent agents…so she was in good shape…she went out on every audition that was even “near” her age range and type…she auditioned a lot…got her share of callbacks, etc…you get the picture…

by the end of 2005, we felt that with everything that was going on in our personal lives (which is quite a read in itself!) that we would pass again on going to pilot season…but by the middle of january, we got a call from lissa’s manager, that a prominent l.a. agent got hold of her headshot and resume and was wondering if we were interested in coming out for pilot season…WHAT?!? you have to be kidding…but of course, he wanted to meet us…can you blame him? so we used our frequent flyer miles and said “what the heck” and we flew to l.a. – we met with the agent…he signed her on the spot, across the board…we walked out of his office with our mouths hanging open, realizing what we just happened…lissa now had west coast representation AND we made a commitment to come to pilot season! are we crazy?

when we got home we put the ball in motion…and being the ‘workaholics’ we are, we had enough vacation stored up that both my husband and i could venture out into the wild, wild west for 8 weeks…we packed and within 2 weeks, we were in l.a. planning on spending february and march on the left coast…

okay…okay…can’t write anymore…i will finish the story tomorrow…i write such long posts, that they take up the whole page, so i have to post my very verbose blogging in 2 parts! LOL

don’t miss the next installment of “delora does l.a.!” – that sound almost R rated…didn’t mean to! LOL

have a really great day…read a book…now there’s a ‘novel’ thought…oh, bad pun!
hugs and out~

where does the money go?

2006-07-27T08:39:00.000-07:00

let me be perfectly frank here...this business cost money! after all, it IS a business! i know many people don't think of it that way, but it's very true...and sometimes, you don't ever recoup what you put into it...why? b/c your child actor may decide they just don't want to do this anymore and would rather play sports! ahhhh...kids...
and honestly, they are kids...that's what they do...change their minds...go from one thing to another...explore all the possibilities in their lives for their future...

for this reason is why we were very, very careful during the first couple of years that our daughter was exploring the business of being an actor...we didn't know how she would feel having to give up after school functions, being part of cheerleading, playing sports, etc.

now don't get me wrong, you can still be a part of those things and be in a smaller market re: being a child actor...but with my experience in nyc and now in l.a., that is almost impossible...auditions are right after school and if you start telling your agent that your child can't make them b/c they have a game, you will soon be "agentless"...

okay, back to the money issue...just as in any business there is an initial outlay of dollars...your little (or big!) actor will need headshots (unless they are very, very young then a digital or snapshot is usually accepted - although i know one agent in nyc who will not accept that and wants a professional headshot no matter what age!)...acting classes...gas to drive them to auditions...and on and on and on...it really mounts up...

but then, your child is speaking to other kids (especially if they are approaching the tween/teen age) and they discover that their friend is going to l.a. for pilot season! omg! pilot season! my child actor is going to make it huge if i could just get them there for at least 2 months...

oh boy! i'm opening a HUGE can of worms now! ummmm...pilot season...not for the faint of heart...not for those that are just starting out...not for anyone that does not have an agent (not just a small town manager)...not for anyone that hasn't already done pretty well for themselves in their own smaller market...and definitely not for anyone who is using their last bit of savings to make their child's dream come true! i know i know...now you think i'm a pessimist! you couldn't be further from the truth...i'm the ultimate optimist, with a realistic bent of course!

and today, i cannot get any further into this without writing another full page and more, so tomorrow, i will discuss our own personal experience with pilot season and the realities of what you face when you arrive in hollywood ready for your child actor to make their mark...it will be a very interesting read...

have a glorious day...and stay cool...
hugs and out~

actor's auditions/classes...more help...PART 2...

2006-07-26T07:42:00.000-07:00

as i said in another post, acting classes are very necessary for the actor to stay on the top of their game...but if your child is very young, they probably are outgoing and don't need them...they just have to be themselves...but as they get older and more self-conscious, then they are needed, and many times, on an ongoing basis...

many audition classes teach on-camera technique which, for anyone pursuing a film/tv career, is a very good class to take b/c it teaches the young actor never to break through the imaginary fourth wall and stare into the camera and right at the audience...

also, the classes will teach about emotional release during close-ups, how to cheat towards the camera and how to block your movements...many times, these classes are coupled with improvisation classes which are used to free the actor and be able to think on their feet and create more dialogue on their own for their character...

looking good on camera is very important...many times it's not the child actor or adult actor who auditions the best, but who "pops" when they're on camera and looks very good doing the scene...but then again, there are always those exceptions...(so what else is new?)...take a look at dustin hoffman on camera...eewwww...would you have cast him? LOL...so, as i always say, "what's meant to be is meant to be"... :-)

another great way to prepare for auditions is with a scene study class...before an audition, you usually get a copy of sides which are a few pages of the script that are being used for audition purposes...the actor studies these ahead of time and the casting people see how well the script was interpreted...

so learning how to study a scene can help the actor understand the possible motives behind a character, what is in the subtext (what is not being said, but implied)that the character is trying to communicate and learning to stay 'real' while portraying a character in a scene...all of these are very important for the child actor to learn...

lastly, (at least of those classes that i'm going to discuss), there is the class that helps the actor prepare a monologue which is basically a long speech spoken by one character...sometimes, an agent or casting person will ask for the actor to perform a monologue to get a general idea of how they can act...and although monologues are still used, it seems that they are not used nearly as much as years ago...so although it's important to have a couple in your child actor's 'bag of tricks', i wouldn't spend a lot of time worrying about this...also, in my list of resources, there is a website that you can go to for acting monologues...

there are so many other skills that an actor needs...classes are definitely on the top of the list, especially as your child actor gets older and loses that innocent, child-like quality...keeping their acting instrument honed is very important to being successful in this business...

and yes, acting classes also cost money...y'know what? i think tomorrow i'll talk about all the money that is spent on acting...and what about pilot season? how much money is spent there? oh boy...HUGE topic...

have a happy day...smell a flower...hug a tree :-)
hugs and out~

an actor's audition...your way in! PART 1...

2006-07-25T10:53:00.000-07:00

yes, for those of you who remember, lana turner got discovered in her tight, white sweater at the infamous schwab's drug store...and yes, mandy moore got discovered at the age of 14 when she was singing and a FEDEX man delivered a package to her house...he knew a music exec., and the rest is history...and yes, there are many more stories like that...but considering how many people have "made it" in the business of acting and how their claim to fame is many years and a lot of hard work, i wouldn't hold my breath for another FEDEX man to come along...the way in is through auditions...

so how does a child actor or any actor for that matter, master the art of auditioning? well, if you child is young, chances are that if they are interested in show business, that they are outgoing and energetic, like people and people like them...so that being the case, they just have to be themselves...just very real...full of life and energy...and they'll be fine...
problem is, as they grow older, they become more self-conscious and that's when acting classes are now needed...

remember, by far, imho, the most important skill and actor can have is to master the art of auditioning...and believe me, it IS an art...casting director's want to hire people, not robots...not those that suck up and try to win their way into a role...it just doesn't work...and cd's are VERY perceptive...that's part of their job...they are in the business of people...so learn what works and what turns them off...

okay, back to acting classes...if you or your child actor are new at this business, then it would benefit them greatly to take a "how to audition" class...this will teach you the basic etiquette (yes, there is etiquette involved!) and how to behave at an audition, and the different auditions that you will go on and what to expect...

these classes are normally run by veteran actors who have "been there and done that"...they are there to pass their wisdom on to you and your child actor to learn from and hopefully stop you from making many of the mistakes that they themselves have made...

after this class, you may want to investigate in your area if there are any cold reading classes...some say this is not important, but let me give you one personal experience that happened within the last month...

my daughter had an audition...she got a callback...then we got a call one morning from her agent, that the producers wanted to see her again, but this time for the other character...and in about 1 hour! she got ready, i downloaded the sides (audition pages) and we took off out the door to get there in time...
she couldn't study the sides in the car b/c that makes her ill, so she figured she'd take 1 minute when we arrived to look it over...she did and it literally was one minute, she walked in the door and the casting associate said, "hurry, they're waiting for you"...so that was that...basically, a true cold reading...although when you get a script to cold read, normally they give you about 10 minutes to look it over...so honestly, this was a frigid reading! LOL

it's an area that your child actor needs to be equipped to handle...tomorrow, i'll continue with auditions and discuss other types of classes that are very beneficial to you and your actor - to help equip him to handle the rigors of the business of acting...

have a wonderfully, creative day...write a poem...sing a song...exercise your inner brillance...
hugs and out~

an actor's resume! what the heck do i do?

2006-07-24T11:13:00.000-07:00

whether you’ve been in this biz for 5 months or 5 years, casting people want to see your resume…it gives them an overview or highlight of what you’ve been doing re: the business of acting…even if it’s not much, it will say if you are actively pursuing your dream or just hanging out, waiting for a “miracle” to fall on your head…so remember, next to your headshot, it’s the most important thing they will see about you…

casting directors have a job…to find the best actors for the roles for the project…they want to find who is right for each part, so having a resume that looks good, helps them with this process…

do not put an acting resume together as if it was a simple resume! this is not an employment resume…that is totally different! an acting resume is exclusively about acting…what you’ve done, who you’ve trained with, your special skills, etc…

to explain this fairly quickly…(God knows i can run off at the mouth, er, I mean post)…let me list what the acting resume should look like…

1.your name on the top center in a larger point size than the rest of the resume...
2.your phone number - NOT home phone – either cell, pager or answering service…(if you have an agent or manager, then you may have letterhead with their name and phone on it – but if you don’t have letterhead, then put their info. in yourself and leave your personal info. off)
3.physical characteristics…NOT age…casting people go by “age range” anyway, so you don’t want to knock yourself out of the running by giving them an exact age when you may look younger or older which could work for the part…
mostly, this would mean hair color and eye color, with height and weight being optional – personally, we’ve been told by my daughter’daughter’s reps. not to put that in…but to each his own…
4.add your membership in any actor’s unions (SAG, AFTRA, ACTRA, AEA)
5.now put your first bold heading: FILM/TV – then underneath, list the credits if there are any…
6.now put your 2nd bold heading: THEATER – then underneath, list the credits if there are any…
7.now put your 3rd heading: COMMERCIALS/INDUSTRIALS – do the same here…although this may change in time to say “no conflicts” – which i’ll explain at another point, but for now, to help fill up the resume, if you have something here, then list it…
8.your college degree if related to the industry
9.now put your next bold heading TRAINING – list acting classes, workshops, private coaches, dancing and singing classes and anything else that is appropriate for this area…
10.next major heading: SPECIAL SKILLS – this may include different sports, playing of an instrument, martial arts training, etc…anything that gives the casting person an overview of your child’s abilities…

remember, if you’re just starting out in acting, the hardest part is figuring out how to fill up that VERY blank page! know this though, EVERYONE started with a blank page at some point! even the biggest and brightest stars started this way…some a 4 years old…others at 25…even others at 40…so don’t despise your small beginnings…

hints: use plenty of white space in between headings…use a larger type size, such as 12 or 14 point…and don’t forget to include ANY acting experience no matter how trivial…even those bit parts in your child’s class play…as the resume grows, you can remove those roles for hopefully some that are bigger and juicier! J

hope this helped some of you…i think i’m probably going to cover some of the actor’s training needs in the next couple of blogs…you just never stop training…even if it’s “on the job training”…the actor never stops growing in his craft…

have a glorious and beautiful day in this biz!

hugs and out~

actor...child actor...headshots and types continued!

2006-07-23T08:55:00.000-07:00

another headshot that has gotten accolades from many...
but why would i spend so much time on headshots??? this is who you are...who your child is...your chance to be seen by those that can open doors for your future star! where else should you spend your time? this is where the rubber meets the road! scrimp on this...don't give this much thought...just pick anyone to take any old picture, and you will soon discover what a mistake you made! okay...you get it...good...now let's move on to finding your type or the type your child is...
now, for the sake of everyone that is reading this, i will add types for adults and kids...

adults:-
sexy/sensual - pamela anderson...angelina jolie...that type...if that's you, then go for it...bring clothes to match this type...but also know that if this is the only type that you are portraying, the roles will be limited...
-romantic/caring - jennifer aniston...the girl or boy next door...again, bring clothes that fit that type...
-business person - too many to name...clothes and hair help capture this type...
-commanding/powerful - michael douglas...george c. scott...someone used to ordering people around...
-nerd - self explanatory (don't forget the glasses!)- woody allen...
-mom/dad/grandma/grandpa - typical family - housewife...housedad - doris roberts...
-traditional/conventional look - everyday person...middle of the road look
-outdoorsy type - athletic, healthy...harrison ford type
-sophisticated - almost snooty...aristocratic - nicole kidman...

kids/teens:
-beautiful/modelesque - really, this child should probably work in modeling...
-attractive/girl next door - lots of kids fall into this category - hillary duff...
-quirky/nerd/humorous - this is the real charactery kid...they play roles that are full of personality and humor - kyle massey
-tough/bad girl/guy - self-explanatory - "mean girls" cast...
-girl/guy next door - can be any kid anywhere - lindsay lohan (younger)...

and again, bring clothes that match your type and if you feel that you can portray another type also...

also remember, when the shots are finished and you pick them up, if you have an agent/manager, let them look at them and choose the ones they feel that portray you/your child the best...they have an unbiased eye...very different than us parents...so if you respect them (and you should if chose them to rep. your kid!) then listen to what they believe are the best ones...

another decision! borders...no borders...full bleed (looks like the photo goes right off the edges of the paper)...look at samples and then decide...put your name on the front (pick a crisp, clear font) and then you're ready for printing!

tomorrow...creating that all important resume!!! don't miss it!

have a prosperous and happy sunday!
hugs and out~

hiring a professional actor's headshot photographer!

2006-07-22T15:13:00.000-07:00

well, i'm going to try to cover both nyc and l.a. since those are the people that i know about...sorry if you're somewhere else in the country...maybe someone will leave comments on florida, arizona, texas, chicago, etc...and if i get private emails, i'll post those names and email addy's...

we've been through this process several times...so we've kind of got it down on what to do and what to look for when choosing a headshot photographer...

first things first...take a peak around the internet...and honestly, in this day and age, if they don't have a website, ummm...personally...i wouldn't go to them for an interview...but don't take my word for it...go anyway and see...hey, i've been wrong before...

next, whittle the amount down to 3 studios...then make appointments to meet with them...if this is for your child, then MAKE SURE they are with you...it's very important that there is a rapport with the actor and the photographer...if the actor doesn't feel at ease, it will show in their eyes, in their face, they will be tense...you might as well flush your dollars down the toilet...

questions to ask:
-how much?
-how much time will it take?
-how many rolls of film or if digital, how many shots will they take?
-are any 8 x 10's included in the cost?
-how many outfit changes are allowed?
-how many different types of shots will be taken...i.e. commercial, theatrical, 3/4, etc.
-ask if they have their own make-up artist and how much are they? for a child and young teen, this usually is not needed...
-how long before you'll see the proofs?
-who keeps the negatives? you or the photographer?
-if the photos are acceptable, will they do a reshoot?

remember, price does not "always" measure quality...sometimes the most expensive or the cheapest is not the best or the worst...best case scenario is word of mouth and seeing other headshots...look through books...again, browse online...

and if you want to know who took that headshot of my daughter in nyc, you can email me personally...otherwise, i'll never tell *smirk*...MWAH!

have a memorable day...take that actor of yours and give them a big hug...
hugs and out~

-

making a great impression...the actor's headshot!

2006-07-21T14:45:00.000-07:00

okay, had to put up my daughter's headshot...her agent loves this one so much...he told me just last week, "this is what a headshot is all about!"...

a head shot is a close up photo of yourself (or child actor) the you submit along with your resume to agents and managers (if looking for a rep.) and casting directors so they can consider whether or not they want to see your child for an audition...in essence, it is your business card...their first impression of you or your child...

your head shot is many times called an 8 by 10 (8 x 10) which means 8" by 10" which is the industry standard...most markets now want color head shots, but a few places, especially stage in nyc, still will accept and actually enjoy black and white actor's photos...

but remember, wherever you live and in whatever market you'll be submitting for work, there are some "across the board" standards that should be adhered to:

1. make sure you or your child actor looks natural - also, if it's your child who is getting the headshot, make sure they don't have bows in their hair, hats, or too busy of clothing...remember you want them to see your child, not their wardrobe...

2. look directly into the camera...making sure that you have thoughts and feelings going through your mind...or tell your child to think happy thoughts...think about a time that they were having fun...but if the photographer is worth anything, they will direct them and help them emit an appropriate emotion...

3. be friendly, relaxed...smiling (for commercial)...semi-smiling and expressive eyes (for theatrical - film/tv)...

4. make sure whatever you do, remember...this headshot has to make the casting person say, "i'd really like to meet this person!"...

5. make sure the headshot looks like the actor! i can't tell you how many times my daughter introduced me to one of her friends (after i'd seen their headshot online) and i didn't even know it was the same person...makes you feel kind of sorry for casting people...no?

remember, a headshot has two purposes...to get and agent/manager interested in the actor and also to have a casting director call you for an audition...nothing else matters...

i'll continue this tomorrow...
have a smiley day...remember, it lowers blood pressure...LOL (btw, it really does)...
hugs and out~

auditions...how do you get them??? also...recommended websites and reading for the up and coming actor!

2006-07-20T21:03:00.000-07:00

of course, the first way you get auditions for the actor in your home is through your agent and through your manager (by way of an agent)...if you don't have those, then there are a few online resources that can aid you in your quest is...

actorsaccess.com (i believe they are about $68 a year, but honestly, worth every penny of it!) - this is affiliated with showfax.com which, for that amount per year, will supply you with up to 24 sets of sides (audition material) a day...

backstage.com - also has industry news...and many actors testimonials...

thebuzznyc.com - obviously for the right coast acting crowd...

nowcasting.com - also has a fee...but for those that do not have acting respresentation, is really good...

there are so many others, but you have to be very careful, b/c many of them are just regurgitated information that is actually old so submitting to them is worthless...if in doubt, you can always zip me over an email or comment, or ask someone else in the industry that you know and trust...also, be aware of acting scams...i'll cover that more in blogs to come...

also, here are some other sites that are very good for getting info. and connecting with other actors, etc...

actorsbone.com
actorsresource.biz
auditions.net
eidc.com (what is filming and where in l.a.)
imdb.com
lacasting.com
variety.com
thehollywoodreporter.com
http://forums.delphiforums.com/YoungActors (east & west coast free forum)
http://forums.delphiforums.com/proactors (east & west coast free forum)
http://www.aimoo.com/forum/login/login.cfm?id=680165 (east coast actor's forum)

recommended reading:
any books by bonnie gillespie (especially...my fav..."self-management for actors")
"acting is everything...an actor's guidebook for a successful career in los angeles" - judy kerr
"audition" - michael shurteff (an oldie but goodie)
"book the job - 143 things actors need to know to make it happen" - doug warhit
"how to make it in hollywood...blah blah blah" - linda buzell
"no acting please: - morris & hotchkis
"the act of being" - charles marowitz

most of the above are for teen or adult actors, but are great for parents to read and be able to more fully understand their child actor and how to help them with their quest...

hope this stuff helps...i'm off on the rest of my journey for today...
have many great moments this week...
hugs and out~

who are the gatekeepers of show business?

2006-07-19T13:33:00.000-07:00

there are probably those of you who are reading this who can answer that question, lickety split...then there are those who don't have a clue what that means...
believe me, i had no clue at one point either...

casting directors, whether you like it or not, hold the key to you and/or your child's future in this biz...they are the gatekeepers...now of course, there are those of you that know producers or directors and they will give you a role...but those opportunities are few and far between...

and yes, casting directors are real people...in fact, a few of them are friends of mine...wow, can they really be friends to someone? LOL...i know that many feel that way...and i can understand that...

you or your child walk into a room and there he/she/they sit...ready to decide your future...but honestly, they DON'T decide you or your child's future...the only one that decides that is the actor themselves...

and again, believe it or not, casting people are on YOUR side...they really WANT you to be amazing...okay, enough of that...so what do they actually do?

after being hired for a project, they receive a script so that they can break it down into roles and determine the types of actors that they will need...out of this information, they put out a breakdown (announcement of actors needed)...

they audition actors...sometimes not so many...but sometimes hundreds...

then they choose several potential actors for each role and those are the ones that get "called back" to perform the sides in front of the producers, directors, etc...

even though most of the breakdowns do come out on casting services such as breakdown services... (www.breakdownservices.com) many times, they will call various agents and managers first to see what actors they have for the particular roles...

auditioning for a commercial may only take one day...for a feature film, from several days to several weeks or even more...

remember...casting directors are your child's friend! so are associate casting directors or the office assistants! they are the casting director's of the future! in this field, people tend to have long memories...treat everyone with respect...you never know who will end up giving your child their next job!

have a great day...send a thank you card to some nice casting director~
hugs and out~

the REAL secret of show business!

2006-07-18T21:34:00.000-07:00

are you ready? are you sitting down? do you want the absolute, amazing, totally unreal, blockbuster secret of show business? here it is>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
if the truth be told, NO ONE can predict what will be the next major film hit or which TV show will snag the highest ratings...nobody! now are there predictors? sure...you don't have to be einstein to know that after "survivor" became a hit, that more reality shows were to follow...many of them as big or bigger than 'survivor' was...

and every year, some unknown actor/actress or director breaks out and becomes the next hot property...just consider this...
5 years ago, would you have known who steve carell was? how about most of the actresses on "desperate housewives" before that show became a runaway hit? right! now you're getting it...

and sometimes, a film will take off (i.e "my big fat greek wedding") and become a sleeper hit when it had an amazingly low budget and was produced by an independent film company...

so know this...we are all in the same boat...of course, there are those that are at the tip of the boat and can see further than we can...and those that are now in rowing positions and you or your child are not...but that can change in the twinkling of an eye! that's what's so amazing about the business of acting!

just know this...the actor rejected today may very well turn out to be the superstar of tomorrow!!!

now don't you feel better???

have a comfy, happy day...
hugs and out~

how show business (and the business of acting) REALLY works...

2006-07-17T09:18:00.000-07:00

so you’ve read and read everything there is to know about acting, and you STILL don’t know how it all really works…people talk to you like you’ve been an actor for years…or some people think that you know what you’re doing, when secretly, you’re just following the crowd…LOL – join the club! everyone is somewhere in this business, and there’s no one that has ceased to learn! everyday this crazy acting biz holds something new or someone new to meet…but how does it all begin? where does it all come from?

today, i’m going to give you a quick overview of how the business of acting works!

show business came out of an idea…an idea to create, develop and produce the best shows that people will want to watch in theatres (live and film) and on TV…and this all involved TONS of money…millions of dollars…and the producer’s necks are on the line for this moola…hence, their reluctance to cast “unkown” actors in these roles no matter how talented you or your child is! sorry for the reality check, but it is the truth…

are there exceptions to that? you bet your bootie there are! i.e. just recently, nicole blonsky was cast as the lead in “hairspray”…yep, right along side of john Travolta (hubba hubba) and queen latifah, billy crystal and michelle pfeiffer! and not one professional film credit to her name!!! so for all of you who feel it doesn’t happen ever…there is yet ANOTHER example of “when it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be”…(check it out on imdb.com)…okay, point made…case closed!

but, even though that does happen, producers are very skeptical about resting an entire project on the talent of someone that has not been proven…hence, the daily, weekly, monthly and yearly struggle of the actor who climbs the “ladder to stardom” at a snail’s pace…but honestly, if you were holding the purse strings, wouldn’t you do the same thing?

okay, so now you know…it’s really all about money…if you think anything else, you are sadly deceiving yourself…so when you are at the point where people believe that you will make them money, you will get an agent, you will begin booking substantial roles and then you are on your way!

but show business and the business of acting is really living in a world of dreams…everyone has an idea…everyone has a dream…ideas are one piece of sand on a mile long beach…everyone has the next great hit and everyone is going to win an academy award for their screenplay…if the truth be told, most won’t but SOME will…again, i choose to look at the “some”…and you need to believe you’re part of that also!

so a writer has a story…someone loves it…they purchase the option to that story which is a guarantee that no one else can work with the people who sold you their story…options usually last for a limited amount of time…maybe one year…maybe two years…if after that period of time, the person holding the option has not produced the piece, then they can renew the option or let it expire…

after the work is sold to a studio or production company, the next step is to produce the script…p.s…in walks a “producer”…producing a script involves several people and processes:

hiring a director – the producer does this and these two more than likely work together in hiring the rest of the cast and crew.
polishing the script – scriptwriters write and rewrite and rewrite…at this point, the final script must be written in order to begin pre-production.
scouting locations to film: this is when the producer and others scout out locations to produce their film, preferably as cheaply as they can.
setting a rehearsal schedule: exactly what it says
setting a budget: the producer is responsible for this and he/she will estimate the cost of the production…this includes shooting locations, actors’ salaries, catering, travel and lodging, costumes and props, special effects and on and on and on…
pre-production re: casting – producer/director hire casting people to begin the process of finding actors that can play the roles in the film…and at as cheap a cost as possible…this will include casting the “star actors” of the film (if there are any) all the way down to those that have one line and atmosphere or “extra actors”…

okay…enough…i’m throwing too much at you for one day…this is getting too long…
i will continue this manana…(hey i’m learning Spanish!)…

have a wonderfully creative day…ola!
hugs and out~

acting terms you HAVE to know!

2006-07-16T08:55:00.000-07:00

i probably should have posted this first...but hey, i'm only human and i blow it at well as the next guy *smirk*...so, better late than never...now you and/or your child can feel like they have a grip on what means what when they book a job!

A.D. The Assistant Director in a film or theater production.

AEA Actor's Equity Union:- Equity negotiates wage and working conditions, administers contracts, and enforces provisions of various agreements with theatrical employers across the country.

Actor: A person who plays characters in film, theater or television projects. Actors get paid to play other people for the purpose of entertainment.

Audition: An audition is where you will go to try out (read) to get a part in a film, television or theater project. Actors read from the script or side, and the director or casting agent considers if they match up with a character in the project.

AFTRA: - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Nationally, AFTRA represents professional actors, news broadcasters and writers, announcers, vocalists, and others who work in the fields of television, radio, sound recordings, and industrial productions.

Agent: - An individual whose job is to represent an author's work to various publishers. Agents also negotiate contracts for their clients. The usual commission is around 10 to 15 percent of the advance/royalties acquired. Agents receive their payment as a percentage of what they make for you.

Backdrop: - Mostly used in studio photography. A backdrop can be one solid color or a theme matching the layout of the product or ad being created. i.e you are advertising perfume and the backdrop/background may be a rendering of Paris, France or a bedroom vanity scene.

Buy-out: - this a a one time payment or flat fee for a project that will not provide residuals. Residuals are payments talent receives each and every time a television commercial is shown. A buy out fee should be negotiated with this in mind and should be more than an hourly rate.

Callback: - this is a result of the audition you went on. They liked what they saw and want to see you again. This generally means you are in the running for the project. A callback is when they ask back specific people from the first audition to read again to make a decision to cast them for a part in their project. In L.A. many times they are called “Producer’s Sessions”.

Cap: - This indicates that an actor has completed his scene or a portion of a scene.

Character: - This is a type of person (profile) an actor is going to play. Characters are anything from a gangster to a business man, to a doctor or teacher in a film, photography shoot or television commercial project.

Cold read: - Cold reading is a term used by actors in theatre, television, film, and performance fields. A cold reading is a reading out loud from a script/side without any rehearsal or study in advance. This is generally required in auditions and casting calls.

Composite Card: - Comp Card. - A model or actors material with 3-5 photos of actor or model printed with their stats. These cards are used to market and submit to prospective clients, for auditions and casting calls. The most popular size is postcard, but others opt for the 1/2 by 11 size. All cards display a headshot and smaller shots that showing your versatility or characterization. Also referred to as zed cards.

Curtain call: - A term used in theatre where the performers come out on the stage at the conclusion of the performance for the audience to show their appreciation by clapping while the actors take a bow or two.

Cast:- The actors in a film, theater or television project.
Casting Agent: This is a person who sets up the calls and auditions for models, actors and extras to fill roles needed. They work for the director and producer of a project.

Casting Call: - A determined time and place is set up when a project is ready for talent. You will be given a script or side to read from for a part in the project or asked to submit photos and resumes for a callback.

Demo Reel: - This is a sample video tape (there are demo tapes for voiceover) of your previous work. Your demo real should display your versatility. When creating your demo, try and keep it short, up to 5 minutes of clips showing they many types of characters you can portray.

Dialogue:- The lines spoken by a character or characters in a film, theater production or television commercial, this is a conversation between two or more characters (actors).

Director: - Someone who supervises the actors and directs the action in the production of a show or project.

Extra: - A non-speaking part, background or atmosphere. Extra work is a terrific way to begin your education in the film industry and resume preparation. Extras are generally paid to hang around in the background of a scene to make the shot more realistic. Sometimes extras get singled out to perform more than just background, perhaps you may get a speaking part or more on camera time.

Feature: - A principal (full-length) film. This is generally a full-length feature film and is the professional project that actors are striving for. Pays good and is usually the type of film to be shown in theaters.

Headshot: - This is an 8x10 photo which is needed to submit with your resume to get into an audition or casting call. You need to maintain a current photo. Production personnel depend on photos to choose you for consideration. There is nothing more frustrating than picking a photo of a person for a specific character/model type and the actor/model looks nothing like their photo. When you change your look, you need to update your photos.

Method acting: - acting style in which the "true"( or "real") moment or response is performed. Actors try to feel and emulate the emotions of the character they are playing so that the actors' reactions and the characters' reactions would be as one.

Monologue: - where a character speaks alone; spoken by one person who exposes inner thoughts and provides insights into his or her character. a speech by one actor or performer directly addressing the audience or another character.

Open Call: is similar to a casting call but generally means anyone who fits the requirements for the project such as extras, bit players and even actors can attend regardless if they have agent representation.

Part:- This is a character; the portion of the script intended for a specific character in a television, film or theater project.

Pilot:- A test run of a first episode of a television series idea. A pilot is an idea for a show. Actors are assembled a pilot is shot and then the process of testing and selling the project begin.

Principle: - This is what most actors are striving for, a main character in a project. One with lines, on camera time and better salary. A major part of the film or project.

Producer:- Someone who finds financing for and supervises the making and presentation of a show (play or film or program or similar work)
Prop: - any movable articles or objects used on the set of a play, movie or photography layout. It is separate from scenery and costumes.

Rehearsal:- a practice session in preparation for a performance. In television, film and theater a , rehearsal can involve the director and other actors who are associated with the scenes or segments of a project. who will come ready.

Resume: You need to prepare a written copy of all modeling and acting experience or training you have completed. Keep in to one page. YOur resume outlines all the projects you have been involved in, the roles you played, the companies you have modeled for, the training you have and any skills or talent you have including dance, singing, sports or any talents other talents you think might be worth mentioning.

SAG: - Screen Actors Guild Foundation - Screen Actors Guild is the nation’s premier labor union representing actors. SAG represents nearly 120,000 actors in film, television, industrials, commercials and music videos. The Guild exists to enhance actors’ working conditions, compensation and benefits on behalf of artists. SAG is a affiliate of the AFL-CIO.

Screenwriter:- someone who writes screenplays. This is normally the person who wrote the script for the project you are auditioning for.

Sides: - Pages or scenes from a script, used in auditions or (if on a film set) those scenes being shot that day. Sides can be anywhere in length from a few lines to a number of pages depending on the part that is being casted. You will receive a side from the casting director or agent prior to the audition.

Tear Sheet: - Gather all the tear sheets you can. While you build your resume collect materials to enhance the package/portfolio with ads from publications you have appeared in. This gives the client more visual information about your performance skills.

Under Five – A role where the actor speaks “under five” lines.

there ya go! there are more, especially regarding direction and producing, but for the actor, these are the basics...now learn them! LOL

have a wicked great day...
hugs and out~

your agent...your best ally...

2006-07-15T13:55:00.000-07:00

if you've been in the biz for awhile now and your child has been acting, even in school or community theatre, you'll soon discover that you will come to a roadblock...there will be a ceiling on the auditions that you can get your child into...when you reach that point, you will need an agent...(but please understand, it's best to work on your own at the beginning b/c it will serve to build your child actor's resume)...

an agent can be crucial in finding your child actor those roles that only come out on breakdowns (the daily list of roles that casting directors post with the acting roles on it that they need to fill)...also, the obscure roles that only they know about b/c they are friends with the casting director or producer...agents also deal with contracts for the roles that your child books and they make sure you get paid on time and as much as possible...

get used to it...agents are here to stay and are our friends! i've heard many people moan and complain about their agent, and yes, some of the time that is warranted...i.e. if they don't submit your child...if there isn't any contact with you for months...if they don't pitch your child to casting people or try to get your child in to meet with casting directors on a general audition...THEN, there is cause to question them and decide if you and that agent are a good match...

many times, agents and parents just do not get along...agents are people...they have personalities and there are certain types of people that they like and don't like...the same for parents...
my daughter's agent is very high energy...very positive...loves communication...i am exactly the same way....so we get along like laurel and hardy, and during some of our meetings, you'd think that's who we were! LOL

those are the kind of agents you look for...those that you can be comfortable with...can enjoy working with...that your child really likes...i cannot stress this enough...if you and your child do not like your agent, it will be a VERY long year!
oh yeah, agent's contracts are for one year and usually renewable by them...meaning if they wish to renew, they have the right to...but also they have the right to drop you...

so how do you get an agent? basically the same as getting a manager...read the previous post and it will tell you what to do...but, of course, know that it's a numbers game...you may send out 20 submissions and only hear from 2 agents, or maybe not any...or maybe 10...it all depends on your child's look, resume and age and if they have a client just like them...

also, you can get an agent through showcases...i know that there are several acting schools in nyc and l.a. that showcase their kids to agents at the end of the acting class...i know of several people who got agents that way...

lastly, the infamous "referral"...which is a really good way to get an agent for your child actor...what that means is that you know someone who has an agent and they want to call that agent for you and tell them about your child...that is a very WARM lead and many times will end up with a contract...

whether we like it or not, getting an agent is a necessary step for anyone seriously interested in becoming a working actor...without them, you can only go so far...and yes, they are also in the business of making money...they take 10%...to me, that is such a small fee for what they do...i guess being a businesswoman for most of my life makes me realize that 1/10th of what is made is a small price to pay for the doors they open...

but remember, they JUST open the door...your child has to be ready to walk through it...they can get you the audition, but only your child actor can book the job...

tomorrow i'll blog about the many ways your kid can make money in this business...

have an awesomely successful day...
hugs and out~

they hold the keys...managers and agents...

2006-07-14T20:16:00.000-07:00

acting managers and acting agents...those words can resurrect all kinds of emotions -some good...some not so good! for me, that first word, manager, is a good one...well at least now anyway...and on that i will not expound! LOL
and also for us, the word agent is an awesome one...we believe we have one of the best...not only to like him as an agent, but as a person...ahhh...what more can you ask for? sorry...i digress...

what is a manager anyway? let me give you a proper definition: a talent manager, (personal manager), is someone who guides the career of actors in the entertainment business...the responsibility of the talent manager is to oversee the day to day business affairs of the actor... to advise and counsel talent about professional matters and personal decisions which may affect their career...for child actors, to help find a good headshot photographer...to steer their client toward good acting classes...to pitch your child to the powers that be...to secure an agent for your child if they don't already have one...to hold the hands of the moms and dads when their child is not dakota fanning after one year in the biz...

a good manager is worth every penny of the 15% off the gross of what your child makes...in some areas of the country, they seem to be more necessary than others, for example...

in nyc, where my daughter began her acting career, she started with a manager...why? because she didn't have any professional film/tv credits (but lots of theatre)and she started at a tough age...13! in los angeles, 13 is young...for some reason, 13 in nyc is not as young as l.a...don't ask me why, i don't have a clue...but in nyc, agents look for kids to be much younger in order to sign them and they want them to have some decent acting credits and acting training...so we signed with a manager who was very connected with great agents...so she free-lanced for the first year (which means we didn't legally sign with any one agent, but her manager used several who were interested in her and they would send her out on auditions but via her manager...capiche?)...especially for kids in the "black hole" (ages 14-17) this works very well...but in other areas of the country, this is not the norm...go figure...

re: signing with a manager...please beware of the error we made...we signed with the first manager that wanted our daughter as a client...read my lips DON'T DO THAT! LEARN THROUGH MY MISTAKE! that's one of the reasons i'm even doing this blog...this is what i know...people learn through two ways in their lives...through wisdom of others or through experience...do me a favor? learn through wisdom...you'll spare yourself much heartache, pain and financial loss...okay, again i digress...now back to our originally scheduled programming... *smirk*...

after we got by that manager (1 year down the proverbial toilet)...we found an awesome one...but we were much more careful this time around...not only did she interview us, but we interviewed her...here are some questions i asked her:

1. who are the agents that you work with?
2. how many clients do you represent?
3. how many of your clients are in my child's age range?
4. do you have anyone else her type?
5. how do you communicate with us? by phone...by email? are you a communicator, meaning, how often will we be in communication?
6. what do you expect from us?
7. how long is your contract? (3 years is standard...many connected mgrs. want 4 or more years...again, that's your call)
8. what percentage of your clients are working?
9. do you represent both children and adults?
10.about how long on the average do your clients stay with you?

there are many more questions that i'm sure you can think of...but those are the basics...but remember, test your gut! the ole "gut test" is what i go by with most everything in this business...if your gut says NO! listen to it...it will never lie...

tomorrow i will discuss agents...they are your ally, always remember that!

have a stinkin' great day!
hugs and out~

first steps into showbiz...i want to act!

2006-07-13T08:33:00.000-07:00

so happy you decided to stop here and read...obviously, with a name like "yo hollywood mom" you can see that i tried to find a name that would combine the east and west coasts...b/c when appropriate, i will differentiate between them...there can be many differences between the two!

so you’ve decided to take the plunge and let your precious son or daughter pursue this crazy business of acting! now what? well, let’s think together…hmmm…how did angelina jolie begin? what about tom cruise? hey, how about a huge, amazing actor like al pacino? maybe they just were born adult size and already famous! don't think so...

everyone began at the beginning...that is probably the single best thought we can have as parents of aspiring actors and actresses! everyone starts from the same spot...even if your parent is a star already and you can get into a film easier b/c of that...you still would have to prove yourself as an actor and a professional or you'll become the new "hollywood rag on person"...and who wants that? i think child actors probably have it worse than us nobodys...i mean, so much is expected of them...for the rest of us, our kids will get judged on their real talent, or *sigh* lack of it...

succeeding in acting takes dedication, persistence, perseverance and a good sense of humor...unless you or your child is an overnight success, (which much against popular opinion, rarely happens)you will need all of those character attributes, or you might as well save your time and money!

and of all of those, the most important thing, imho, is perseverance...by definition: to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement...

you can never rely on "get famous quick schemes" or on blind luck or fate to become successful...BUT there are many different ways that you can promote yourself, so that "the powers that be" will put you on their radar and possibly hire you or your child down the road...

but first things first...let's open that door to showbiz shall we? tomorrow's blog will cover your best friend...your agent and/or manager...

have a wonderfully successful day...
hugs and out~

the business of acting...i want to be a star!!!

2006-07-12T09:48:00.000-07:00

beeeeeeeeeppppppppp...that's a buzzer btw...first mistake...going into acting to become a star! surefire way to find alice's long, dark hole into wonderland...never living in the realities of this business...

okay…now you think i’m a pessimist! another beep! i’m as far from a pessimist as the east is from the west! in fact, you’ll soon discover that i am the ultimate “glass half full” person, even when it comes to the business of acting and dealing with actors, producers, directors, acting coaches…blah blah blah…

so your child wants to get into acting…they truly want to be an actor…not just walk the red carpet and wear gorgeous clothes…so what do you do first? you have a door that has to be opened…and it doesn’t slam open…it opens little by little…knowledge is cumulative…line upon line…precept upon precept…in fact, all of life is the same way…and acting really is part of life…

there are 2 sides to show business:

show – learning how to act…finding great acting classes (which we’ll cover that in the future…little by little, remember?)…getting an agent…getting auditions…booking a role…becoming famous XXfingerscrossedXX…
business – this is just what it says it is…a business…it is not family, friends or buddies…people are in this business to (a) express themselves creatively, but more importantly…(b) to make money…never forget this…if you do, you will get frustrated and never make it to the point that you or your child are ready to break into success…

gotta run…so sorry for leaving you hanging! but i’ll return soon to give you a quick peek into what you need to succeed as an actor…it will be an introduction into the wonderful world of show business!

have a blessed and prosperous day!

hugs and out~

to all actors and their parents! c'mon along for the ride!

2006-07-11T14:36:00.000-07:00

sometimes you just sit and think…and sometimes you look back on all of your years of knowledge in a specific area, in this case acting, and realize that maybe you should do something more formal…something that can really help people…something that can tell parents, “do this…don’t do this”…and everyone can learn from what you’ve been through…

well after being poked and prodded by many to do this…and having a professional child actor in the house, i’ve decided to do a blog that helps unveil the mysteries of getting into show business for those under 21…i would say 18, but to me that is not a magical number…especially if you are navigating this business with your child…then that just becomes another birthday…. on the other hand, if the 18 year old has left home and building their own career, then that puts a whole different spin on it…

please understand, i am not saying that i am the be all, end all for information in this crazy business…there are so many sites that have helped me and so many others steer through the sometimes muddy waters of this biz…and so many forums that moms and dads can share and find awesome answers…i’m just throwing my hat into the ring, especially having lived on both coasts…hoping to be part of the solution…

so hop on…come and visit often…hopefully i can take the 20+ years in this business and turn it into something that can help everyone…and even remind me of what i already know…

enjoy…
hugs and out~