During the last few weeks, I’ve overheard some folks misusing terminology, so I thought I would offer an informal glossary for all to reference.
agent: an individual who, through contractual agreement, is empowered to act on behalf of another such as an actor, singer, dancer, writer or other talent, and who coordinates auditions, call backs and meetings with casting directors, producers and production companies, serving as a representative on the part of the individual signed to the contract. The agent often collects a percentage of the earnings of the individuals whom they represent.
casting director: the person responsible for identifying and selecting actors, singers, dancers or others for roles in a film, play, television show, commercial, or other production. S/he is typically hired by a producer and/or production company to conduct auditions of talented individuals and suggest or appoint people for those roles to be filled.
casting agency: a company, often a collection of individuals, that specializes in identifying people with specific talents in various fields, including … Read more »
It doesn’t happen often that I have an opportunity to audition in an accent or language other than straight-up-neutral-American. However, I was pleasantly surprised to have an almost-last-minute invitation to an audition requesting an accent I actually know and perform well. (Unlike those auditions at which I am instructed to put-on an accent I do not know, cannot perform, and which remains unlisted on my résumé for good reason.)
The audition being almost-last-minute, immediately I got underway with preparations. It was evident which character I should prepare, so coordinating the various physical accoutrements was simple. However, it being awhile since I’d used the accent in question, I knew I needed to hit the books, as it were, hard. I began by reciting everything in sight. Bills. The label on my wood furniture polish. Magazine blurbs. Any commercial text I heard. And the instructions of the pasta recipe I made for dinner. One of the most important aspects of acting with an accent (besides producing … Read more »
A couple of weeks ago I was called to audition for a new web series. The concept was interesting and I was immediately engaged by the script and the character–she and the scene simply sprang to life in my mind. It took no time for me to assemble her wardrobe and and characteristics. The morning of the audition, I ran through my mental checklist.
Headshot and resume? Check.
Sides? Check.
Wardrobe to change into? Check.
Address? Check.
Pen? Check.
I was ready. As I always try to do, I arrived early. I took a quick two minutes to change into the wardrobe I had prepared, powdered my nose and returned to the waiting room to review my lines. Soon thereafter I was called into an office by the casting director wherein sat a handful of people. After my first read, I was given some direction and asked to read again. I set down my … Read more »
It’s a new year (and a new decade!) and I am prepared to admit that I have fallen into a blog slump. I became so busy in December and January with performances and auditions that I didn’t have time to blog (or didn’t make time to blog?) which defeats the purpose of even having or maintaining a blog. And, in recent weeks, I’ve been completely lacking the motivation to blog despite the seven blog drafts I have stored. So, I begin anew! To propel myself out of these blog doldrums, I’d like to comment on a remark my good friend, unbelievably talented voice over artist and author Mo Lotman, made.
Mo remarked of my blog that it “might not serve you well in terms of branding yourself as a ‘professional auditionee’. To me that implies that you don’t actually get parts and also that you don’t already have a career as an actress, which you do…” … Read more »
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