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Make Casting Work For You by Hester Schell
To-do Lists are at the center of any filmmaking process. illo: H. Schell
HOW's YOUR PILOT SEASON PROJECT coming? Are you excited about the actors you’ve booked so far? Will they get your story to jump off the page?
“No!” you say, pushing back from your laptop and shaking your hands above your head.
“There are too many submissions," you shout. "It looks like they haven’t read the breakdown.” Time to log out and go home.
Booking exceptional, exciting actors is essential to any film/video project’s success.
You say you can’t afford a name? You can’t afford a casting director? That means you won’t have access to agents, and on and on into “I can’t-do-it-that-way thinking.”
Besides, you’re independent and you want to do it yourself, discover someone new, give a hard working, up and coming actor a break.
Get used to it: Submissions from actors completely wrong for the part. It’s annoying and can leave you wondering, “Don’t actors read the breakdown?”
After all you were clear: The role required advanced martial arts, or topless female nudity, or fire twirling or whatever the special skill you need might be.
But there you are, sifting through headshots and reel submissions of actors who have never taken any kind of martial arts classes, let alone done an action sequences in a flying harness in front of a green screen.
Cover of Hester Schell's book, 'Casting Revealed' (2012). photo: H. Schell
Didn’t they get the memo? Well, no one reads much of anything any more (thanks for reading this, by the way.)
I am here to help. I know what it is like. It is frustrating and a waste of valuable time when actors submit for what they can’t possibly handle.
Solution: Write a better casting breakdown.
Be sure your character descriptions are exceptionally clear. Get selective with your adjectives. Include a header, such as, "Only submit if you have THIS skill" (bold and underlining optional). Or: "Only actors who follow directions will be considered." Not to mention: "Please include link to reel. DO NOT send footage files. NO exceptions."
Or: "Please read the character description and submission details," and "Let us hear from you only if you think you are a PERFECT fit."
But actors are hungry souls and you’ll still get submissions which will leave you scratching your head and thinking “They've gotta be kidding me.”
Here’s another way to look at it: If an actor can’t follow submission instructions and procedures, do you want them on your set? You’ve worked really hard to get this far. You don’t want jeopardize your production with ill-prepared or inexperienced actors.
On the other hand, to make your "Copy/credit/meals project" more enticing to more experienced actors, include special perks. For example: "We will provide driver to and from locations." It’s a great extra and will guarantee on-time butts in the make-up chair.
Next: Get moving on scheduling your first round of readings. Let’s get back to your in-box of actor submissions and get it sorted out. Take your pick: A) too many, B) hardly anyone is right, C) too few for something very particular, or D) you didn’t get enough submissions
Of course, you still think you can’t go to an agent or casting director because of your super low-budget. While there are ways around that, you probably need to move forward more quickly than what’s going to happen if you start involving agents.
Solutions: Start earlier. Take the time to watch reels only if you like the look in the headshot. If you don’t, move on. Trust your instincts and first impression response to the headshot. After all, you know it when you see it, right?
Here’s hoping you have too many actor submissions to weed through, not a bad problem to have: Better too many than too few, right?
Come back later to your initial reject pile, if you have to. Repost with more specifics, if you need more submissions for a role. Look into larger markets. Offer more money for a particular skill. Post to your groups on LinkedIN and ask for referrals.
There’s not much to be done about all the actors who are totally wrong for the role, yet submit anyway. As long as your announcement is out there getting full coverage on the standard professional level web sites, you’re going to get everything the cat drags in. Somewhere in there, however, just might be the Golden Girl, the next “It” kid.
In defense of actors who just want to get your attention: Even though they’ve never been on a horse before, they could learn really quickly. Unfortunately, they’re on the losing end of the industry. There are just too many of them. Supply and demand. Have compassion and move on.
Try your best to be polite and move them to the rejection folder for review later, if needed. Always consider the actor with the specific athletic or martial arts experience, or specific stunts, over their looks. Hair, make-up and wardrobe can make anyone look better.
Concentrate on the actors who do follow your submission guidelines: Where to send headshot and resume and a link to online footage.
Remind them you’ve seen their reel and feel it might be a fit. Bring them in for a reading. Be friendly and available to answer any questions they might have about the audition. Establish your communication style early on. Be open and available. Never stop looking for eager new actors.
Now, how about that summer project? The time to start casting for summer was in February! Early bird gets the worm, as they say.
For more casting tips see my book: "Casting Revealed: A Guide for Film Directors," from Michael Wiese Productions. A comprehensive look at industry standards and procedures, it will help you do it yourself and find exceptional, exciting actors to launch your story.
A Bay Area Casting Director and teacher, Hester Schell is the author of 'Casting Revealed'; find her on IMDb, LinkedIN and at her own site.