Monday Myth Debunkers: Not Booking Means You’re Not Doing Great Work.
We always say bookings, pins and callbacks should be taken as positive feedbackโthat your hard work is paying off and getting noticed. โ โ But what if youโre not booking. And not getting pinned. And not even getting called back?โ โ Are you doing something wrong?โ โ ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ค๐ฆ๐ด๐ด๐ข๐ณ๐ช๐ญ๐บ.โ โ First, donโt…
Terminology Tuesday: One-Liner
Alright folks, itโs topic we love to hate. โ โ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ฃ๐-๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐ง๐จ.โ โ Or any co-star audition for that matter where you run the risk of overthinking it and letting it keep you up at night. โ โ One-liners (or any audition for that matter) should not keep you up at…
Monday Myth Debunkers – Two Takes Are Better Than One.
When in doubt, send 2 takes, right?โ โ Weโve covered this topic before but it felt time for a little refresh โจโ โ To start off, you should always default to the instructions given to you by the casting office. โ โ If they ask for 2 takes, give them 2 takes….
Terminology Tuesday: Audit
So youโve finally started the journey of finding your next acting class.โ โ ๐ฝ๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ค ๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฎ ๐ค๐ฅ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐จ. And it can feel overwhelming. โ โ Especially when thereโs such a significant financial and time commitment. โ โ You want to make sure you are choosing the right ๐ต๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ for ๐๐ผ๐.โ โ Some…
Monday Myth Debunkers: We Don’t Watch Every Self Tape.
๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒโ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฐ๐ผ๐ผ๐ฝ:โ โ Are you sending your self tapes out into the ether?โ โ Are we actually watching ๐ฆ๐ข๐ค๐ฉ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ๐บ self tape we request?โ โ Letโs re-frame this question in order to better answer it:โ โ Would we be requesting tapes we have no interest in watching?โ โ Our answer…
Monday Myth Debunkers: CDs Only Remember Your Old Reels.
Weโve heard a few actors have this concern before, so we thought weโd start the week off by busting this myth! โ โ Have you ever worried that youโve had a certain reel up for so long, that when you go to update it, no one will notice?โ โ Letโs run through…
Terminology Tuesday: Actors Access
Actorโs Access, Casting Networks, Breakdown Express, Cast It, LA Casting, Backstage, Casting Frontierโฆโ โ So many casting programs, so little time!โ โ ๐ป๐๐โ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐?โ โ Actorโs Access and Breakdown Express are both services that are part of the parent company, Breakdown Services….
Monday Myth Debunkers: If the Self Tape Deadline Gets Pushed…
Oh the dreaded deadline pushโฆโ โ Just when you think itโs another audition โ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐ฅ, casting has pushed their deadline. โ โ But youโve already turned in your tape. And you think youโve done a pretty good job, if you donโt say so yourself. โ โ ๐๐ค, ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ’๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก?โ โ …
Terminology Tuesday: SAG Eligible
Hard to believe we havenโt covered this term yet!โ โ What exactly does it mean to be SAG-Eligible and how can you obtain that status?โ โ Becoming a SAG Eligible actor (aka SAG-e) means you’ve met SAG-AFTRA’s minimum requirements to join and are now qualified to become a member whenever you’re ready….
Monday Myth Debunkers: You Need to Give Yourself Somewhere to Go.
Ok, hear us out with this one. โ โ How many times has an acting coach, teacher or even casting director given you the direction of โyou need to give yourself somewhere to go.โโ โ Meaningโyouโve started out at such a heightened emotion, that the scene wonโt be able to have any…
Monday Myth Debunkers: You’re Not Ready For a Real Acting Job.
Oh, ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ค๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฃ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข๐. Why do you always show up to a party you were never invited to? Double-tap if youโve ever felt the โIโm not ready for thisโ scaries. ๐ฌ๐ผ๐โ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ. But member that word we say over and over again around here? Yeah, itโs about ๐๐ฟ๐๐๐ again. Itโs easy to…
Terminology Tuesday: In The Mix
If youโve heard these words before but havenโt been exactly sure *what* it means, read onโฆ Being in the mix in itself is a pretty generalized term. Essentially, it means you are being considered for the role and are likely part of a narrowed down short list. That short list could be…
Monday Myth Debunker: You Can’t Afford to Take a Day Off.
Ringing in the week with one of the biggest myths we could possibly debunk #readonโ โ Double-tap if you often feel guilty for taking a day off (whether itโs taking a day off from self submitting, reading the trades, a script youโre supposed to be working on etc.)โ โ This is a…
Monday Myth Debunkers: Always Send Multiple Takes.
Oh the dreaded takesโฆโ โ When in doubt, send 2, right?โ โ It mays seem like the practical choice, but for us, that potentially means DOUBLE the self tapes we had originally signed up for. โ โ The silver lining to virtual casting is the ability to read/meet more actors than we…
Monday Myth Debunkers: If Your Role Has Been Cut…
And rememberโฆ this is a Monday MYTH Debunker ๐ So weโre calling bluff on not putting earned roles on your resume!โ โ There are (2) different situations at hand here. โ โ 1. You auditioned for the role, booked the role, shot the role and the role was left on the cutting…
Terminology Tuesday: Holding Fee
During pilot season, we believe any day can be Tuesday ;)โ โ And since weโre drawing a close on pilot season, we thought weโd dive into the explanation of what a holding fee is. โ โ A holding fee can mean a couple of different things whether the project is a commercial…
Monday Myth Debunkers: Your Self Tape Needs to be Perfect.
You flubbed a line. Your reader didnโt pick up that cue fast enough. Your dog barked. โ โ ๐๐ฆ๐ญ๐ง ๐ต๐ข๐ฑ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ช๐ด ๐ต๐ณ๐ช๐ค๐ฌ๐บ.โ โ And we know that. โ โ This is your reminder that we are not looking for perfection. โ โ In fact, weโve never sought perfection!โ โ And thatโs because…
Monday Myth Debunkers: If You Don’t Get a Redirect…
That moment when youโve finished the audition and youโre doing calculus in your head to try and figure out what the CD meant by, โThat was great, we donโt need to do it again.โ ๐งฎโ๐ง๐ญโ โ And the ruminating thoughts that follow and even haunt you?โ โ We get it. โ โ …
Monday Myth Debunkers: Your Self Tape is a Short Film.
Pilot season has us like ๐ตโ๐ซ so please excuse todayโs ๐๐ฆ๐ฅ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฅ๐ข๐บ Myth Debunker.โ โ Weโre coming in with a hot myth today ๐ฅโ โ Music, sound effects, title cards, setsโmake your self tape stand out as much as possible, right?โ โ ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซโ โ ๐๐ก๐๐๐จ๐ ๐๐ค๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐๐ค ๐๐ฃ๐ฎ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐จ.โ โ While…
Terminology Tuesday: Cross-Boarding
You may not know (or even need to know) what cross-boarding is but as we say a lot over here, #๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐๐ธ๐ป๐ผ๐, the better. โ โ Cross-boarding is a term that TV productions use when they plan to shoot two or three different episodes at the same time. โ โ This method is…
Monday Myth Debunkers: Having IMDB Credits Other Than Acting…
Have you ever had this thought or heard someone say it before?โ โ Weโve been surprised to hear how many actors are concerned about this.โ โ The very cool thing about our industry (other than creating intricate worlds and complex characters), is that a lot of us are multihyphenates.โ โ How many…
Terminology Tuesday: Photo Approval
Once you get into some bigger, fancier deals as an actor (and you will!), among some of the fun things your agent will get to negotiate for you is photo approval. โ โ Photo approval, or sometimes called “likeness approval,โ is the amount of input an actor is able to give for…
Monday Myth Debunkers: It’s Harder to Book Off Tape vs. In Person
Here are just a few of the concerns weโve heard from actors during the overall shift from in-person auditioning to self taping:โ โ โWe canโt connect with anyone in the room anymore.โโ โ โThey no longer get a sense of my personality.โโ โ โThey don’t get a feel for my energy.โโ โ …
Monday Myth Debunkers: All CDs Share the Same Opinions.
๐๐๐๐จ ๐ข๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐๐๐๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐ข๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ ๐๐๐๐ช๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ง ๐ค๐ ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐.โ โ You may have not thought of it this way, but casting is an art. โ โ It requires a certain taste and appreciation for storytelling. โ โ ๐ธ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ฅ๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ค ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฃ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐.โ โ The casting process certainly has…
Terminology Tuesday: Pilot Season
Itโs official! Pilot season isโฆ ๐๐๐๐!โ โ Anyone feeling it yet?โ โ Pilot Season is the time between January and April when networks are casting for and shooting pilots (the initial episode of a series) as a test run for the show. โ โ Traditionally, shows begin to air in the fall,…
Monday Myth Debunkers: You Need to be Wealthy…
Acting Classes, Headshots, Casting Site Memberships, Dues, Coaching, Personal upkeepโฆโ โ Acting can feel expensive. โ โ Hereโs the tea โ๏ธโ โ Just like any professional career: medicine, law, teaching, IT, engineering, real estate, beauty etc., there is a level of initial investment for education and a certain amount of materials to…
Monday Myth Debunkers: You’re Too Good for Co-Star Work.
Letโs start off the new year with a myth we hear allll the time. โ โ We get it, you want to hop the fence and skip to the good part. โ โ But doing co-star work is actually an incredibly valuable (and important) step in your #actorjourneyโ โ Once youโre thrown…
Terminology Tuesday: Day Player
What is the difference between a day player and a co-star role?โ โ Well, nothing really. โ โ A co-star refers to the ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ of the role. A day player refers to the type of ๐๐ข๐ก๐ง๐ฅ๐๐๐ง. โ โ ๐ธ๐๐ ๐๐๐ช ๐ก๐๐๐ช๐๐ฃ๐ค (๐๐ ๐ก๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐) ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ -๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ค ๐๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ -๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ค ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ช ๐ก๐๐๐ช๐๐ฃ๐ค.โ …
Monday Myth Debunkers: A Self Tape Extension Means…
So the holidays have a us a little behind. Weโre switching things up and coming in with a TUESDAY Myth Debunker. We promise itโll be a good one ๐โ โ Double-tap if youโve ever gotten a cmail notification only to be let down by another pesky self tape extension notice. โ โ …
Monday Myth Debunkers: In Order to Succeed…
This might be our biggest myth of all. โ โ But first, here are a few things we donโt want you to be confused about:โ โ YES, the time and energy you put into your career will yield more favorable resultsโ โ YES, you should make the things that are important to…
Terminology Tuesday: Submission Notes
Submission notes are a feature that AA/BD offers that allows both actors and reps to include a note to casting when submitting yourself to a project. โ โ Seems like a great opportunity to make your submission stand out or communicate with casting, right?โ โ Maybeโฆ ๐ฎ๐ข๐บ๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต.โ โ Sometimes an office…
Monday Myth Debunkers: Casting Directors Don’t Watch Every Self Tape.
Sometimes turning in a self tape can feel like your hard work is going into a black hole. โ โ ๐๐ค ๐๐ฅ?โ โ If the tape was actually requested and is turned in on time, the chances of it being watched are VERY high. โ โ However, the main difference between self-taping…
Monday Myth Debunkers: You Must Follow the Rules.
Donโt be fooledโas CDs, we love love ๐๐๐๐ when actors follow each and every bit of direction we give them. โ โ What weโre talking about today are the unspoken rules of casting. โ โ You knowโฆ the ones in the official Casting Rules For Actors Handbook. โ โ Never heard of…
Terminology Tuesday: Cast-Contingent
Have you heard todayโs #terminologytuesday before?โ โ If youโre in casting, youโve probably heard this term more times than youโd like.โ โ Cast-contingent means that the green light by a studio or production company for a project is dependent on which actor(s) are attached. โ โ A cast-continent order can be made…
Monday Myth Debunkers: The Shorter the Reel the Better.
Alright folks, buckle up for this one.โ โ Double-tap if youโve ever heard this (very made-up) statement. โ โ This โruleโ might have been accompanied with something like โbecause CDs donโt have time to watch long reels.โโ โ This is true!โ โ Do you know what else is true?โ โ We also…
Terminology Tuesday: Station 12
Double-tap if the first time you heard โStation 12,โ you thought it was just another Neill Blomkamp post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie. โ โ โฆonly us?โ โ ๐๐ช๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ. โ โ Station 12 refers to the report that a casting office must fill out and obtain from SAG before an actor begins their work on…
Monday Myth Debunkers: Your Acting Career Needs a Deadline.
Thanksgiving is almost here which means so is the dreaded question: โhowโs acting going?โ โ โ But really, have you tried aunt Kateโs advice of submitting your resume to Warner Brothers? ;)โ โ We feel you.โ โ But before you decide itโs time to hang up your acting hat, consider a few…
Monday Myth Debunkers: You Need a Theatre Degree.
๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐.โ โ Getting a theatre degree or going through a BFA/MFA program can be an incredibly rewarding and educational experience. โ โ ๐น๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐๐ฅโ๐ค ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐ ๐ฅ ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ฃ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ.โ โ In fact, majoring in something else can sometimes be even more fruitful for an acting career. โ …
Monday Myth Debunkers: There Are Too Many Actors.
Double-tap if youโve ever heard the amount of submissions a CD gets only for it to cause your stomach to churn. โ โ ๐๐ฅโ๐ค ๐ ๐๐ ๐ฅ.โ โ And understandably, numbers can sound overwhelming and even make you feel small. โ โ So letโs talk about different numbers today.โ โ Letโs talk about…
Terminology Tuesday: Beat
Keep reading if youโre looking for some fresh beatsโฆโ โ #castingjokesโ โ A beat is a moment in the script that propels the characterโs story forward. โ โ Each scene may be comprised of several different beats. Some beats are subtle, while others are obvious.โ โ There are hundreds of beats within…
Monday Myth Debunkers: Attitude is Irrelevant.
Dear sweet, passionate, talented actors, letโs have a chat ๐ฟโ โ Put your feet up, fill up your mugโwe hope youโll stay until the end. โ โ ๐๐๐ฉโ๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ง๐๐๐ก๐ก๐ฎ ๐ข๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ง๐ฎ.โ โ Having undeniable talent, working hard at your craft, constantly training and learning new…
Terminology Tuesday: Breakdown Services
To piggyback on yesterday’s Monday #mythdebunker, letโs dive a little deeper into all things Breakdown Services. โ โ Breakdown Services and Actorโs Access are part of the same company. โ โ Breakdown Services is what casting directors use to distribute film/TV breakdowns and how we receive actor submissions from agents and managers….
Monday Myth Debunkers: You Need A Website.
This might be one of our top 10 biggest questions:โ โ โ๐๐ฐ ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ข ๐ธ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ด๐ช๐ต๐ฆ?โโ โ The TLDR version? ๐ก๐ผ, ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐ป๐ผ๐.โ โ Remember: you are (probably) already paying for an acting website that houses all of your materials (Actorโs Access). โ โ And we are primarily going to be…
Terminology Tuesday: ULB (Ultra Low Budget)
For the next few #terminologytuesdays we thought weโd do a SAG theatrical film agreement series. โ โ SAG-AFTRA low budget agreements were created with input from filmmakers and actors to make it even easier to hire professional performers in lower budgeted films. โ โ There are 4 main theatrical film contracts under…
Terminology Tuesday: Dummy Sides
You may not realize it, but you could be auditioning with โdummyโ sides. โ โ Dummy sides are sides that are ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ part of the film script or episode. โ โ They could be sides from another previously aired film/TV showโthey could be sides written by one of the writers specifically for…
Terminology Tuesday: Background
A background actor is someone who performs in a nonspeaking role, usually in the background. Background actors (BG) help make movies, TV shows, and other productions look and feel more authentic. โ โ Doing BG can give you a unique opportunity to see behind the scenes on a variety of productions. In…
Monday Myth Debunkers: You Must Follow the Rules of the Business.
Listen upโtodayโs #mondaymythdebunker is an important one:โ โ The notion of โfollowing rulesโ isnโt to be confused with following the directions that casting gives you for an audition or self tape:โ โ Please always, always, ๐ข๐ญ๐ธ๐ข๐บ๐ด READ everything and follow those directions to a tee. โ โ What weโre referring to is…
Terminology Tuesday: Taft Hartley
What exactly does โTaft Hartleyโ mean and how do you jump on the coveted bandwagon? Grab some popcorn, ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆโ๐ด ๐ข ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ต๐ฐ ๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ๐ณโฆโ โ Once you book your first union job, the producer or CD will need to draft up Taft-Hartley report. You might have heard this referred to as โbeing…
Monday Myth Debunkers: We Need to Know Acting is Your #1 Focus.
Letโs call this one exactly what it isโฆโ โ A big. Fat. ๐ ๐ฌ๐ง๐. โ โ Weโve said it before and weโll say it again, we want you to be human first and actor second. โ โ For many of you, acting comes 4th or 5th in your life. โ โ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ’๐จ…
Monday Myth Debunkers: You Need to Give Them the Take They Are Looking For.
Letโs start of by asking this:โ โ ๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ ๐โ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ ๐จ ๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐จ๐โ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ?โ โ Thatโs not to be confused with the notion that doing the work, having strong text analysis skills and using the information we give you to make smart choices is NOT the way to go. โ …
Terminology Tuesday: Nudity Rider
A nudity rider, or โnudity clauseโ, is a contract between an actor and production that defines what will happen on set while filming nude, intimate, simulated sex, or simulated sexual assault scenes. It might also be called a nudity waiver, simulated sex act rider, simulated sex waiver, intimate scene rider, or proposed…
Monday Myth Debunkers: We Need to See the Types of Characters You Can Play.
When crafting your reel, what criteria comes to mind?โ โ Showing us the best of the best, most likely, and also making sure youโre showing enough range. โ โ But what exactly do we mean by โrange?โโ โ A range of characters? Range of emotion?โ โ We sort of mean both. The…
Terminology Tuesday: Episodic Season
Itโs August!โ โ It’s a great time for actors to start focusing on getting their start in TV. Whereas pilot season can be a bit more competitive, episodic season is most likely when youโll be going in for (and booking!) that first co-star role. traditionally meansโฆ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐ช ๐๐ก๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ค๐ ๐!!!โ โ Once pilots…
Monday Myth Debunkers: Breakdowns Don’t Matter.
สแดแดก แดแดแดส แด แด สสแดแดแดแด แดแดกษด๊ฑ แดแดแดแดแดสสส แดแดแดแดแดส?โ โ Before we release a breakdown, we always have a thorough, in-depth discussion with the creative team in order to narrow down certain traits as we go through a sea of thousands of submissions. We try to get as specific as possible in the discussion (even…
Terminology Tuesday: Imposter Syndrome
Double-tap if youโve heard of or even struggle with imposter syndrome. โ โ Imposter syndrome (IS) is the idea that youโve only succeeded due to luck, and not because of your talent or qualifications. Itโs usually characterized by chronic feelings of inadequacy, incompetence, and fraudulence. โ โ It can feel hard to…
Terminology Tuesday: Guest Star
Hard to believe we havenโt covered this term yet but letโs get right to it:โ โ A guest star is the term used to describe the type and size of a role in episodic television. โ โ Typically, a guest star will perform in multiple scenes and have a character arc in…
Monday Myth Debunkers: You Need A Stage Name.
Do you NEED a stage name? SHOULD you change your name?โ โ Does your name correlate with the auditions you get and jobs you book?โ โ For the most part, weโd say the answer is a resounding โNOโ to most of theseโฆโ โ With one exception. โ โ The only time you…
Terminology Tuesday: Shifting Eyes
Double-tap if youโve ever heard the term โshifting eyesโ or โdarting eyesโ in acting. โ โ To clarify: weโre talking about the acting choice (not any sort of medical condition).โ โ What is this, why do actors do it, and is this the missing piece to booking every dramatic role you go…
Monday Myth Debunkers: You Have to Keep Them Entertained.
Actors: Letโs talk about the constant struggle to stay authentic and present while being cluttered by thoughts of keeping us โentertained.โโ โ We hear a lot of:โ โ โI know they watch so many tapes, I donโt want to bore them.โโ โ โYou have to grab them within the first few seconds.โโ …
Terminology Tuesday: Given Circumstances
If youโre wondering what we mean by โdo the workโ โ one of the most important aspects is understanding and breaking down your given circumstances. โ โ The term โgiven circumstancesโ refers to the โwho, where, what, when, why, and howโ of your character:โ โ ๐ญ ๐ช๐ต๐ผ are you? (Name, age, physical…
Monday Myth Debunkers: Self Tapes Don’t Belong in Your Reel.
Buckle up for this one folks… because we feel strongly that this is nothing but a grade-A #myth. First of all, regardless of what anyone tells you, there are no rules when it comes to your demo reel. CSA and SAG-AFTRA do NOT have a set rules as to what can and…
Monday Myth Debunkers: The More Agents, The Better.
Todayโs #MondayMythDebunker specifically refers to theatrical agents in the same (smaller) market, as theatrical agents in bigger markets like LA & NY most likely will practice exclusivity for their clients. โ โ More is better, right?โ โ As with most things in this industryโ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ค๐ฆ๐ด๐ด๐ข๐ณ๐ช๐ญ๐บ. โ โ YES, many agencies in smaller…
Terminology Tuesday: Intimacy Coordinator
Double-tap if youโve heard todayโs term before. โ โ The role of the intimacy coordinator is to support the actor in any intimate action on set, such as contact kissing, physical touch, and simulated sex. They often plan, choreograph and liaise with actors and the production team to ensure that those in…
Terminology Tuesday: Upfronts
Upfronts just ended so we thought this would be a good time to answer the questionโฆ what the heck are upfronts?!โ โ Upfronts are annual TV presentations that usually take place in New York (however thanks to dear old Covid, theyโve been virtual the last 2 years). โ โ They are put…
Monday Myth Debunker – The Production Value in a Self Tape isn’t Important.
Buckle up, todayโs #mondaymythdebunker is a controversial one! Member the good old days when youโd walk into a casting office and the room was equipped with everything needed to achieve the perfectly recorded tape? Well (currently) weโve traded in-person auditioning with self taping/virtual casting so in a sense, weโve passed the producing…
Monday Myth Debunkers: An Unsolicited Self Tape is Better Than Nothing.
โฆis it though? ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐ฅ๐ฐ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฌ?โ โ An unsolicited self tape refers to a self-taped audition that is submitted to a casting office without that office actually requesting one. โ โ How do actors even get the information for an unsolicited self tape?โ โ A couple of different ways. But usually…
Terminology Tuesday: Featured
There can sometimes be confusion around the term โfeaturedโ โ especially when the word can be used in different scenarios. โ โ We see a lot of โfeaturedโ roles on resumes and we want to make sure actors know exactly what that means. โ โ Typically, a โfeaturedโ role pertains to a…
Monday Myth Debunkers: The More Headshots the Better.
Double-tap if youโve ever been told you need more โlooksโ on your AA profile. โ โ When actors are feeling stuck, often their first thought is their headshots. โ โ But why is there so much ๐๐ฒ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ put on an actorโs headshot?โ โ Sure, itโs the first thing we see.โ โ But…
Terminology Tuesday: Paid Ads
Another small (but notable) deal point your reps will negotiate for you on a movie deal has to do with paid ads. โ โ Paid ads refer to the way in which you are credited in advertising for a film: from movie posters to billboards, and more.โ โ Actors can be billed…
Terminology Tuesday: Favored Nations
Before we get into todayโs #terminologytuesday, we canโt reiterate enough how important it is for actors to take an active role in understanding and shaping your deals. โ โ ๐๐ฃ ๐ค๐ง๐๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ง๐ค๐ก ๐๐ฃ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ง, ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ข๐ช๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ก ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฉ๐จ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐จ.โ โ Today,…
Monday Myth Debunkers: Everything is Virtual, So You Can Live Anywhere.
With 2021 looking like itโs mostly going to stick to virtual casting, this is a sentiment weโve been hearing a lot. โ โ “๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ ๐โ๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ค๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ ___ ๐ค๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ช๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ค ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ช๐จ๐๐ช.โโ โ Does it really matter, in these times, where you live?โ โ Well, ๐ฌ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ข. โ โ …
Terminology Tuesday: Above the Line
If youโve ever spent time behind the camera, you may have heard the terms โabove the lineโ and โbelow the lineโ thrown around. โ โ Above the line or “ATL” denotes the roles on a film crew which provide guidance or leadership on the creative side. Likewise, below the line represents the…
Terminology Tuesday: Entertainment Lawyer
What exactly is an entertainment lawyer andโฆ do you need one?โ โ Double-tap if youโve ever looked over a deal memo or contract, only to think to yourself: ๐ด๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ญ๐ฅ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ท๐ฆ ๐ข ๐ญ๐ข๐ธ๐บ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ต ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ ๐ด๐ช๐จ๐ฏ?โ โ Good thought. Complex answer. โ โ An entertainment lawyer is โ just…
Terminology Tuesday: All Shows Produced
Double-tap if youโve got an ASP series regular on your actor to-do list โ๏ธโ โ An all shows produced series regular (otherwise known as ASP) means an actor will get paid their episodic fee for each episode in the season, regardless of whether they appear in it or not. โ โ Having…
Monday Myth Debunkers: Always Expect Feedback
ย We thought this might be a good myth to debunk…โ โ You know whatโs hard?โ โ Making sacrifices for your dream, working really hard at it and not getting the external validation you crave. โ โ We get it. โ โ We really, truly do. โ โ Because (as we hope…
Monday Myth Debunkers: Always Make a Bold Choice.
โI just want to make a bold choice to stand out.โโ โ We hear this a lot. โ โ Sure, standing out is important but remember, you want to stand out in the ๐ณ๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ต way.โ โ And sometimes (most of the time), the โrightโ way isnโt necessarily, the โ๐ฏ๐ผ๐น๐ฑโ way. โ โ …
Terminology Tuesday: Consecutive Employment
Todayโs #terminologytuesday is more of a general explanation in terms of consecutive employment and hold day pay. โ โ A popular question that is asked is โdo we get paid for that?โ โ โ That question applies for many things, of course, but today weโre talking about them ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐ข๐บ๐ด. โ โ …
Terminology Tuesday: Option
If youโre up for something where they could put an โoptionโ on you OR youโre testing for a pilot which has a โtest option agreement…”โ โ ๐๐ข๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ฆ!โ โ Youโre killing the game. โ โ An option grants the studio (you guessed it) the โoptionโ to employ you.โ โ These agreements typically cover…
Terminology Tuesday: First Refusal
Whatโs the difference between a โfirst refusalโ, โon availโ, pinnedโ, and being โheldโ? ๐คโ โ Letโs sort this outโthereโs no real difference between any of these other than semantics. โ โ Technically speaking, CDs canโt โholdโ actors (per SAG rules), but they can use different terms like โpinningโ you or putting you…
Monday Myth Debunkers: The More Clips the Better.
The more the better, right?โ โ โ๐ ๐ฅ ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐.โ โ Hereโs a quick hint:โ โ Clips โฏ a reelโ โ Clips are not the solution and ๐๐๐ฅ๐ง๐๐๐ก๐๐ฌ, more is not better. โ โ Think of this way:โ โ We have THOUSANDS of submissions to go through and it can feel overwhelming. โ โ …
Monday Myth Debunkers: There’s Always Rehearsal.
If youโre an actor coming from stage to TV/filmโthis might be tough one for you to wrap your mind around but…โ โ ๐ป๐ ๐โ๐ฅ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆโ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ช ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ค๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐.โ โ Once on set, you will likely do one read-through of the scene, and one โrehearsal for marksโ โ where any…
Monday Myth Debunkers: I’m Doing Something Wrong.
๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ง๐ข๐ฃ ๐๐๐ You ready for this one? As much as you want to think you are โdoing something wrongโ in your acting career, ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฃ๐ข๐ฃ๐ญ๐บ ๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฏโ๐ต. Thatโs not to say there ISNโT room to grow and learn and make choices that yield better resultsโฆ But that overwhelming thought that creeps…
Terminology Tuesday: Run-Of-Picture
Congrats! Getting a run-of-picture deal means youโve booked a lead or a major supporting role and production needs you from start to finish. โ โ This means theyโre going to pay you one lump sum for the entire shoot. This also means they expect you to be completely available for the โrun…
Monday Myth Debunkers: Castin Offices Only Bring in People They Know.
This might be one of our biggest myths to date. โ โ How boring would THAT be?!โ โ Before we debunk this myth, we want to clarify any โtruthโ there is to this:โ โ Yes, of course, over the years we will develop relationships and admiration for certain actors and will eagerly…
Terminology Tuesday: “Just Try It Again”
Double-tap if this direction gives you heart palpitations.โ โ (and yes, today we’re doing #terminologywednesday)โ โ It shouldnโt. Truly. โ โ Why do we sometimes give direction as minimal as โtry it againโ or โdo something differentโ?โ โ It could be for a couple of reasons:โ โ ๐ We liked what you…
Terminology Tuesday: Stunt Casting
Terminologyโฆ Wednesday? โ โ Letโs talk stunt casting. โ โ If by stunt casting, you think weโre talking about stunt performers, you might want to read onโฆ.โ โ Stunt casting is a term we use that refers to the use of a publicity stunt to fill a role in TV, film or…
Monday Myth Debunkers: Slates Don’t Matter.
You forgot to slate. โ โ NBD, right?โ โ Well, not the BIGGEST deal, but a deal. Hereโs the deal:โ โ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ค ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ฃ.โ โ Slates mattered before and they certainly matter now. โ โ Think about it. โ โ When you come into the room in-person, we are able to get a…
Terminology Tuesday: Daytime
Whatโs so different about on-set life for daytime vs. prime time?โ โ IYKYK (if you know, you know)โ โ If you donโt, read along…โ โ What makes daytime (more specifically, soaps) so much different from prime time TV is primarily the rate at which they need to shoot. โ โ Think about…
Monday Myth Debunkers: I Just Want to Bump Up My Credit.
Todayโs #MMD is a practical explanation to a question we get frequently:โ โ If I book a co-star role, can I bump up my billing to guest star without asking for a pay increase?โ โ The simple answer is: ๐ป๐ผโ โ According to SAG rules for TV, billing and pay MUST be…
Monday Myth Debunkers: I Just Have Bad Luck.
We have probably all felt this statement at least once in the past 12 months. โ โ But especially when it comes to acting, is there any truth to it?โ โ Youโve taken all the classes, you have updated materials, you have the reps… what gives?โ โ Is it really just a…
Terminology Tuesday: Recurring
First thingโs first, double-tap if youโve ever been guilty of calling recurring roles โreoccurring roles.โโ โ A ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ค๐ถ๐ณ๐ณ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ role can be a co-star or guest star. Itโs a role that appears in more than one episode as the same character. โ โ Usually, recurring guest stars are determined before the first breakdown…
Monday Myth Debunkers: You Need to be Word Perfect.
Todayโs #MondayMythDebunker is more of a “it depends.”โ โ The short, go-to answer: ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ > ๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ.โ โ HOWEVERโ โ There are some writers/showrunners/directors out there who like their lines to be spoken exactly as they are on the page. โ โ And they notice. โ โ Usually if this is the…
Terminology Tuesday: Back End Deal
Todayโs #terminologytuesday could be multiple blog posts long, but weโll try our best to condense this down to the “what, why & how.โโ โ ๐ช๐๐๐ง ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น?โ โ A back end deal refers to an actor (or other creative professional) who agrees to take a deal (or points) on…
Monday Myth Debunkers: You Should be Showing up in Full Wardrobe.
Double-tap if you find yourself spending more time than desired thinking about what to wear for your audition.โ โ Hereโs the inside scoop on wardrobe:โ โ *whispers* ๐๐ต ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฏโ๐ต ๐ฎ๐ข๐ต๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ค๐ฉ.โ โ YES, we often give direction and/or specific instructions when it comes to wardrobe, but thatโs mostly to help alleviate…
Terminology Tuesday – Studio/Network Test
Anyone here actually miss testing in-person for a pilot? …Anyone? Well, ok, while getting to the studio or network test portion is usually a GOOD thing, it can also feel pretty daunting.ย Letโs power through the testing process to help you understand what itโs about, why execs do them, and how to…
Monday Myth Debunkers: The Earlier Your Self Tape Gets In…
The early bird catches the worm, right?โ โ Wellll, not so much if the bird is an actor auditioning for the new Freeform series. โ โ Letโs break down why this is nothing but another #actormyth. โ โ First, letโs remind all of you lovely, hard-working actors that deadlines DO matter and…
Terminology Tuesday – Single Vs. Multi-Cam
Todayโs #terminologytuesday was a request that we are happy to oblige! When you go in for a comedic audition, itโs important to first decipher whether the show is a single-cam or multi-cam comedy.ย Single-cam & multi-cam comedies have a different tone/feel and your performance should be adjusted as such.ย Multi-cam comedies can…
Monday Myth Debunkers – Casting Offices Don’t Take Pitches.
This one might be more for the agents/managers in the house but itโs also helpful for actors to hear too.ย Oh, pitches. Itโs what causes our phones to fall off the hook and is the primary reason we are ever weeks behind on emails.ย Are they effective? Are they annoying? Do they…
Terminology Tuesday – Throw It Away
Dear beloved actors: one of the biggest โmistakesโ we see in the room or virtually is actors either not understanding our note or just not taking it. โ โ So today, letโs dive in to one of the most common notes we give: โthrow it away.โ Sometimes weโll even just say to…