Ramani Leah, CSA, Author at The Casting Director's Cut

Monday Myth Debunkers: Everything is Virtual, So You Can Live Anywhere.

October 3, 2022April 26, 2021 by Ramani Leah, CSA

With 2021 looking like it’s mostly going to stick to virtual casting, this is a sentiment we’ve been hearing a lot. ⁠ ⁠ “𝕀 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕜 𝕀’𝕝𝕝 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕞𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕠 ___ 𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕤 𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕒𝕡𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕪𝕨𝕒𝕪.”⁠ ⁠ Does it really matter, in these times, where you live?⁠ ⁠ Well, 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘢. ⁠ ⁠ Here’s the scoop.⁠ ⁠ While self taping/virtual casting IS going to be around for a while longer, your location is still important information. ⁠ ⁠ Consider a few …

Terminology Tuesday: Above the Line

October 3, 2022April 20, 2021 by Ramani Leah, CSA

If you’ve ever spent time behind the camera, you may have heard the terms “above the line” and “below the line” thrown around. ⁠ ⁠ 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 more technical roles.⁠ ⁠ Why divide above and below the line?⁠ ⁠ The term itself comes directly from budgeting. Production budget sheets are divided into two sections by …

Terminology Tuesday: Entertainment Lawyer

October 3, 2022April 13, 2021 by Ramani Leah, CSA

What exactly is an entertainment lawyer and… do you need one?⁠ ⁠ Double-tap if you’ve ever looked over a deal memo or contract, only to think to yourself: 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘸𝘺𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯?⁠ ⁠ Good thought. Complex answer. ⁠ ⁠ An entertainment lawyer is — just that. A lawyer who specializes in deals pertaining to the entertainment industry. They are negotiating, detail-minded, fine-print-pros. ⁠ ⁠ But first, let’s not forget: your agent is perfectly …

Terminology Tuesday: All Shows Produced

October 3, 2022April 6, 2021 by Ramani Leah, CSA

Double-tap if you’ve got an ASP series regular on your actor to-do list ✔️⁠ ⁠ 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. ⁠ ⁠ Having a deal be ASP has great financial benefits but there are other obligations to consider. ⁠ ⁠ Many ASP deals also include exclusivity. Most series regulars cannot be …

Monday Myth Debunkers: Always Expect Feedback

October 3, 2022April 5, 2021 by Ramani Leah, CSA

We thought this might be a good myth to debunk…⁠ ⁠ You know what’s hard?⁠ ⁠ Making sacrifices for your dream, working really hard at it and not getting the external validation you crave. ⁠ ⁠ We get it. ⁠ ⁠ We really, truly do. ⁠ ⁠ Because (as we hope you’ve gathered by now), we’re human too. Just like you!⁠ ⁠ We like external validation too!⁠ ⁠ *c𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩* Oscar *𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩*⁠ ⁠ But it’s important to start moving about …

Monday Myth Debunkers: Always Make a Bold Choice.

October 3, 2022March 29, 2021 by Ramani Leah, CSA

“I just want to make a bold choice to stand out.”⁠ ⁠ We hear this a lot. ⁠ ⁠ Sure, standing out is important but remember, you want to stand out in the 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 way.⁠ ⁠ And sometimes (most of the time), the “right” way isn’t necessarily, the “𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗱” way. ⁠ ⁠ So, what gives? How do you stand out?⁠ ⁠ What if we told you it wasn’t about standing out but purely about bringing your own, unique authenticity to …

Terminology Tuesday: Consecutive Employment

October 3, 2022March 23, 2021 by Ramani Leah, CSA

Today’s #terminologytuesday is more of a general explanation in terms of consecutive employment and hold day pay. ⁠ ⁠ A popular question that is asked is “do we get paid for that?” ⁠ ⁠ That question applies for many things, of course, but today we’re talking about them 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴. ⁠ ⁠ Glorious, semi gift-giving hold days. ⁠ ⁠ The days you can lie around in your Tiger King sweats and get paid a day rate for it. ⁠ ⁠ …

Terminology Tuesday: Option

October 3, 2022March 16, 2021 by Ramani Leah, CSA

If you’re up for something where they could put an “option” on you OR you’re testing for a pilot which has a “test option agreement…”⁠ ⁠ 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗦!⁠ ⁠ You’re killing the game. ⁠ ⁠ An option grants the studio (you guessed it) the “option” to employ you.⁠ ⁠ These agreements typically cover the pilot and up to seven seasons of the series. ⁠ ⁠ A few highlighted points that will be pre-negotiated in a test option agreement are:⁠ ⁠ 1. …

Terminology Tuesday: First Refusal

October 3, 2022March 9, 2021 by Ramani Leah, CSA

What’s the difference between a “first refusal”, “on avail”, pinned”, and being “held”? 🤔⁠ ⁠ Let’s sort this out—there’s no real difference between any of these other than semantics. ⁠ ⁠ Technically speaking, CDs can’t “hold” actors (per SAG rules), but they can use different terms like “pinning” you or putting you “on avail” to signify that you are either “the choice” or one of a short list and that an offer may be coming. ⁠ ⁠ When the word …

Monday Myth Debunkers: The More Clips the Better.

October 3, 2022March 8, 2021 by Ramani Leah, CSA

The more the better, right?⁠ ⁠ ℕ𝕠𝕥 𝕢𝕦𝕚𝕥𝕖.⁠ ⁠ Here’s a quick hint:⁠ ⁠ Clips ≯ a reel⁠ ⁠ Clips are not the solution and 𝗖𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗟𝗬, more is not better. ⁠ ⁠ Think of this way:⁠ ⁠ We have THOUSANDS of submissions to go through and it can feel overwhelming. ⁠ ⁠ Sure, we’re used to it (and certainly not complaining), but when we’re faced with a long list of clips, it can feel even more overwhelming. ⁠ ⁠ We …