Casting Actors Cast

What If? The Secret to Memorable Acting Choices | Casting Actors Cast #445 Why do some actors deliver technically excellent auditions that are quickly forgotten, while others make a director lean forward and say, "I never thought of it that way"? In Episode #445 of Casting Actors Cast, casting director, teacher, author and former actor Jeffrey Dreisbach explores the difference between predictable...

Do you hate watching yourself on camera? You're not alone—but for today's actor, learning how to review your own work is an essential professional skill. In Episode #444 of Casting Actors Cast, casting director, teacher, author and former actor Jeffrey Dreisbach explores the crucial difference between judging yourself and evaluating your work. Jeff explains why actors shouldn't monitor themselves...

How do you know whether an acting class, workshop or teacher is actually right for you? In Episode #443 of Casting Actors Cast, casting director, teacher, author and former actor Jeffrey Dreisbach looks beyond recommendations and famous techniques to explore what good actor training should actually accomplish. Jeff discusses how actors can identify what they genuinely need before choosing a class,...

Getting an agent can feel like one of the biggest milestones in an actor's career—but what happens after you get representation? In Episode #442 of Casting Actors Cast, casting director, author, teacher and former actor Jeffrey Dreisbach takes a practical and sometimes humorous look at the actor-agent relationship. This isn't an episode about how to find an agent. It's about understanding the prof...

Actors are often taught to explore emotion—but what if emotion is actually the last part of scene preparation? In Episode #441 of Casting Actors Cast, casting director, actor, author and teacher Jeff Dreisbach introduces a practical four-step approach to scene analysis: WANT, NEED, BEHAVIOR and EMOTION. Begin with the writer: Why does the scene exist? Then discover what your character needs from t...

What do casting directors actually think when you're auditioning? Are they judging you? Do they already know who they want? Do they only call in actors they know? In this episode of Casting Actors Cast, casting director, former actor and master teacher Jeff Dreisbach introduces “Empathy Casting”—a different way for actors to understand the person on the other side of the audition. Jeff takes you b...

What happens to an actor when nobody is asking them to act? When the auditions slow down, the callbacks disappear, or the next job simply isn’t happening, actors often assume the frustration they’re feeling is about their career. But what if something else is going on? What if you’re creatively hungry? In Episode #439 of Casting Actors Cast, casting director, teacher, author, and former actor Jeff...

Actors are constantly told that film acting is "all about the eyes." But what does that really mean? In this episode of Casting Actors Cast, veteran casting director, actor, educator, and author Jeffrey Dreisbach explores one of the most misunderstood concepts in on-camera acting. Discover why the camera isn't actually watching your eyes—it's watching your thoughts. Learn why truthful thinking cre...

Networking is one of the most misunderstood—and uncomfortable—parts of an acting career. Why do so many actors feel awkward introducing themselves to casting directors, agents, producers, and other industry professionals? In this episode of Casting Actors Cast, veteran casting director, actor, educator, and author Jeffrey Dreisbach explores the psychology behind networking anxiety and reveals why...

Actors hear it all the time: "Just be confident." But what does confidence actually look like—and can it really be created on demand? In this episode of Casting Actors Cast, veteran casting director, actor, educator, and author Jeffrey Dreisbach explores the psychology behind authentic confidence, why rejection affects actors so deeply, the difference between confidence and self-esteem, and why se...

What if your definition of success has been making your acting career harder than it needs to be? In this episode, casting director Jeffrey Dreisbach explores how actors can build healthier, more sustainable careers by redefining success beyond bookings, awards, and external validation. Learn practical mindset shifts, casting-room insights, and strategies for finding fulfillment while continuing t...

Every actor has wondered, "How do I become this character?" In this episode, casting director Jeffrey Dreisbach reveals why the answer may already be inside you. Learn how your own life experiences, relationships, and humanity become your greatest acting resource, and discover practical techniques for creating authentic, memorable performances without abandoning yourself in the process. Learn more...

Why do actors often give their weakest performances in the auditions they want the most? In this episode, veteran casting director Jeffrey Dreisbach shares a healthier, more effective way to think about auditions. Learn why preparation beats pressure, why professionals treat auditions as appointments—not life- changing events—and how one simple mindset shift can free you to do your best work. Whet...

Why do some actors command attention even when they're barely speaking? In this episode, casting director Jeffrey Dreisbach explores one of the most misunderstood aspects of acting: concentration. Learn why authentic focus doesn't come from trying harder—it comes from pursuing a meaningful objective. Through practical exercises, casting room insights, and real-world examples, you'll discover how l...

Networking shouldn't feel awkward or transactional. In this episode of Casting Actors Cast, veteran casting director Jeffrey Dreisbach shares a healthier, more effective approach to building professional relationships in the entertainment industry. Learn practical follow-up strategies, gratitude-based networking, social media mistakes to avoid, and why trust—not self-promotion—is the real currency...

For years I told actors something that may surprise you. I used to say: "Being completely memorized isn't the most important thing." And for a long time I believed that. Today? My thinking has changed. Not because memorization is the performance. But because memorization may be the thing standing between you and the performance. Let's talk about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon...

What if one of the best things you could do for your acting career... was spend less time thinking about acting? Now before anyone drives off the road... hear me out. Because some of the healthiest, happiest, and most successful actors I've known had something surprising in common. Acting wasn't the only thing in their lives. Today we're talking about why becoming a more interesting human being ma...

What if I told you one of the biggest obstacles in your acting career isn't your talent... isn't your training... isn't your agent... and isn't even your auditions? What if the thing holding you back is a grading system that doesn't exist anymore? Today we're talking about something I see every week. Actors who graduated years ago... sometimes decades ago... but are still living like they're waiti...

Every scene is basically: “Please love me… forgive me… hire me… believe me… or text me back.” Congratulations. You now understand human civilization. Today we’re talking about one of the most important acting shifts actors can make. You are not there to present emotion. You are there to get something. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do talented actors sometimes walk into auditions and completely disconnect from themselves? In this episode, casting director and acting teacher Jeffrey Dreisbach explores one of the biggest hidden audition killers: overthinking. From self-monitoring and approval-seeking to trying too hard to “be good,” this episode breaks down the subtle habits that quietly sabotage actors before the scene ev...

Some actors perform every script exactly the same way. Which is fascinating… because sitcoms and crime dramas are not emotionally identical species. In this Episode, we’re talking about musicality, genre, rhythm… and why the script itself may already be telling you how to act. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if your obsession with “feeling the emotion”… is actually hurting your acting? Today we’re talking about the difference between feeling something… and doing something. And trust me— this one tends to make actors very uncomfortable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the very thing your acting class praised… is the exact thing hurting your auditions? Today we’re talking about the disconnect between acting training… and actually getting cast. And trust me… this conversation might sting a little. But it may also completely change how you approach your work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve ever created a 10-page backstory for a 2-page audition… If you’ve ever decided your character had a childhood trauma… that no one asked for… Or if you’ve ever walked into a room feeling very prepared… and still didn’t book it— This episode might save your career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if I told you that most actors don’t lose jobs because they’re not talented… They lose jobs because no one knows where to put them. Today, we fix that—without labels, without limits, and without the word “type.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices