Casting Actors Cast

Air Date: January 25, 2024 #295 Rejection Direction             Handling rejection is an essential aspect of an actor's journey, and it's something that every actor faces at some point. Moving forward in the right direction will make the difference when experiencing rejection. Here are eight strategies that actors use to cope with rejection, happening right now, on this episode of Casting Actors C...

Air Date: 1/18/2024 #294 College Showcase Breakdown             I’ve had a bunch of interactions with many actors in training from colleges, universities and professional training programs of late. It’s typical this time of year, for many of these schools to “showcase” their graduating talent. Often, the schools rent space in New York, or LA, Chicago or elsewhere and offer an hour or so of their a...

Air Date: 1/11/2024 #293 Self-Tape Tweaks   We’ve seen a ton of self-tapes come in for our film and theatre projects of late. I have to say, the submissions are getting so much better than during COVID. There are still some actors that should review the way they are submitting themselves. I think it’s time to let you in on some power tips that can up your on-camera game and move you into the yes c...

Air Date: 1/4/2024 #292 Oh No! Another New Year?   I think every time we bring in a new year, we have the best of intensions to make the upcoming year even better than the year before. We “resolve” to do things better or make commitments to our self-improvement. The beginning of a new year brings the hope and optimism of what might be waiting for us in the weeks and months ahead. Well, as an actor...

Air Date: 12/28/2023 #291 Being Punctual   In case you haven’t noticed, many episodes of this podcast have been about acting choices we can use to create our characters. We’ve shared the value of vocal pitch, the beauty of pace and making moments with beats. The last of these tools in our tool kit is often overlooked and underappreciated. I’m talking about the writer’s emotional/technical shorthan...

Air Date: 12/21/2023 #290 Perfect Pitch Of all the tools actors can draw upon when working on playing a role, the voice is  possibly the least thought of yet most valuable. Sure, we all remember our vocal  training and maybe even our singing lessons as being a core component of our  education. But many times this is thought of as foundational and not part of our  professional journey quite as much...

Air Date: 12/14/2023 #289 Change of Pace   Here’s a question for you; Have you ever had a director or teacher tell you to slow down? Maybe it’s something like, “Watch your pacing” or “don’t rush it”. If you have, you’ve probably been annoyed or frustrated at the note because to you, it was fine. It didn’t need adjustment. Or better still, exactly HOW are you supposed to slow down without it be an...

Air Date: 12/7/2023 #288 Right Place, Right Time   “Some people have all the luck”. Is that something you’ve said? I know I have. Even in my young acting career, I was always made aware of how hard it was to, “Make it”. Having the talent is one thing but being in the right place at the right time still seems to be the explanation for having a successful acting career. Sure, we can be fatalistic an...

Air Date: 11/30/2023 #287 Get More Auditions   We’ve talked a ton on this podcast about the many layers of being a successful actor. Sometimes it’s tips about acting, other times it is about the business of show. We’ve even covered opportunities that are available for actors that don’t include acting! Today, it’s time we took a realistic approach for the actor to consider. That is, finding more au...

Air Date: 11/23/2023 #286 Turkey Day   I am not a huge fan of turkey-the bird I mean. I have it at Thanksgiving because it is there. But usually, the rest of the year, I skip having the foul. For actors, the word turkey can be synonymous with an inferior show or failure and started in 1927 as show business slang, probably from the bird's reputation for stupidity. I have had my share of experiences...

Air Date: 11/16/2023 #285 The Agent Interview   You’ve done it. After months of emails, invitations, and research, you’ve just received a call that the agent you’ve been wanting to work with now wants to meet with you! Congratulations! Oh wait. What exactly does a meeting mean? What do they want to know? What if you say the wrong thing? OMG what should you wear? Here is the opportunity you’ve been...

Air Date: 11/9/2023 #284 Finding the Flaws   I think we can all agree with the following statement, “nobody’s perfect”. As much as we like to think of ourselves in a positive light, there is no denying that we possess qualities that need improvement. Be it anger, jealousy, greed or lust, there is always something we think of as a flaw. Some part of us that we wish we could fix. Being self-aware is...

Air Date: 11/2/2023 #283 Actor’s Survival Gear   There’s a lot of stress going on right now. It feels like more than the usual, “Day to Day” issues we are familiar with. What’s going on? Well, there’s much we have no control over; conflicts, social unrest, strikes, you name it. We are in a really bizarre space, I think. One of the few choices I have, when I reflect on the situation, is being clear...

Air Date: 10/26/2023 #282 Improvise and Realize   I was asked to workshop a scripted reality show pilot last week. A sort of send-up on actors in an acting conservatory setting. My job was to help the actors connect and relate to their characters and the other cast members in the project. At first, I wasn’t completely sure how to take on such a task. It needed to look and feel natural for the tale...

Air Date: 10/21/2023 #281 Scents of Humor How much importance do we really place on using our five senses? Most of us know  the value of smell, taste, sight, sound but how much do we rely on those senses with  our acting? Better yet, can we use our five senses with our emotions? Take, for  example, humor. Exactly how does funny smell? Sound’s crazy right? Well stick around  because I will take on...

Air Date: 10/12/2023 #280 Acting on Purpose For some reason, I happen to like double meanings for the same phrase. It can be in the form of a pun or a double entendre. For example, today’s episode is called Acting on Purpose. Well, it can mean acting for a reason or it can also mean having a purpose to act on! Either way, we’ll look into both meanings to uncover the truth about why actors act! Lea...

Air Date: 10/5/2023 #279 Defining your character Part 2 of 2          On our last episode, we talked about the external choices you can make when defining a character. Today, let's dive into what defines you as an actor. Your personal character, your way of thinking, what defines you. on this episode of Casting Actors Cast. Having insight into what makes you, you is really helpful as an actor. The...

Air Date: 9/18/2023          Defining your character Part 1 of 2          When we are blessed with playing a part in a film, tv, or stage production, you have probably done most of the work when it comes to how you are going to play the part. After all, if you auditioned, you worked on a lot of the qualities needed for the role. Maybe you were hired without an audition. Even better. Clearly someon...

When putting a demo of your acting together, do you know how to decide what should be on it? Demo reels are often asked for by talent reps and casting directors, but sometimes talent doesn't really know what to include. This is the podcast that takes on the question and gives you a memo for demo's. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Television and Film credit rolls at the end of a project can sometimes lack real understanding of the actual job. Here are the most important "players" on the set and a job description to help you feel more confident and comfortable. A glossary of personal we use when Coming to Terms! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#275  Air Date: 9/7/2023 “Beats Me” It’s kind of a slang phrase that I don’t really hear anymore. “It beats  me” is usually a response to a question when you don’t have the  answer. Like, “how did that candy bar I was saving suddenly  disappear?”. “Beats Me”. For actors, this is not a great response  when working on a script or audition. There is an expectation that you  have the answer and not a...

#274 How to Remain Teachable Air Date: 8/31/2023 I can't believe I'm saying this, but. Here it goes. It's that time of year again. It's  almost Fall. And that means going back to school. Back to auditioning. Back to the  reality of what it is to be an actor. Part of your getting back, is to evaluate where  you are and remain open to others that can keep you moving forward. On this  episode of Cast...

#273 Working With a Partner Air Date: 8/24/2023 Whether it’s a class, a chemistry read or on the set, working with a partner can sometimes be fraught with challenges (fraught! Who talks like that?). Being a team player and good sport may not always be the most useful approach for you or your partner, for that matter. I don’t mean to imply that you should be difficult to work with. Not at all. Ther...

#272 Making the Best Choice Air Date: 8/17/2023   In a recent class I was teaching, an actor timidly raised their hand and asked, “How do I now if I am making the right acting choice in an audition for film or TV?” My response was probably a typical one, “Well, decide what is best for you”. I was completely dissatisfied with my answer. First, I was repeating something I heard from an acting teache...

#271 You Need New Pictures! Air Date: 8/10/2023                      I really love working with actors. It is a rare opportunity for me to share my professional feedback and advice to actors who are willing to listen. I ultimately think this interaction supplies information that improves the industry for everybody. One area that still remains a sticking point for me are headshots that don’t work....