I HEART ACTORS
July 10, 2009
If an actor comes in with the sides for an audition and the page numbers say 1 of 3, 2 of 3, etc… If they are missing page 3 of 3 why are they surprised that they don’t have all of the sides? How much hand holding do I have to do? A rhetorical question, because the truth is that Casting Directors have to be very specific in everything we do in order to get an actor to audition to the best of their ability. I make the script available to all, I make the sides available to all, actors can call me for information, I am available by email, I reschedule and reschedule and reschedule actors till I am blue in the face and then after the 5th reschedule and the actor comes in for the Director, they admit in the office to the Director that they haven’t read the script! I want to cry. WHY DID I KEEP RESCHEDULING YOU? I know you are busy people, but if you are meeting with a Director, please read the script. It makes a huge difference in the overall perception of how a Director places you in his/her mind. Also, if you read the script and don’t like it, please do not come in to the audition…PASS! It’s ok, I will find someone who does want to do it. My feeling will not get hurt.
I was watching a Casting Director being interviewed on a web-series about Casting Directors, and she was saying that the reason she loves casting is that she “loves actors.” I have heard this a lot from Casting Directors. I am now going to shock all of you; I don’t think you will ever hear me say, “The reason I am a Casting Director is because I love actors.” I love casting because I am passionate about finding the right actor for a role in a film for a Director/Writer who writes stories passionately. I admire actors, I wish I could be as creative and be as talented in what I do in my field as some of my favorite actors practice in the craft of acting, but to me, saying you love actors seems weird. I love the craft of acting and I respect actors who transcend themselves and make a performance so detailed and flawless that I am swept away into the story that I am watching or casting. To me, that is where the love is. I am not passionate about actors, I am passionate about good acting. It is what I teach, it is what I preach, and it is how I try to make the best cast come to a film. When I say to a director, “This actor is really good,” I mean it. I am not just saying it.
I love actors when I see how well they bring a film to life. I do use or bring in many of the same actors when I am casting a film, or try to, because I know that they will give 110% on set. I see as many actors as possible for a film. I have a policy of never shutting out an actor because their previous audition sucked. I give second, third, forth chances…but by the 5th time, not so much…Maybe I do “love” actors on some sub-conscious level. After all, I was one a long time ago. My love for actors is my respect for what an actor does, goes through and gives emotionally to a script and developing a character. But in a sense, everyone working on a low-budget film is doing the same thing an actor does. The DP, AD, PA’s are all spending crazy amounts of time on getting the vision of the director/writer on the screen to look the best it can look. We are all in it for the best intentions: to make a great film.
So, in the spirit of me maybe admitting to myself that I do love actors, I give you the website to a smart actor, one who knows how to market herself and an actor whose talent I respect. I have cast her once, I am sure I will cast her again soon… www.jamiesorrentini.com
I am still in Hawaii and casting is almost complete. I had dinner tonight with two of the cast members. It is an exciting time when you see your hard work come together…
Hey Matt,
Did a little homework, and found this site. Great reads, Ill be bookmarking and following. Thanks for the info on my agents pay, it helped out a lot.
Enjoy Hawaii, and hope things run smooth…
As someone who has worked in the business for 20 years from the mailroom of WMA on up I am going to be brutally honest. Casting Directors today are secretaries. They have no pull and in fact they do not see new people. Most often they say it’s because that talent will not get approved by the studio so it’s a waste of time. When I began at WMA in the early 90’s casting directors were incredible. That’d see a fly on the wall if someone was passionate about them. Today, they are so useless it really is silly. I have even considered using no casting director on my next studio film. CD’s like:
Mark Saks - lazy
Pam Dixon - plays like she is open to stuff but really is not
Lisa Miller Katz - a waste
Susan Vash - sleep at the wheel
Ulrich/Dawson/Kritzer - terrible
Jennifer Cooper - was good as an associate not typical.
But there are still a handful of great cd’s:
Alyssa Weisberg - Fantastic
Cami Patton - Fantastic
Julie Ashton - good but needs to be scared into seeing someone
There is going to be a great article written on DHD about the CD’s. It is time they are outed for the job they are no longer doing. Again, the good ones will be outed as well.
I utterly agree with Jack. In fact, Matthew I think you are full of it. The idea that you love actors and want to find the right actor for the part is laughable. You see very few and it’s usually from a list the producer or filmmaker has given you. The creative of what you do is no longer. I think if these blogs are to be more than vanity pieces than be honest!! You are not. I for one have dealt with you and your office in different capacities. One as an assistant to a major agency and one as an assistant at a small management company. How’s this. It was for the same client. When I was at the agency you gave us an appointment. When I was at the management company we never were given an appointment. What you need to know is talent is discovered everywhere. You need to see every last actor. Ever last one. Or, you are not doing your job. Growing up with a famous father who discovered talent I know intimately how this works. You are either that type or you are not. More likely in today’s casting world you get people like a Mark Saks who say they see new people etc. Reality they don’t. Ever !!! I have become disenchanted with this promotional blog. It’s awful. Matthew, shame on you!
Cheers.
Smells like a dose of secretary hating going on…Secretaries get a good deal of work done intheir every day jobs and deserve an apology here. As for Casting Directors being like secretaries, I would say only ON A GOOD DAY. Typically casting directors are treated like babysitters, encyclopaedias, list drones and lifeless simps with nothing but free time to read unfinanced scripts. Matthew is writing about what goes on in a day to day casting office and I appreciate the insight.
I think your blog here is great. Very insightful and full of great information for all those working in the industry or looking to break into it. Just looking at the cast that have worked on the movies you have been a part of suggests to me that you have ‘discovered’ new talent.
Thank you for writing and I look forward to reading more.
Richard
Please see my response on my next blog entry.
There is obviously a lot to know about this. There are some good points here.
I’m Out!