Hi, all.  Sorry about the long gap between posts. I’ve had a lot of freelance work lately, so my schedule’s been overbooked.  Things are starting to calm down a little, though, so I’m hoping to post more regularly.

Despite the fact that camcorders and digital cameras are commonplace these days, most people grow quickly uncomfortable when faced with reality of being interviewed on camera.  Perhaps it’s the fact that interviews seem more important than casual snapshots of them with their friends or videos of them singing karaoke at a party. Perhaps it’s the fact that interviews comes with bright lights, microphones, and entire film crews staring at them while they’re answering questions about their lives.  Either way, your job as a director and/or interviewer is to make your subjects as calm as possible in front of the camera.  Below are five tips to help you do just that.

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What’s Your Goal?

Have you ever picked up an instrument and assumed you knew how to play without any instruction or practice? Have you ever thought to yourself, “Well, I don’t have any real experience, but I could probably be in an opera.” I certainly hope the answer is no. Why, then, do so many people think that they can just pick up a digital video camera and make a movie that’s worth watching?

Filmmaking is like any other art or craft. It requires study, practice, and a dedication to excellence. “Yeah, but I know someone who’s a really good guitarist, and he never took any lessons,” I often hear. “I believe you,” I say. “But do you really think he picked up that guitar and recorded an album that first day?” Of course not. Whether an accomplished artist has studied formally or not, he or she has most likely spent months—probably years—squirreled away in a bedroom, studio, or home office. Successful artists push themselves to perfect their crafts and to expand their skill sets.

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As screen actors, I think it’s fairly safe to say that many of us want to land those major, meaty roles on film and TV. Some of us have had some success with under-5 and dayplayer roles, but ultimately what we really hope for is that “big break” that will thrust us into that league of being a “name” in the business.  And wouldn’t it be wonderful if we were so recognizable that we didn’t have to audition anymore?

The good news is that such a desirable fate is possible for anyone, not just actors who are young and beautiful.  Furthermore, it’s not something that’s left largely to chance. Sometimes it’s difficult to feel like anyone has any control over their own acting career, but contrary to popular belief, there are many ways to concretely increase your chances of being the next big name, regardless of what your “type” may be.

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This is an article I originally posted on New Film Nation. I hope this is helpful to filmmakers looking for advice regarding the casting process.

Contents:

• Audition Space
• Actor Search/Casting Call
• Scheduling Auditions
• Preparing for Auditions
• During the Audition
• Decision Time

Audition Space:

Let’s assume, for the purposes of this article, that you’re not using a casting agency. If you could afford one, you wouldn’t be running around trying to find an audition space yourself.

Choosing a location for your auditions is more important than you may think. Why? Well, let’s break it down:

First, let’s think about the proximity of your audition space to the pool of actors you’ll be targeting for auditions. Choosing a location in or near the city can make a huge difference for the following reasons:

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