I have been going to workshops with casting directors for several months. I am quite hopeful in making good connections that could lead to noteworthy auditions. However, I sometimes find natural interaction with casting directors to be complicated.
Tonight I attended a workshop with two women who cast independent films. At the end of the workshop, I got to talk in a small group with one of the casting directors, and we even had a lot in common! She was from Ohio and we got to talking about the Midwest. The unfortunate truth, though, is I was thinking too much: I do not want to act especially friendly to someone just because she is a casting director; as a result, I end up being less friendly then I might be, and I probably come across as flat and quiet. Every individual is a valuable person, am I right?!? This dynamic was the same when I interned in DC for Senator Russ Feingold–I didn’t want to pay close attention to the senator and avoid his assistants.
I find it hard to live as a person among persons AND to make professional connections. I think I should just talk to people and not think about interpersonal complications. Any thoughts, friends? Mary and Cory, I would especially like your thoughts.
Last summer, by buddy Christian asked which actors I would like to act with someday.
My newest answer to this question is Christian Bale. We watched Newsies in class today, and that guy was a great actor when he was 15. Even then, he meant what he said when he acted; that is the sign of a good actor. My roommate, Brian Vestal, respects Sally Fields because she has had a continuous career through all of life’s changes. On a shorter-term scale, the same is true of Christian Bale. He was in Empire of the Sun at a very young age and continues to skillfully perform in worthwhile projects.
My other answer continues to be Judi Dench. This is an unexpected answer from a male in his twenties, but that lady is a great actress. I consistently watch As Time Goes By on BBC to see how excellent acting choices play out on-screen scene after scene, episode after episode. She seems to decide very specifically and irrevocably what she will accomplish in each scene; yet again, this is the sign of an excellent actor.
My continual intent is to apply what these actors apply while acting: I do not want to think about myself or how I am coming across. My focus should be what I must accomplish as my character**–in a particular scene, do I need to make sure someone learns an important lesson? Do I need to convince someone that he or she is loved and valued?
In recent months, much of what I learn about living life mirrors my learning how to act better.
**My favorite acting book directly and briefly teaches how to do this: A Practical Handbook for the Actor, by Melissa Bruder, Lee Michael Cohn, Madeleine Olnek, Nathaniel Pollack, Robert Previto and Scott Zigler. These authors teach one to apply the teachings of David Mamet, who wrote the preface. David Mamet wrote another excellent book that simplifies an actor’s job called True and False.
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NOTE: the images I attach in this post first open really big but then they reduce in size automatically.
I have wanted new headshots for several months. I meet casting directors who do projects with vastly different tones, so while my current head shot is good for soap operas, it is less appropriate for commercials and a lot of nighttime television.
For two weeks, I searched on Craigslist for photographers doing “TFCD” shots, meaning “time for cd (of images).” These photographers are usually building their portfolio, so on occasion they are willing to do photo shoots at a reduced price or free. After diligently searching and contacting photographers, I heard back from photographer Michelle Kunz. You can check her blog out here: http://mk2photo.blogspot.com/ . I was impressed with her self portraits and the head shots of the blond girl. Post-photo shoot, I am entirely pleased with her professionalism and ability in photography.
One element that made this photo shoot a success was our stream of communication back and forth during the few days before the shoot. Michelle encouraged me to consider what “looks” I wanted to pursue as well as locations for the background.
My thoughts and preparation for the photo shoot included the following:
I thought about television shows I might be appropriate for, and I looked through a book of other actors’ headshots.
I booked friend and image consultant Krys Ferhervari to do my hair for the shoot. I am not good at doing my hair. I also found a really useful web site about men’s hair and printed off about 30 hairstyles to use as a reference.
Frequently, postings about parts ask for pictures that show one’s build, but I don’t really want shirtless pictures of myself floating around the internet. So I compromised and decided to get some exercise shots in a tank top at a park. I got a pack of four tank tops from Walmart for $10. Here is one of the pictures from this look:
I decided to pursue looks appropriate for specific casting director workshops. Next Saturday is a workshop with the casting director of “Greek,” a comedy about fraternity and sorority members. For “Greek” clothing, I wore shorts my sister Kari gave me from Old Navy and a yellow shirt I got for $15.00 at Target. I also did a scouting trip to Gap and saw that polos over tees with layers are popular right now, and I incorporated that into my look. In order to specify these pictures a bit, Krys told me about some homes that resemble frat houses near our exercise shoot location. Here is a Greek-oriented picture:
Another casting director I would like to meet casts Ugly Betty. I had a coupon for “Express,” and I spent a couple of hours there Thursday night looking for just the right stuff. I bought a couple of shirts and a skinny tie for $75.00. I found a pair of black pants at “Ross for Less” (Midwesterners–think “TJ Maxx’) for $14.99.
For the Ugly Betty look, we decided to go to downtown LA. Michelle suggested we go to Disney Music Hall, a super cool location with all sorts of glassy and shiny surfaces with unique angles. Brilliantly, Krys suggested that we then use the glass elevator at a swanky downtown hotel to indicate a clubby feel with skyscrapers in the background. Here are an Ugly Betty picture and an Urban cool picture:
Of the 400 images Michelle gave me, I have selected to print these for current use:
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