Casting calls and auditions
http://casting.newyorkacting.com
NY casting director Doriane Elliott
Hello actors: for those of you who live far away, I can now teach you via skype!
You
read right!!! Hello, actors! This email is to inform you that for those
of you who live far away, I can now teach you via skype. Already, I
have students in the mid-west, Canada, and even England!!!! As long as
I can see you, and WATCH you work, and you can see me teaching you,
it’s like we’re in the same room. It totally rocks!
The following is all listed on my website, but for instant gratification, this is what’s doin’…
UP-AND-COMING CLASSES/SEMINARS WITH CASTING DIRECTOR DORIANE ELLIOTT
*ON-CAMERA CLASSES. 2 COACHES/4 STUDENTS (WOW!)
*VO CLASSES FOR ALL LEVELS
*PLAY-TO-WIN AGENT/CASTING DIRECTORS MEET AND GREETS
ON-CAMERA:
Commercial On-Camera. You asked for this, so here goes:
Four or six week on-camera class with not one, but TWO coaches to four students. This class will focus on getting comfortable in front of the camera, specifically doing commercial copy. My co-coach will be Ian Weiss, an Awesome Freelance Casting Director. Ian has cast such notable commercials and campaigns as Life Cereal, WebMD, Advair, Bank of America, Campbell’s Soup, BMW, Nike, Bayer, and the list goes on – not to mention the gazillion Voice-Over commercials he’s cast as well!!! Why is it great studying with a Freelancer who not only casts, but SETS UP sessions at the various houses? Because like me, he gets to call in his fa v’s!!!! Not many Casting Directors get to set up the sessions; they just walk in and go. Not us. If we think you’re great, we get to call you in!!!! We will also be available for private coaching on Wednedays before class, for anyone who needs to prepare for monologues, commercial copy, and/or audition sides.
Dates: Weds, July 22ndh, 28th, Aug. 5th, and Aug. 12th
Time: 6:30pm
Price: $300, early bird special $280 if you sign up by July 10th
New 4 week class on Saturdays!
Dates: Sats, July 25th, Aug. 1, 8th, and 15th
Time: 10 am
Price: $300, early bird special $280 if you sign up by July 10th
VOICE-OVERS:
PLEASE NOTE: THE FOLLOWING VO CLASSES WILL BE TAKING PLACE AT PHANTOM AUDIO, (http://www.phantomaudio.com) A STATE-OF-THE-ART RECORDING/PRODUCTION STUDIO, WHERE I CAST, AND WHERE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF COMMERCIALS, INDUSTRIALS, PROMOS (AND MORE) HAVE BEEN PRODUCED. THIS IS ALSO WHERE I PRODUCE MY STUDENT’S DEMOS, WITH THE HEAD ENGINEER OF PHANTOM.
EACH CLASS IS LIMITED TO A GROUP OF 8, (QUALITY - NOT QUANTITY, PEOPLE!) SO EVERYONE GETS ENOUGH ATTENTION, MIC AND PLAYBACK TIME. STUDENTS ARE RECORDED ON PRO-TOOLS, JUST AS IF YOU WERE IN ONE OF DORIANE’S CASTING SESSIONS!
Beginning Voice-overs: The adventure begins…
Okay. You’ve been told you have a great voice for Voice-Overs.
You’ve been behind the20mic, but basically have no sound technique. Start getting comfortable breaking down copy, and feeling at ease behind the mic in the same state-of-the-art recording studio, Phantom Audio (http://www.phantomaudio) with the coolest, easiest goin’ Casting Director in NYC! This class will still have you up behind that AKG 414, in that booth, taking direction, and continuing to learn the art, craft, and skill of VO’s. You’ll be recorded on Pro-tools, and will listen to playback so you can hear your progress. And…if you’re good… there will be a surprise guest at the end of the session!
“she makes you WANT to learn, and laugh while you’re learning! I still get coaching from Doriane, after all these years as a successful voice-over actor!”- Timothi Jane Graham(http://www.timothijanegraham.com)
Dates: Tuesdays, July 21st, 28th, and Aug. 4th
Time: 7pm
Place: Phantom Audio, large room
Price: $260
VO CLINIC. Getting stuck? The Doctor is in.
Three week brush-up seminar at Phantom Audio. (http://www.phantomaudio.com) Advanced only. Limited to 8 people, so as always, you’ll get good mic time. This is for pro’s only. Folks who have agents, who have booked gigs before, but for some reason aren’t booking as much as they’d like. You’ll be up in front of your peers reading either copy you’ve auditioned for – to see how I would have directed you to a better read,20or copy you choose from my files. You’ll be recorded on pro-tools. No edits! Ha!!! Definitely a vocal, reading, and nerves workout. Yes, a butt-kicker. But pain, is GOOD.
Dates: tue, July 16th, and 23rd
Time: 7pm
Place: Phantom Audio large room
Price: $175
PLAY TO WIN: MEET AND GREETS WITH AGENTS AND CASTING DIRECTORS: By Invite only. I need to know your level of acting first...
at these very civilized, cool, laid-back and very informal meet and greets, eight of you will have the opportunity to get about 20 minutes of Q&A with our guest, and then get 5 – 7 minutes alone with that person. If you have a voice-over demo, play it for him/her. If you have a demo dvd, play that! You may also be given a piece of copy to read for that particular person (whether they are legit, on-camera commercial, voice-over, soap, etc.) wine, cheese, baguettes, yummy munchies…
Jenevieve Brewer from “About Face”
Jenevieve’s coming back! Out of the 9 actors who came in to meet with her, 7 have been called in, sent on auditions, and already several have booked through her!!! Yeah!!!!
Dates/Time: Thurs, Aug. 6th, 7pm
Price: $65
Anyone who is on this mailing list, and would like to be removed, please email me at decasting@aol.com, and I will remove you promptly.
The following is all listed on my website, but for instant gratification, this is what’s doin’…
UP-AND-COMING CLASSES/SEMINARS WITH CASTING DIRECTOR DORIANE ELLIOTT
*ON-CAMERA CLASSES. 2 COACHES/4 STUDENTS (WOW!)
*VO CLASSES FOR ALL LEVELS
*PLAY-TO-WIN AGENT/CASTING DIRECTORS MEET AND GREETS
ON-CAMERA:
Commercial On-Camera. You asked for this, so here goes:
Four or six week on-camera class with not one, but TWO coaches to four students. This class will focus on getting comfortable in front of the camera, specifically doing commercial copy. My co-coach will be Ian Weiss, an Awesome Freelance Casting Director. Ian has cast such notable commercials and campaigns as Life Cereal, WebMD, Advair, Bank of America, Campbell’s Soup, BMW, Nike, Bayer, and the list goes on – not to mention the gazillion Voice-Over commercials he’s cast as well!!! Why is it great studying with a Freelancer who not only casts, but SETS UP sessions at the various houses? Because like me, he gets to call in his fa v’s!!!! Not many Casting Directors get to set up the sessions; they just walk in and go. Not us. If we think you’re great, we get to call you in!!!! We will also be available for private coaching on Wednedays before class, for anyone who needs to prepare for monologues, commercial copy, and/or audition sides.
Dates: Weds, July 22ndh, 28th, Aug. 5th, and Aug. 12th
Time: 6:30pm
Price: $300, early bird special $280 if you sign up by July 10th
New 4 week class on Saturdays!
Dates: Sats, July 25th, Aug. 1, 8th, and 15th
Time: 10 am
Price: $300, early bird special $280 if you sign up by July 10th
VOICE-OVERS:
PLEASE NOTE: THE FOLLOWING VO CLASSES WILL BE TAKING PLACE AT PHANTOM AUDIO, (http://www.phantomaudio.com) A STATE-OF-THE-ART RECORDING/PRODUCTION STUDIO, WHERE I CAST, AND WHERE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF COMMERCIALS, INDUSTRIALS, PROMOS (AND MORE) HAVE BEEN PRODUCED. THIS IS ALSO WHERE I PRODUCE MY STUDENT’S DEMOS, WITH THE HEAD ENGINEER OF PHANTOM.
EACH CLASS IS LIMITED TO A GROUP OF 8, (QUALITY - NOT QUANTITY, PEOPLE!) SO EVERYONE GETS ENOUGH ATTENTION, MIC AND PLAYBACK TIME. STUDENTS ARE RECORDED ON PRO-TOOLS, JUST AS IF YOU WERE IN ONE OF DORIANE’S CASTING SESSIONS!
Beginning Voice-overs: The adventure begins…
Okay. You’ve been told you have a great voice for Voice-Overs.
You’ve been behind the20mic, but basically have no sound technique. Start getting comfortable breaking down copy, and feeling at ease behind the mic in the same state-of-the-art recording studio, Phantom Audio (http://www.phantomaudio) with the coolest, easiest goin’ Casting Director in NYC! This class will still have you up behind that AKG 414, in that booth, taking direction, and continuing to learn the art, craft, and skill of VO’s. You’ll be recorded on Pro-tools, and will listen to playback so you can hear your progress. And…if you’re good… there will be a surprise guest at the end of the session!
“she makes you WANT to learn, and laugh while you’re learning! I still get coaching from Doriane, after all these years as a successful voice-over actor!”- Timothi Jane Graham(http://www.timothijanegraham.com)
Dates: Tuesdays, July 21st, 28th, and Aug. 4th
Time: 7pm
Place: Phantom Audio, large room
Price: $260
VO CLINIC. Getting stuck? The Doctor is in.
Three week brush-up seminar at Phantom Audio. (http://www.phantomaudio.com) Advanced only. Limited to 8 people, so as always, you’ll get good mic time. This is for pro’s only. Folks who have agents, who have booked gigs before, but for some reason aren’t booking as much as they’d like. You’ll be up in front of your peers reading either copy you’ve auditioned for – to see how I would have directed you to a better read,20or copy you choose from my files. You’ll be recorded on pro-tools. No edits! Ha!!! Definitely a vocal, reading, and nerves workout. Yes, a butt-kicker. But pain, is GOOD.
Dates: tue, July 16th, and 23rd
Time: 7pm
Place: Phantom Audio large room
Price: $175
PLAY TO WIN: MEET AND GREETS WITH AGENTS AND CASTING DIRECTORS: By Invite only. I need to know your level of acting first...
at these very civilized, cool, laid-back and very informal meet and greets, eight of you will have the opportunity to get about 20 minutes of Q&A with our guest, and then get 5 – 7 minutes alone with that person. If you have a voice-over demo, play it for him/her. If you have a demo dvd, play that! You may also be given a piece of copy to read for that particular person (whether they are legit, on-camera commercial, voice-over, soap, etc.) wine, cheese, baguettes, yummy munchies…
Jenevieve Brewer from “About Face”
Jenevieve’s coming back! Out of the 9 actors who came in to meet with her, 7 have been called in, sent on auditions, and already several have booked through her!!! Yeah!!!!
Dates/Time: Thurs, Aug. 6th, 7pm
Price: $65
Anyone who is on this mailing list, and would like to be removed, please email me at decasting@aol.com, and I will remove you promptly.
To study acting privately, or to take classes with fellow actors... That is the question.
I hear this “dilemma” a lot with new and prospective students: “I see you coach privately, and that you also offer on-camera and voice-over classes…which should I choose?” Ya know what I tell all of them? “SHAKE IT UP!” In my case, I don’t always offer on-going classes. They come up every couple/few months for anything from 4 – 6 weeks at a time. That’s when I advise my private students to “hop out” of private lessons (unless they either can afford both and/or are so serious about getting their craft together to take it on the road, so-to-speak.) There are pro’s to doing both. With one-on-one – whether it’s for on-camera, scene study, or voice-overs - especially with beginners - you get that well…one-on-one time for the whole lesson focused on YOU, YOUR GROWNG SKILLS, YOUR ABILITY, and your PROBLEM AREAS. This is the place and time where if any bad habits were going to form, your coach would catch them, work on them with you, and zap! strip you of them. This is where you grow and get those tools. The focus is 100% focused on you, you, and no one else but YOU.
In a class setting, you get to learn not only by getting your time up in front of the camera, or behind the mic, but with a time limit, in front of a “safe” audience: Your peers. Your fellow actors. And it feels more like a real audition at a real casting session. Pressure’s on. This is the place where you can learn from watching them, taking ideas from them, and putting yourself in perspective. Where do you stand in the class? Who would you like to be more like? Who inspires you to want to be better? Both situations rock, really. The point is to get out there and STUDY. Intensive one-on-one, and Watch-and-learn-and-get-up-there. So, I guess it’s pretty simple: Shake it up, baby.
Over an’ out.
Doriane Elliott
http://www.dorianeelliott.com
A day in the life
Okay. Have I sinned again? Well, looking at the date, all I can say is “you betcha!” and for that I apologize PROFUSELY! But WHY have I not been able to get to my beloved blog? And WHAT, you may ask, is the day-to-day life of a Casting Director/mother of a four year old – who, by the way, JUST booked his first PSA?! (Public Service Announcement)
Well, days that I don’t cast, I coach Actors like you. Sometimes my coaching sessions book-end my casting sessions. Sometimes I have a series of classes at night for either on-camera (which by the way is starting again April 15th, where I’ll be co-teaching with another fabulous Casting Director, Ian Weiss. Ian free-lances at a BUNCH of studios. Why is that good? Because when he’s setting up a session at any given studio, he thinks of his fav students, and calls them in – which is exactly what I do with all of my students. They not only come in to audition for me, but can sit and watch the pro’s for as long as they want, before putting their auditions down. pretty cool huh? But once again, I digress. Back to Ian and me: Two Casting Directors, to 5 students!!! And when I’m not doing that, I teach classes at the same State-of-the-art studio where I cast and produce demos. Phantom Audio. (http://www.phantomaudio.com)
It’s there where thousands of commercials, promos, and industrials are recorded each and every year. It's my "home away from home", and i'm so happy there....
I also host very cool, very chill, VERY laid back meet-and-greets with Top Agents and Casting Directors, where no more than eight very READY and talented actors sit, drink wine, and nibble on goodies with their guest, have a Q and A with them, and then have a nice chunk of time to meet with that guest alone in my teaching studio. There the actor meets with/reads copy for/plays his or her voice-over demo, and/or acting reel for them.
AND - drum roll, please! My newest venture is that I field auditions for an awesome voice- over talent management company out west. I receive dozens of auditions – both union and non – for commercials, industrials, and promos each week. Keeps me busy, let me tell YOU! I then farm the auditions out to my great list of talent, most of whom have been my students. Some have home studios to send the mp3 the auditions to me, some come to my studio for coached auditions. It’s been pretty great, and I find myself CONSTANTLY looking for new fresh voices. Are you one of them???
Now, just because I’m fielding these auditions, don’t go run out and get studio equipment. My next blog – I promise – will be about the pros and cons of trying to put together a home studio set up. Honestly, mostly cons. What I’ll cover is the issue of having to self-direct. Of having to build a studio that has a sound that competes with everyone else’s out there. So many factors, your head will spin. So, save your money until you read that blog. Until then, and boy do I hope it’s soon, be well, keep studying, and stretching your acting muscles.
Over an’out,
Dor
http://www.dorianeelliott.com
Well, days that I don’t cast, I coach Actors like you. Sometimes my coaching sessions book-end my casting sessions. Sometimes I have a series of classes at night for either on-camera (which by the way is starting again April 15th, where I’ll be co-teaching with another fabulous Casting Director, Ian Weiss. Ian free-lances at a BUNCH of studios. Why is that good? Because when he’s setting up a session at any given studio, he thinks of his fav students, and calls them in – which is exactly what I do with all of my students. They not only come in to audition for me, but can sit and watch the pro’s for as long as they want, before putting their auditions down. pretty cool huh? But once again, I digress. Back to Ian and me: Two Casting Directors, to 5 students!!! And when I’m not doing that, I teach classes at the same State-of-the-art studio where I cast and produce demos. Phantom Audio. (http://www.phantomaudio.com)
It’s there where thousands of commercials, promos, and industrials are recorded each and every year. It's my "home away from home", and i'm so happy there....
I also host very cool, very chill, VERY laid back meet-and-greets with Top Agents and Casting Directors, where no more than eight very READY and talented actors sit, drink wine, and nibble on goodies with their guest, have a Q and A with them, and then have a nice chunk of time to meet with that guest alone in my teaching studio. There the actor meets with/reads copy for/plays his or her voice-over demo, and/or acting reel for them.
AND - drum roll, please! My newest venture is that I field auditions for an awesome voice- over talent management company out west. I receive dozens of auditions – both union and non – for commercials, industrials, and promos each week. Keeps me busy, let me tell YOU! I then farm the auditions out to my great list of talent, most of whom have been my students. Some have home studios to send the mp3 the auditions to me, some come to my studio for coached auditions. It’s been pretty great, and I find myself CONSTANTLY looking for new fresh voices. Are you one of them???
Now, just because I’m fielding these auditions, don’t go run out and get studio equipment. My next blog – I promise – will be about the pros and cons of trying to put together a home studio set up. Honestly, mostly cons. What I’ll cover is the issue of having to self-direct. Of having to build a studio that has a sound that competes with everyone else’s out there. So many factors, your head will spin. So, save your money until you read that blog. Until then, and boy do I hope it’s soon, be well, keep studying, and stretching your acting muscles.
Over an’out,
Dor
http://www.dorianeelliott.com
okay, you asked for it...
okay, peeps: i've been getting emails from folks saying: when are you going to have more CLASSES? well, here ya go. go to town! turns out, i've been missing them, too! also, i'm looking for more fresh new voices of all kinds - non-union and union - for auditions with an agency i've hooked up with. if you have GOOD demos, send them my way. if you're interested in learning more about continual voice-over auditions, read below, and check out my "One Night Only" seminars, where i give you an introduction to VO's, and i'll assess you to see your level and skill. if i think you're great, i start auditioning you immediately. if you have no experience but have promise, i'll encourage you to continue to study. if i think this may NOT be the thing for you...I'm brutally honest, as most of you know. i'll break it to ya gently. which reminds me: my next blog will be about the pros and cons of having your own "set up". most people spend all kinds of money to have their own recording set up - and find they're not ready to be out in the big bad world all by themselves. they lack studio experience, knowledge in voice-overs AND in technology... stay tuned, my readers, it will certainly be eye-opening... okay. so here goes. a little something for everyone...to learn more about HOW and WHY i teach, please visit my site at: www.dorianeelliott.com
UP-AND-COMING CLASSES/SEMINARS WITH CASTING DIRECTOR
DORIANE ELLIOTT (AND SOME CO-COACHES, TOO!!!)
*VO CLASSES FOR ALL LEVELS
*KIDS/TEENS VO WORKSHOP
*ON-CAMERA CLASSES. 2 COACHES/4 STUDENTS (WOW!)
*”PLAY TO WIN”: AGENT/CASTING DIRECTOR MEET’N GREETS
VOICE-OVERS:
PLEASE NOTE: THE FOLLOWING VO CLASSES WILL BE TAKING PLACE AT PHANTOM AUDIO, (http://www.phantomaudio.com) A STATE-OF-THE-ART RECORDING/PRODUCTION STUDIO, WHERE DORIANE CASTS, AND WHERE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF COMMERCIALS, INDUSTRIALS, PROMOS (AND MORE) HAVE BEEN PRODUCED. THIS IS ALSO WHERE DORIANE PRODUCES HER STUDENT’S DEMOS, WITH THE HEAD ENGINEER OF PHANTOM.
EACH CLASS IS LIMITED TO A GROUP OF 8, (QUALITY - NOT QUANTITY, PEOPLE!) SO EVERYONE GETS ENOUGH ATTENTION, MIC AND PLAYBACK TIME. STUDENTS ARE RECORDED ON PRO-TOOLS, JUST AS IF YOU WERE IN ONE OF DORIANE’S CASTING SESSIONS!
Copy Boot Camp. Okay. You asked for it. No, really – you did.
Three week brush-up seminar at Phantom Audio. (http://www.phantomaudio.com) Limited to 8 people, so as always, you’ll get good mic time. This is for SOLO reads only, intermediate to advanced only. You’ll be up in front of your peers reading longer spots, recorded on pro-tools. No edits! Ha!!! Definitely a vocal, reading, and nerves workout. Yes, a butt-kicker. But pain, is GOOD. Just know we’re ALL there to support, and give constructive criticism.
And though you won’t be reading the “fun” spots together, we’ll still make this boot camp a constructive and fun experience. Promise.
Dates: wed, march 4th, 11th, and 18thth
Time: 7pm
Place: Phantom Audio large room
Price: $240
One Nite Only: An Introduction to Voice-Overs.
A basic overview, with MIC time! Ooh, yeah, baby! A rockin’ studio, an awesome Casting Director, and a fun and informative nite of learning! Everything you wanted to know about the Art and Skill of VO’s, and how to get started. Learn how to break down a piece of copy, how to go over it correctly – with Doriane’s tried and true“FLAT, FLUID, and SMALL” technique. In this session, Doriane will determine your level of skill, and talent for this niche, and If you’re ready, she’ll start calling you in for auditions! You’ll learn the important does and dont's when going into a commercial audition, and how body language can make the read, plus much, much more!
Date: Thurs, March 26th,
Time: 7pm
Place: Phantom Audio, large room
Price: $50
Beginning Voice-overs: The adventure begins…
Okay. You’ve been told you have a great voice for Voice-Overs.
You’ve been behind the mic, but basically have no sound technique. Start getting comfortable breaking down copy, and feeling at ease behind the mic in the same state-of-the-art recording studio, Phantom Audio (http://www.phantomaudio) with the coolest, easiest goin’ Casting Director in NYC! This class will still have you up behind that AKG 414, in that booth, taking direction, and continuing to learn the art, craft, and skill of VO’s. You’ll be recorded on Pro-tools, and will listen to playback so you can hear your progress. And…if you’re good… there will be a surprise guest at the end of the session!
“she makes you WANT to learn, and laugh while you’re learning! I still get coaching from Doriane, after all these years as a successful voice-over actor!”- Timothi Jane Graham (http://www.timothijanegraham.com)
Dates: Tuesdays, April 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th.
Time: 7pm
Place: Phantom Audio, large room
Price: $350
Kids and Teens Voice-Over Camp:
This fun and exciting class will help kids and teens learn all about doing voice-overs; breaking down copy, and learning the correct way of going over it without getting stuck on one way of saying it. Here, they learn to be able to “switch gears” on a dime. They will also learn about body language, but staying behind the mic. They will be given solo pieces, as well as copy where they are acting with fellow students. On the 5th week, agents will come to a showcase and listen to the students perform their copy in the booth, behind the mic. Each student will perform at least 3 times.
Dates: Wednesdays, March 25th, April 1st, 8th,15th, and showcase on the 22nd.
Time: 6:30
Place: Phantom Audio, large room
Price: $500
Intermediate/Advanced VO’s: By Invite only.
Sorry, newbies, it’s for your own good. When you’ve gotten to this stage, it means you’re ready to be seen and heard by the agents. Hopefully by this point, your demo has been recorded. Why? Two reasons: your reel is your calling card. It’s your audio head-shot. Also, when agents/casting directors come to hear you live, we also hold ‘em hostage to listen to your demos as well! Why not? They’re there, right?! This fun class blends solo reads with reading in pairs – acting and Reacting with your fellow students.
TBA
ON-CAMERA:
Commercial On-Camera. You asked for this, too, so here goes:
Four week on-camera class with not one, but two coaches to four students. This class will focus on getting comfortable in front of the camera, specifically doing commercial copy. My co-coach will be Patrick Johnson, who’s DEFINITELY comfortable in front of the camera. No, he’s not a porn star, but started out as one of the first famous male models out there, and went on to acting in commercials, TV shows, plays, etc. He is also a producer, and teaches/coaches actors and models literally all over this flippin’ country. We will also be available for private coaching on Tuesdays, for going over and preparing for monologues, commercial copy, and/or audition sides. Look out for more on-camera sessions with a couple of other coaches I may be teaming up with, just to shake things up!!!!
Dates: Tue, Feb. 24th, March 3rd, 10th,17th
Time: 6pm
Price: $240
PLAY TO WIN: MEET AND GREETS WITH AGENTS AND CASTING DIRECTORS: By Invite only.
at these very civilized, cool, laid-back and very informal meet and greets, eight of you will have the opportunity to get about 20 minutes of Q&A with our guest, and then get 5 – 7 minutes alone with that person. If you have a voice-over demo, play it for him/her. If you have a demo dvd, play that! You may also be given a piece of copy to read for that particular person (whether they are legit, on-camera commercial, voice-over, soap, etc.) munchies/drinks, too!
Dates/Times: TBA
Price: $65
UP-AND-COMING CLASSES/SEMINARS WITH CASTING DIRECTOR
DORIANE ELLIOTT (AND SOME CO-COACHES, TOO!!!)
*VO CLASSES FOR ALL LEVELS
*KIDS/TEENS VO WORKSHOP
*ON-CAMERA CLASSES. 2 COACHES/4 STUDENTS (WOW!)
*”PLAY TO WIN”: AGENT/CASTING DIRECTOR MEET’N GREETS
VOICE-OVERS:
PLEASE NOTE: THE FOLLOWING VO CLASSES WILL BE TAKING PLACE AT PHANTOM AUDIO, (http://www.phantomaudio.com) A STATE-OF-THE-ART RECORDING/PRODUCTION STUDIO, WHERE DORIANE CASTS, AND WHERE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF COMMERCIALS, INDUSTRIALS, PROMOS (AND MORE) HAVE BEEN PRODUCED. THIS IS ALSO WHERE DORIANE PRODUCES HER STUDENT’S DEMOS, WITH THE HEAD ENGINEER OF PHANTOM.
EACH CLASS IS LIMITED TO A GROUP OF 8, (QUALITY - NOT QUANTITY, PEOPLE!) SO EVERYONE GETS ENOUGH ATTENTION, MIC AND PLAYBACK TIME. STUDENTS ARE RECORDED ON PRO-TOOLS, JUST AS IF YOU WERE IN ONE OF DORIANE’S CASTING SESSIONS!
Copy Boot Camp. Okay. You asked for it. No, really – you did.
Three week brush-up seminar at Phantom Audio. (http://www.phantomaudio.com) Limited to 8 people, so as always, you’ll get good mic time. This is for SOLO reads only, intermediate to advanced only. You’ll be up in front of your peers reading longer spots, recorded on pro-tools. No edits! Ha!!! Definitely a vocal, reading, and nerves workout. Yes, a butt-kicker. But pain, is GOOD. Just know we’re ALL there to support, and give constructive criticism.
And though you won’t be reading the “fun” spots together, we’ll still make this boot camp a constructive and fun experience. Promise.
Dates: wed, march 4th, 11th, and 18thth
Time: 7pm
Place: Phantom Audio large room
Price: $240
One Nite Only: An Introduction to Voice-Overs.
A basic overview, with MIC time! Ooh, yeah, baby! A rockin’ studio, an awesome Casting Director, and a fun and informative nite of learning! Everything you wanted to know about the Art and Skill of VO’s, and how to get started. Learn how to break down a piece of copy, how to go over it correctly – with Doriane’s tried and true“FLAT, FLUID, and SMALL” technique. In this session, Doriane will determine your level of skill, and talent for this niche, and If you’re ready, she’ll start calling you in for auditions! You’ll learn the important does and dont's when going into a commercial audition, and how body language can make the read, plus much, much more!
Date: Thurs, March 26th,
Time: 7pm
Place: Phantom Audio, large room
Price: $50
Beginning Voice-overs: The adventure begins…
Okay. You’ve been told you have a great voice for Voice-Overs.
You’ve been behind the mic, but basically have no sound technique. Start getting comfortable breaking down copy, and feeling at ease behind the mic in the same state-of-the-art recording studio, Phantom Audio (http://www.phantomaudio) with the coolest, easiest goin’ Casting Director in NYC! This class will still have you up behind that AKG 414, in that booth, taking direction, and continuing to learn the art, craft, and skill of VO’s. You’ll be recorded on Pro-tools, and will listen to playback so you can hear your progress. And…if you’re good… there will be a surprise guest at the end of the session!
“she makes you WANT to learn, and laugh while you’re learning! I still get coaching from Doriane, after all these years as a successful voice-over actor!”- Timothi Jane Graham (http://www.timothijanegraham.com)
Dates: Tuesdays, April 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th.
Time: 7pm
Place: Phantom Audio, large room
Price: $350
Kids and Teens Voice-Over Camp:
This fun and exciting class will help kids and teens learn all about doing voice-overs; breaking down copy, and learning the correct way of going over it without getting stuck on one way of saying it. Here, they learn to be able to “switch gears” on a dime. They will also learn about body language, but staying behind the mic. They will be given solo pieces, as well as copy where they are acting with fellow students. On the 5th week, agents will come to a showcase and listen to the students perform their copy in the booth, behind the mic. Each student will perform at least 3 times.
Dates: Wednesdays, March 25th, April 1st, 8th,15th, and showcase on the 22nd.
Time: 6:30
Place: Phantom Audio, large room
Price: $500
Intermediate/Advanced VO’s: By Invite only.
Sorry, newbies, it’s for your own good. When you’ve gotten to this stage, it means you’re ready to be seen and heard by the agents. Hopefully by this point, your demo has been recorded. Why? Two reasons: your reel is your calling card. It’s your audio head-shot. Also, when agents/casting directors come to hear you live, we also hold ‘em hostage to listen to your demos as well! Why not? They’re there, right?! This fun class blends solo reads with reading in pairs – acting and Reacting with your fellow students.
TBA
ON-CAMERA:
Commercial On-Camera. You asked for this, too, so here goes:
Four week on-camera class with not one, but two coaches to four students. This class will focus on getting comfortable in front of the camera, specifically doing commercial copy. My co-coach will be Patrick Johnson, who’s DEFINITELY comfortable in front of the camera. No, he’s not a porn star, but started out as one of the first famous male models out there, and went on to acting in commercials, TV shows, plays, etc. He is also a producer, and teaches/coaches actors and models literally all over this flippin’ country. We will also be available for private coaching on Tuesdays, for going over and preparing for monologues, commercial copy, and/or audition sides. Look out for more on-camera sessions with a couple of other coaches I may be teaming up with, just to shake things up!!!!
Dates: Tue, Feb. 24th, March 3rd, 10th,17th
Time: 6pm
Price: $240
PLAY TO WIN: MEET AND GREETS WITH AGENTS AND CASTING DIRECTORS: By Invite only.
at these very civilized, cool, laid-back and very informal meet and greets, eight of you will have the opportunity to get about 20 minutes of Q&A with our guest, and then get 5 – 7 minutes alone with that person. If you have a voice-over demo, play it for him/her. If you have a demo dvd, play that! You may also be given a piece of copy to read for that particular person (whether they are legit, on-camera commercial, voice-over, soap, etc.) munchies/drinks, too!
Dates/Times: TBA
Price: $65
“I can’t get started!”
Hello!
See? As promised, not too much time has passed since my last blog. Okay. Today, I’m going to write about something that comes up quite frequently with actors when starting off commercial copy - whether it be on camera, or voice-over. I get things like “I know the first sentence was terrible, but then I settled into the copy.” Or “How do I start this off and sound natural?!” There are three things I teach my students that completely help get the most natural sounding, and clean start to a piece of commercial copy.
Here’s an example, but use these suggestions with any copy. Say your first line is “Don’t let painful arthritis flare-ups keep you down.” And you’re thinkin’, okay. How do I make this sentence sound real, genuine, informative, but empathetic, etc.
You can:
Imagine someone asking you a question, or telling you what their problem is, specific to the product you’re selling. So, you imagine your friend, a co-worker, family member, patient -if you’re playing a doctor - anyone who’d fit in with the circumstance or situation you’ve put yourself in for your audition, and in your head, just before you start saying the copy, you hear something like “when I wake up in the morning, my hands are so stiff, I can’t make a fist!” or “the arthritis in my knee is killing me!” and you start off your copy with the line “don’t let painful arthritis flare-ups get you down”. Now you sound authentic. You can also answer a made up question. You hear “did you know my arthritis is so bad that I sometimes can’t walk? Or “isn’t there anything I can take for these aches and pains?” and you answer with “don’t let painful arthritis flare-ups keep you down”. So in fact, you’re setting up the set-up. A made up question or problem has been stated you’re answering and thereby setting up the commercial with the spoken problem, which sets YOU up for giving the solution. Geez. I hope that made sense. But I digress. Again, this topic is focused on getting a clean entrance to a piece of commercial copy.
Another way to get that authentic, real entrance, is by implying a “hey” or “Ya know”. In this case, I think the “hey” might work better: you imply “hey”. Then start with “don’t let painful…” so, here’s how it would sound when put together. “hey, don’t let painful arthritis flare-ups keep you down”. See? As my husband would say, “easy-peazy, one-two-threezy”.
The last way of getting a clean and noticeable start to a piece of commercial copy is something I refer to as “falling leaf”, which I’d have to either try and draw for you, or show you physically. I teach it to all my students, and they, agree, it works like a charm. The only way I can describe it to you, is - imagine a wind kicking up, and a leaf gets blown up off it’s branch, and then falls down (and then up a bit) and lands on the ground (which would be the end of the sentence.) I know this sounds so way out there and weird, but I promise, it’s as simple as all get-out, and is an awesome way of starting a sentence. I wish I could show you. Well, come on in for a lesson or a class, and I’ll teach ya more tricks of the trade than you could ever imagine… hope this helped,
Over an’ out,
Dor
http://www.dorianeelliott.com
See? As promised, not too much time has passed since my last blog. Okay. Today, I’m going to write about something that comes up quite frequently with actors when starting off commercial copy - whether it be on camera, or voice-over. I get things like “I know the first sentence was terrible, but then I settled into the copy.” Or “How do I start this off and sound natural?!” There are three things I teach my students that completely help get the most natural sounding, and clean start to a piece of commercial copy.
Here’s an example, but use these suggestions with any copy. Say your first line is “Don’t let painful arthritis flare-ups keep you down.” And you’re thinkin’, okay. How do I make this sentence sound real, genuine, informative, but empathetic, etc.
You can:
Imagine someone asking you a question, or telling you what their problem is, specific to the product you’re selling. So, you imagine your friend, a co-worker, family member, patient -if you’re playing a doctor - anyone who’d fit in with the circumstance or situation you’ve put yourself in for your audition, and in your head, just before you start saying the copy, you hear something like “when I wake up in the morning, my hands are so stiff, I can’t make a fist!” or “the arthritis in my knee is killing me!” and you start off your copy with the line “don’t let painful arthritis flare-ups get you down”. Now you sound authentic. You can also answer a made up question. You hear “did you know my arthritis is so bad that I sometimes can’t walk? Or “isn’t there anything I can take for these aches and pains?” and you answer with “don’t let painful arthritis flare-ups keep you down”. So in fact, you’re setting up the set-up. A made up question or problem has been stated you’re answering and thereby setting up the commercial with the spoken problem, which sets YOU up for giving the solution. Geez. I hope that made sense. But I digress. Again, this topic is focused on getting a clean entrance to a piece of commercial copy.
Another way to get that authentic, real entrance, is by implying a “hey” or “Ya know”. In this case, I think the “hey” might work better: you imply “hey”. Then start with “don’t let painful…” so, here’s how it would sound when put together. “hey, don’t let painful arthritis flare-ups keep you down”. See? As my husband would say, “easy-peazy, one-two-threezy”.
The last way of getting a clean and noticeable start to a piece of commercial copy is something I refer to as “falling leaf”, which I’d have to either try and draw for you, or show you physically. I teach it to all my students, and they, agree, it works like a charm. The only way I can describe it to you, is - imagine a wind kicking up, and a leaf gets blown up off it’s branch, and then falls down (and then up a bit) and lands on the ground (which would be the end of the sentence.) I know this sounds so way out there and weird, but I promise, it’s as simple as all get-out, and is an awesome way of starting a sentence. I wish I could show you. Well, come on in for a lesson or a class, and I’ll teach ya more tricks of the trade than you could ever imagine… hope this helped,
Over an’ out,
Dor
http://www.dorianeelliott.com
Forgive me readers, for I have sinned. It has been waaaaaaay too long since my last blog…
Hey, kids! So sorry it’s taken me like…FOREVER to write a blog. So many students, so many casting sessions, so little time! Also, I’m kinda in construction hell at the moment; I’ll have a new, bright and airy corner room to coach all of my students – both for voice-overs and for on-camera. For more information about that, please visit my site at www.dorianeelliott.com.
A lot of my newer students are asking me if because of the economic situation, will there be work out there for them. Well, yeah, it’s a bit slower, but…when you turn on the TV and the radio, are you seeing and hearing commercials??? You betcha. There may not be as MUCH stuff going on, but it’s there. And while it’s a bit slower, hone in on your skills, folks. Because I promise you this: what goes up, goes down. (see economy.) And what goes down, goes back up again. And while I’m at it, I (sadly) say that it’s a non-union market out there. So take advantage. It’s a numbers game, so play to win, and as often as you can.
Why did I say “sadly??” Because I still believe in the unions; fair representation, regulations in payments health and pension, etc. And honestly, the best-of-the best are in the unions. But while you’re NOT in the unions, sharpen those skills and get that experience under your belt! Take lessons, go out on those auditions, get your reels, pictures and resumes ready, and be prepared for the up-swing. Like I mentioned in one of my last blogs, BE PREPARED. (I think I wrote that, like five times, to make sure it would sink in.) So, to summarize: is there work? OH, YEAH. Now get out there, and go, go, GO!
til next time - and i promise it'll be soon...
dor
http://www.dorianeelliott.com
A lot of my newer students are asking me if because of the economic situation, will there be work out there for them. Well, yeah, it’s a bit slower, but…when you turn on the TV and the radio, are you seeing and hearing commercials??? You betcha. There may not be as MUCH stuff going on, but it’s there. And while it’s a bit slower, hone in on your skills, folks. Because I promise you this: what goes up, goes down. (see economy.) And what goes down, goes back up again. And while I’m at it, I (sadly) say that it’s a non-union market out there. So take advantage. It’s a numbers game, so play to win, and as often as you can.
Why did I say “sadly??” Because I still believe in the unions; fair representation, regulations in payments health and pension, etc. And honestly, the best-of-the best are in the unions. But while you’re NOT in the unions, sharpen those skills and get that experience under your belt! Take lessons, go out on those auditions, get your reels, pictures and resumes ready, and be prepared for the up-swing. Like I mentioned in one of my last blogs, BE PREPARED. (I think I wrote that, like five times, to make sure it would sink in.) So, to summarize: is there work? OH, YEAH. Now get out there, and go, go, GO!
til next time - and i promise it'll be soon...
dor
http://www.dorianeelliott.com
How Important is it to have one’s own website? Uh….pretty darn important…
When some of my students, who are working New York actors ask me “ya think I should have a website?’ My answer is this: “You of all people should know the answer to that!” Get with the times!
I mean, how often do you find yourself Googling someone? Now, in most cases, my New York working-actor-students can be either found on IMDB (if you don’t know what that is, look it up – one day you want to see your name/bio listed there) or written up for some play, movie, TV show, etc. So, yeah! Show your wares, peeps! Put your acting/voice-over reels on them, headshot, bio, and contact info on them. Anything you can think of that makes you accessible, noticed, known. Don’t make agents, casting directors, and producers hunt you down. Cause you know what? They’ll stop looking, and find someone else who’s easier to find, and who might have more credits, thus being easier to find.
So really, it’s a win-win situation for the lesser-known (or not known at all) actor, just so he/she can be reached. (Start off with just your headshot, resume, and contact info, and add as you go. Again - clips, reels, whatever you start collecting that shows off your talents. Just be professional.) And for the actor with more credits, stockpile, man! Just make it look great, and easy to get around. Don’t fill it up with so much stuff that it’s hard to navigate.
The guy who did my site - and my husband’s for that matter - was not only BEYOND reasonable, but AWESOME to work with. His name is Wade Smith. In fact, I’m meeting with him shortly to update my site. Wade says about having your own website: “At its simplest, a basic website listing your contact info is essential to doing business today. If a name/business search on Google can't find you then you're invisible to your audience. A strong website will offer increased exposure and further your brand. It's a no brainer that a professional website should be the foundation of any venture.” To learn more about Wade, check out his website at: www.yeswade.com. And while you’re at it, check out his awesome work at my website, www.dorianeelliott.com. There, you’ll see a lot of the National TV and radio commercials that I have cast – as well as promos and industrials, my coaching services, demo reels that I have produced, and believe it or not, my own voice-over reel, jingle reel, and songs that I have written and sung on that are currently in rotation on “All My Children”. You can also check out my husband’ site, www.stevenogg.com. There, you’ll see all of the commercials, promos, etc. that my husband’s voice is on. It’s an easy-to-get-around, fun fantastic site that Wade put his magic touch on. You can also go to our resident photographer’s sites (Wade did no do these sites, but they’re also terrific) www.timothiphoto.com, and her voice-over website www.timothijanegraham.com.
Happy hunting. Happy creating!!!
Over an’ out,
Doriane
http://www.dorianeelliott.com
I mean, how often do you find yourself Googling someone? Now, in most cases, my New York working-actor-students can be either found on IMDB (if you don’t know what that is, look it up – one day you want to see your name/bio listed there) or written up for some play, movie, TV show, etc. So, yeah! Show your wares, peeps! Put your acting/voice-over reels on them, headshot, bio, and contact info on them. Anything you can think of that makes you accessible, noticed, known. Don’t make agents, casting directors, and producers hunt you down. Cause you know what? They’ll stop looking, and find someone else who’s easier to find, and who might have more credits, thus being easier to find.
So really, it’s a win-win situation for the lesser-known (or not known at all) actor, just so he/she can be reached. (Start off with just your headshot, resume, and contact info, and add as you go. Again - clips, reels, whatever you start collecting that shows off your talents. Just be professional.) And for the actor with more credits, stockpile, man! Just make it look great, and easy to get around. Don’t fill it up with so much stuff that it’s hard to navigate.
The guy who did my site - and my husband’s for that matter - was not only BEYOND reasonable, but AWESOME to work with. His name is Wade Smith. In fact, I’m meeting with him shortly to update my site. Wade says about having your own website: “At its simplest, a basic website listing your contact info is essential to doing business today. If a name/business search on Google can't find you then you're invisible to your audience. A strong website will offer increased exposure and further your brand. It's a no brainer that a professional website should be the foundation of any venture.” To learn more about Wade, check out his website at: www.yeswade.com. And while you’re at it, check out his awesome work at my website, www.dorianeelliott.com. There, you’ll see a lot of the National TV and radio commercials that I have cast – as well as promos and industrials, my coaching services, demo reels that I have produced, and believe it or not, my own voice-over reel, jingle reel, and songs that I have written and sung on that are currently in rotation on “All My Children”. You can also check out my husband’ site, www.stevenogg.com. There, you’ll see all of the commercials, promos, etc. that my husband’s voice is on. It’s an easy-to-get-around, fun fantastic site that Wade put his magic touch on. You can also go to our resident photographer’s sites (Wade did no do these sites, but they’re also terrific) www.timothiphoto.com, and her voice-over website www.timothijanegraham.com.
Happy hunting. Happy creating!!!
Over an’ out,
Doriane
http://www.dorianeelliott.com
No-showers and late-comers need not apply
No-showers and late-comers need not apply
…or I guess I could have titled this “the casting director’s lament…or RANT!”,
Being an actor involves so many facets. To merely have the innate talent, for starters. To be an outstanding reader. To have the ability to see a piece of commercial copy, or sides for a TV show or movie, and be able to break it down. To be able to imagine yourself in that particular situation, and take a guess as to what the music bed or sound effects might be “up and under” where your dialogue is taking place…all of that, PLUS the good sense to treat the craft of acting as a BUSINESS. Be responsible. Show up. ON TIME. Don’t be someone who becomes known for his or her tardiness, for being unprepared, and even worse yet, a no-show. Shake off any attitude that you think might be acceptable (because it’s not) before walking through the casting director and agent’s door.
BE PROFESSIONAL.
Leave that unacceptable stuff to the celebrities. And even with them, after a while that becomes tired. People stop using them on projects, as well as endorsements. If they waste too much time and money – and folks stop using them - you bet your bottom dollar that casting directors, agents, and producers won’t give you the time of day. And believe me, once you have that reputation, it’s very hard to shake. If you think you’re such a great one-of-a-kind, think again. My husband, who is a well known voice-over artist, always says “we’re trained monkeys. There are TONS of guys who can do my job. Everyone’s replaceable.” And ya know what? He’s right. So in order to not be replaced,
BE PROFESSIONAL.
I have seen such talented actors become talented actors who don’t work. Not because it’s the luck of the draw, because they either didn’t attack their career as a business, or because of all that negative stuff I just mentioned above. Or both. If you’re serious about acting, make yourself a montra. Take down a list. Write an affirmation. What ever works for you, that states that you WILL show up. You WILL NOT be late. YOU will Not cancel last minute. You WILL give yourself enough time so that you’re MORE than prepared to rattle off that copy/sides/script. That you WILL leave your negative attitude at the door. That you WILL NOT give out your opinions about how poorly the script is written. (And believe me, there are some bad writers out there.) That you will make it YOUR business to make the words work, and come to life. That you will persevere. Follow leads. Shake off rejection and take direction and criticism as something positive.
BE PROFESSIONAL.
Over an’ out,
Doriane
http://www.dorianeelliott.com
…or I guess I could have titled this “the casting director’s lament…or RANT!”,
Being an actor involves so many facets. To merely have the innate talent, for starters. To be an outstanding reader. To have the ability to see a piece of commercial copy, or sides for a TV show or movie, and be able to break it down. To be able to imagine yourself in that particular situation, and take a guess as to what the music bed or sound effects might be “up and under” where your dialogue is taking place…all of that, PLUS the good sense to treat the craft of acting as a BUSINESS. Be responsible. Show up. ON TIME. Don’t be someone who becomes known for his or her tardiness, for being unprepared, and even worse yet, a no-show. Shake off any attitude that you think might be acceptable (because it’s not) before walking through the casting director and agent’s door.
BE PROFESSIONAL.
Leave that unacceptable stuff to the celebrities. And even with them, after a while that becomes tired. People stop using them on projects, as well as endorsements. If they waste too much time and money – and folks stop using them - you bet your bottom dollar that casting directors, agents, and producers won’t give you the time of day. And believe me, once you have that reputation, it’s very hard to shake. If you think you’re such a great one-of-a-kind, think again. My husband, who is a well known voice-over artist, always says “we’re trained monkeys. There are TONS of guys who can do my job. Everyone’s replaceable.” And ya know what? He’s right. So in order to not be replaced,
BE PROFESSIONAL.
I have seen such talented actors become talented actors who don’t work. Not because it’s the luck of the draw, because they either didn’t attack their career as a business, or because of all that negative stuff I just mentioned above. Or both. If you’re serious about acting, make yourself a montra. Take down a list. Write an affirmation. What ever works for you, that states that you WILL show up. You WILL NOT be late. YOU will Not cancel last minute. You WILL give yourself enough time so that you’re MORE than prepared to rattle off that copy/sides/script. That you WILL leave your negative attitude at the door. That you WILL NOT give out your opinions about how poorly the script is written. (And believe me, there are some bad writers out there.) That you will make it YOUR business to make the words work, and come to life. That you will persevere. Follow leads. Shake off rejection and take direction and criticism as something positive.
BE PROFESSIONAL.
Over an’ out,
Doriane
http://www.dorianeelliott.com
Is that your clothes I hear???
When going to an audition of any kind - voice over, on-camera commercial, or legit – never wear noisy clothing, unless, for some crazy reason, you were requested to come in wearing such items of clothing. I know this may sound obvious, but it’s amazing the amount of noisy clothing that has swished, cracked, and jingle-jangled into my casting sessions…
When you’re auditioning, body language is key. When we speak, we use our arms, our shoulders, and our hands to express ourselves. Our heads move. So if you’re trying to be as natural as possible, and are in fact using all of those body parts to BE natural, wearing a leather jacket that creeeeeeeeeks, or a very starched shirt, or even running jacket (or pants for that matter) are going to take away from your performance, and distract the Casting Directors – as well as the Advertising agency folks AND their clients – to no end.
It’s amazing how many items of clothing that can actually take away from a great take. Even the ” silent” items. For instance, when going into a voice over audition, people come in wearing baseball caps. Yes, they’re silent. Until one hits either the mic or the pop screen. Then all I hear on my side of the glass is a heavy thud! A perfectly good take, ruined.
Women come in with long earrings and bracelets. One move expressing themselves with their head and/or hands, and that jangly noise takes over in the headphones/speakers, and even on camera. Men come in with change in their pockets, and watches with metal bands.
And cell phones! Don’t turn them onto vibrate, turn them off. You’re in there anywhere from three to seven minutes. Be courteous. Be professional. You want to impress the New York Casting Directors, not put them off because you didn’t think ahead about how what you’re wearing might effect your auditions.
So. Be very aware of what you where when going into your audition.
Until next week –
Doriane
http://www.dorianeelliott.com/
Uh…is that…YOU??!!!
You never want to hear that from an agent, let alone a casting director—especially on an audition. It could really rattle you…
Just as important it is for your reel to be your calling card in voice-overs, so is your head shot for anything on-camera. I can’t tell you how essential it is to look like your photo, and vice versa. Some actors come in, and It’s clear they haven’t updated their head shot in years! Styles change, and so do our faces. This, my dear New York Acting readers, is vital imformation. Keep your photo fresh, updated, and HONEST!
Another thing I get is a lovely current picture, but the person’s face is SO re-touched, he/she looks ten years younger, and sooooooooo pretty! If you want to look as beautiful as your VERY re-touched photo, go out and get the work done to match your photo! Some re-touching is fine. When walking into a New York Audition, you want the Casting Director to know how nice you CAN look. You know the expression, “ya clean up well!”. Well, show ‘em how well you can clean up, but LOOK LIKE YOUR DARN PHOTO!!!!
When agents submit a dishonest photo, we Casting Directors are very disappointed. Upon seeing the actor, we’re like “uh…is this…YOU?” or “when exactly was this taken?” You don’t want a strike against you before you even slate your name…
The Person who took my photo for this blog is Timothi Jane Graham. She happens to write the blog for the Headshot section on this site. I am NOT an actor, and asked that she keep my photo natural. Bags and all. No re-touching. I now have sent several students of mine to her, and the photos have been fabulous. AMAZING. Check out her site. Yes, she does some re-touching here and there, but minimal, and sooooo respectful to the actor’s face. She gets it. She’s not for the all-out beauty shot when it comes to head shots. She actually scopes out locations for each individual actor. Cool, NY places she KNOWS where the actor will shine and stand out all on his or her own.
For me, as a New York Casting Director, I want to feel something when I look at someone’s photo. And when I meet that actor face-to-face, I want to know that that photo is true to who he/she is, and equally important, that the photo more than resembles the face.
Don’t make the agents and casting directors wonder if it’s really you, or wonder when the photo was taken. Stay updated, stay fresh, and keep it real.
Til next week!!!