I'm totally right for it! And other stressful phrases from pilot season

A breakdown comes out: mid-20's caucasian, charming, smart, quick.

You're on the phone with your agent, it's perfect, the CD knows me, why am I not getting in?

OH SO MANY REASONS.

1. They really wanted ethnic, tall, short, blonde, red-head (pick anything you are not) they just didn't release it into the breakdown. Why? Because they like to torture you that's why.
2. They're really just offering it to a name, but are releasing the breakdown anyway. Just in case, but really that's a lie, they'll find  a name. I promise.
3. Yes, they want mid-20's caucasian, charming, smart & quick and also from ICM, WME and CAA. Oh they didn't mention that part? oops.

You get the idea.

So do you just give up?

No.

Why?

Because one of these days those super specific characteristics are going to actually BE you. one of these days they won't find a name that everyone at the network likes. And one of these days everyone at ICM WME and CAA just won't be as right as you are.

So what do you do?

Just keep doing good work.

PILOT SEASON

Pilot season can be the best of times and worst of times, for most of us we claim it's the worst of times.

All we do is sit around and listen to other people tweet and post on Facebook and text about how they're just too busy to get a cup of coffee because they have so many auditions, casting directors make comments in workshops about understanding how crazy it can be to have three auditions in a day, and you're sitting there saying, who are these people and why are they not me???

They are very few and far between is who those people are.

So how do you survive?

Just do the work and the appointments will come. maybe not hundreds maybe not even ten, but what matters is the work.

Don't obsess about the people ahead of you because I guarantee you there are just as many people behind you jealous of where you are, so keep your head down and focus on the work.

How to Find Good Headshots

It's a tough decision. You grew some bangs. You changed your hair. You just want to do something different. So you say, "That's it I'm going to buck up and get some new pictures."Where do you start?
1. Don't go where your friends went, unless your friends look like you.
2. Go onto Argentum, they list all the photographers and have links to all their websites.
3. Look for pictures of people LIKE you. Maybe they do edgy really well. Maybe they do girl next door. Maybe their commercial shots are outstanding. What do you need? Look for that.
4. Absolutely demand a meeting. Anyone that won't take a meeting with you isn't worth your time.
5. Take all your old headshots for them to look at, tell them what you liked, didn't like, what you're trying to do differentl. The more specific you can be, the better job they will do. Think about going to the hairdresser, if you say cut it, who knows what they'll do, go in with ten different pictures from magazines, chances are they'll do a better job of what you want.
6. If you don't like them, don't shoot with them! This town does not have time or space for feeling nice or guilty. Move on.
7. If they're too expensive really think if you need three looks, can you make it work with just two? Can you be specific enough and clear enough to get it done with two?
8. Ladies do not skimp on hair and makeup. It's just not worth it.
9. The day of, just go and have fun, and stay focused on your goal. If you see a test shot and it's not right, speak up, it's your money!

Next..... how to pick the headshot.

Figuring out breakdowns without breakdowns

So maybe you get them. Maybe you don't. They're helpful sure. Maybe you see a role you're right for, you can bug your agent. maybe you see a CD you used to know really well moved to a new office. Great. But it doesn't matter what roles they have it matters WHO THEY CAST.

How can you figure that out?

One of the best untapped resources out there is still IMDB Pro.

Any time I'm deciding whether or not to take a worksop one of the first things I"ll do is go to IMDB Pro. I'll look at the show they're casting and look at every guest and co-star actor they've cast in as many episodes as I can have access to. I'll look at their credits, I'll look at their representation, you look at enough episodes you'll get a sense, "are they bringing in people like me?"

Spending Money on Auditions

A very interesting thing is happening in the world of actors now.

More and more you can continue to pay more money to have a better audition.

What do I mean by that?

You can tape yourself in your living room. Or you can go to the place down the street, or have a friend film you.

Or you can spend the money and go to a professional place, work with a coach, be lit, miked, and turn in a professional level tape for an audition.

So what do you do? Part of you is like - why am I PAYING my own money to audition? That doesn't seem right.

You're right. But neither does not getting the role even if you were fantastic because you remind the producer of their second cousin they no longer speak to. There are a lot of things that "aren't fair" about this business, and we do it anyway.

And here's the truth: once people do start spending the money on coaches, and professional tapes, etc. let's be honest - their tape is just gonna look better.

So what's a girl to do?

If you're going to spend the money - make sure it's well spent - make sure it's at a place who puts out good quality, make sure it's a place where you feel comfortable, if you're going to put something on tape, make sure it's a place where they'll let you do it 30 times if you want because why not, make sure there's a mirror, make sure they have what you need to make it the best possible tape it can be.

Finding Good Scenes for Prepared Reads

What works:

1. A scene with an arc, with a beginning, middle and end.
2. A balance in dialogue
3. A character that is not only reacting but also actively involved in the scene (ie. interrogation scenes are fine, but don't pick one where all they are doing is reacting, pick one where they have an active objective in the scene ie. hiding something, trying to manipulate someone etc)
4. A nice opening beat, and a good button at the end
5. Levels
6. A clear relationship

What doesn't work:

1. "overly charactery" it runs the risk of putting you in a very very sharp box, it should highlight a side of you, and capture some of your essence, where you can bring yourself not allow the CD to box you in
2. multiple people in the scene. keep it simple.
3. any hospital scene (it's fine if you're just sitting in a bed, or they draw blood, but not something that involves the words "stat" etc.)
4. where the reader starts and establishes the pace of the scene, unless you trust your reader you could be setting yourself up for failure. you should be the active character in the scene.
5. an interrogation scene that is designed to further the arc of the series regulars not you. because then you're just exposition.

Getting Feedback: Is it Worth it?

So you had a great audition. After 20 hours or so you haven't heard. Then you start to do the dance. Is it worth it calling to get feedback? You don't really want feedback, you just want a reason to call your agent and remind them about the audition and maybe spur the gods into giving you the role.
So you call.
And say: "hey it went great, would love to hear what they thought."
Then you think: wait, that was dumb. What if it wasn't good? What if they tell my agent something bad? What if I was going to get it but now they think I'm needy and they're going to give it to someone else?
After about a day of worrying (by the way, you have definitely by now not gotten the part)
You still haven't heard.
Your agent isn't calling you because it's bad. You're positive.
So you call and say: "hey did you get that feedback?"
And they say: "Yes, they thought you were great, you just weren't the right fit."

So. Was it worth it?