I think the fastest way to stardom these days is trying to break into the most popular type of TV right now–Reality TV! There are more reality shows on cable and basic cable then another type of Television programing. So in order to get your name out there you need to attend castings sessions and open calls. A lot of reality castings take place at  popular bars, restaurants, and hotels in your city or a city near you. Click here to access reality TV casting calls on InstantCast right now!

Currently, I’m a Production Assistant on 2 MTV shows: The Real World and America’s Next Dance Crew.  Read the rest of this entry »

People (including myself!) initially get attracted to the entertainment industry because it seems so glamorous. I remember when I was in college and trying to do everything I could to get in the door at MTV. I was having mentors review my resume, networking as much as possible, and constantly on the internet researching different contacts to reach out to: The hard work paid off and I landed my first internship at the MTV Studios! However, it was in the video library. No celebrity sightings, no opportunities to be on set, and I was lucky if I even got to be on the phone with a producer. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s no lie that there’s A LOT of competition in this business!  But whatever route you take in this business…be sure to do it with intention.  If you end up being one of the fortunate people to get national exposure or even local exposure…make the most out of your time in the limelight.  When I was casting for MTV’s My Super Sweet 16 we found a lot of kids who were doing just that.  Take Teyana Taylor for example.  She was already in works with Pharell to develop her career as an up and coming hip hop artist.  She applied for Sweet 16 before anyone really knew who she was.  She had the personality fit for the show and also some unique ideas that made her episode one of the highest rated on the network! Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve been casting a show for HGTV now for the past few months.  People who get opportunities like these usually aren’t accustomed to being on TV:  often reality TV talents don’t realize how much time it takes to make a show that ultimately only lasts 22 minutes on air!  A lot of work goes into making a show and non-actors are usually totally unaware of all of the work it takes to even select people for reality shows! Casting is not about just picking the prettiest faces in the bunch that apply.  The main things I look for when casting for reality TV are a good personality and a great story.

I also take into consideration how reliable the person seems.  Due to the time commitment, I wouldn’t want to risk casting someone who isn’t reliable. This is a fast paced business and if you want it, you need to make the big commitments or you might not be cut out for it! Read the rest of this entry »

Patience and understanding is a big part of this industry that is often overlooked.  As a Casting Director, I run into this because I’ve seen teenagers and adults become impatient working with children during classes and on set.  I’ve taught acting classes where the kids range from ages 3-18.  In some cases, we do not break up age groups and the younger kids read lines with the older kids.  I often hear complaints from the teenagers about the behavior of the younger kids in class.

Remember, part of being successful in this industry is honing in on your ability to acclimate yourself to all types of people and situations: Not everyone you work with will be at your level. It is important to stay focused and help out your acting partner rather than feeling “above” your comrade. If you are not in classes with children, rehearse with relatives or friends’ kids to prepare yourself for working with young actors. The more experience and understanding you have with this, the better you will look when you’re cast in this type of situation!

By: Casting Director Courtney Maglione

1. Update your InstantCast profile. Add new photos, upload new videos, and edit your profile information. We want to know what you’re up to!
2. Stand out from the competition with professional headshots from photographers we recommend.
3. Find support within the InstantCast community. Get advice from casting director Jenny and Courtney by clicking here and book a time to speak to them on the phone.
4. Let me to help you make a sleek, professional resume and cover letter readily available to email to casting directors and agencies nationwide. Click here to get going now.
5. Stay active on InstantCast. The more things you do, the more exposure you get, the more casting directors will see your name and notice you!

By: Isabelle Dungan, InstantCast Editor

It’s not too late to get yourself noticed on TV, news or Internet in the most amazing Halloween Costume. Do Internet research and watch TV: almost every single TV talk show has a Halloween show. Once you’ve got your costume organized you should attend different Halloween parties, gatherings, parades and NETWORK!

You should try to attend different events thrown by radio stations and or local TV stations. Maybe you will get interviewed and you can add these little events to your reel and or resume. Attending events like these are fun and exciting; they also mold you and teach you how to get your foot into the door. Remember to always act professional even though your outfit may be “out there!” Just remember to start your night early and plan ahead…the more creative the better chance you will get to get noticed!

Happy Halloween!

By: Casting Director Jenny Rawdin

It’s never easy to go through things alone…especially in this business where there are many ups and downs.  But sometimes those ups and downs can be exciting if you have the right person to experience things with.  There are a lot of people out their trying to find acting gigs, and although it is competitive, it helps to have a friend who has the same goals as you.  Having a partner can help you find new casting calls, keep you motivated, read lines with, work out with you, and give you sound advice. 

A good friend in the same industry can help you see the light during the struggles that come with just starting out.  It’s always nice to have a go to person that can probably relate to what you are going through…they may even end up inspiring you.  So instead of looking at others in your industry as a threat, team up and make the most out of the relationship.

By: Casting Director Courtney Maglione

The life of a performer can definitely be a roller coaster. You can go from working several gigs at once to none at all. This unpredictable spin makes life challenging and can affect you physically as well as emotionally.

Say you aren’t working– you might wake up everyday at noon and go to the gym, cook meals, run errands, meet up with friends. Then all of a sudden, you have a new gig that involves 12 hour days and a bad commute.

Read the rest of this entry »

Just about everyone feels most comfortable in their home city, where they have developed close relationships with friends and coworkers. It’s refreshing to go to your favorite coffee stop, see your local hairdresser, jog by your favorite park, and so on.

However, in this business, you may not always have the comfort of being in your hometown. But there are also amazing opportunities where you go on location!

And I know it sounds great, but I can tell you from personal experience that a long term adjustment is not always easy.

Read the rest of this entry »

Appearances ARE everything in this industry…and that goes for your on-paper appearance too! Let’s face it…chances are your first impression on a casting director will be on paper/via email…not in person. That’s why it’s extra important to have a sleek, gramatically correct resume and cover letter: one typo and you may be thrown into the wastebin! Click here to let me write your resume and cover letter today. I’m here to help you…let’s get going.

Just last week I wrote Melissa Perez’ resume and cover letter and resume. She was so impressed with our services that she’s now getting headshots through InstantCast. Click here to get your resume made right now.

By: Isabelle Dungan, InstantCast Editor