Ever notice how a film gives credit to the complete production crew and cast?  Well, it’s time you get acquainted with the duties and responsibilities of  some of the people mentioned.

Art Department: The Art Department works both on the set during the actual shooting process, and “prepares” the sets.
Art Department come all sorts of people, and there may be a skill here you fancy. Painters, Carpenters, Scenic Artists, Construction Foreman, Riggers (Grips),etc..etc.
Set decorator: A set decorator is in charge of the set dressing on a film set, which includes the furnishings, wallpaper, lighting fixtures, and many of the other objects that will be seen in the film
Casting Director. It involves reading the script and understanding which actor would be good for what role. This is not as easy at it sounds as you have to (a) know every actor in the world and (b) know which one fits the role. Once you’ve worked that out you have to find out if they are interested/available/affordable etc. You do all this in collaboration with the director and producer who naturally get the credit – or the grief – for the choices. Curiously you can only offer a role to one actor at a time, so movies frequently get hung up waiting for an actor to accept or reject an offer: naturally they hang on as long as possible to reply, knowing that the Producer can’t move on till they have.
Catering: Caterer get to the set very early in the morning (probably 5am) and never stop working for one moment in the day.. They do Breakfast, then Morning Tea, then Lunch for 1pm which might be 4pm and then Afternoon Tea. Somehow these miraculous human beings remain cheerful and bright and often serve astonishingly good food in appalling conditions.
Costume Department.
It’s not hard to imagine what they do. If you’re handy with a sewing machine or are a Brilliant Costume Designer, there’s a good job at the bottom of the “costume” ladder here. The Costume Designer is working behind the scenes, with an assistant who is actually responsible for the day to day fitting and maintaining of the costumes. Costume and Production Design is sometimes (but rarely) the same person.
Editor: A film or video editor is responsible for assembling raw material into a finished product suitable for broadcasting. The material they work with may consist of raw camera footage, dialogue, sound effects, graphics and special effects. This is a key role in the post-production process and the editor’s skill can determine the quality and delivery of the final product
The Sound Editor is also a crucial part of the editing process (there’s an Oscar for this too!). All those sound effects that are added are sometimes very subtle and you’d have to turn the picture off to hear them. In this department all kinds of people contribute both in terms of recording effects for post-production use, and also skillfully blending the final music from the composer into the movie, so that it balances well with the dialogue and effects. It can be a technically very complicated job (lots of nobs and dials!) but also very rewarding if you like listening very hard and are very smart.
Key Grip and Grips: This title seems to baffle the public more than any other – along with Best Boy. The Gaffer and the Key Grip both have a Best Boy.. Sometimes the Best Boy is a Girl but she’s still called the Best Boy. The Best Boy is simply the next one down the line in Seniority from the Key Grip or the Gaffer and is usually responsible for the paper work and liaison with the Production Office. The Key Grip accompanies the Gaffer and the DP
The Key Grip makes all the notes about Camera stuff, Tracking, Cranes etc and the Gaffer makes the notes about the lights. In the UK, the Gaffer is supposed to make notes about everything but can’t because it’s too much work for one person.

In many cases, if I have access to someone’s YouTube videos, I no longer need them to make additional videos.  I am able to tell right away if they’ll be a good candidate or not.  If you have some kind of extreme and outrageous talent or hobby, you should showcase that in a YouTube video.  Casting Directors and Producers are always looking for people who are different than what is already out there.

So, if there is something about you that separates you from the crowd, share it with the public on YouTube.  Make sure your account is set up so you are able to receive emails.  If you are going to put videos out there and hope to be seen, it is important people are able to contact you easily.  If they can’t, they may lose interest and just move onto the next person.

By: Casting Director Courtney Maglione

The term “Spring Fling” is very popular when it comes to events this time of year: There are often festivals and outings where vendors unite to advertise their businesses.

If you don’t have a business to promote, it is still a good idea to attend events like this….and promote yourself as an actor/model! It’s fun to check out the all the booths to learn about businesses and resources in you city or hometown.

By: Casting Director Courtney Maglione

Public speaking is some people’s greatest fear: It can be really intimidating to get up in front of an audience for a presentation, or a performance, even if you know your lines inside and out.

If you watch the show you can tell that many of the contestants are nervous and probably intimidated.  However, their passion to perform and share their talent gives them the confidence to keep at it and give it their best shot. Don’t let a fear of being watched stop you from what you’re doing.  The challenge will make it even more rewarding when you face your fear and get out there!

By: Casting Director Courtney Maglione

Hear our top three tips & tricks to help you land the part of your dreams:
1.

If you follor this tips and believe in yourself you’re sure to go far. Break a leg!

This is the perfect time to revisit any contacts you’ve made in the past and see if anything new is happening with their productions. (Of course, wait until after Labor Day when everyone is back in work mode!)

Set new goals for yourself with the new season and try to give yourself more of a push since it is easy to fall behind and slack a little in the summer. And remember, just because it is not bikini season doesn’t mean it is time to ease up on your workouts. Staying in shape will help you feel more positive and confident in your auditions.

So make a realistic game plan for this new season now and success will follow!

By Casting Director Courtney Maglione

PS – You could get a personal casting consultation with me today! Click here to learn more.

Be courageous when it comes to your career and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.

You should email a couple of days before you meet with the casting director to confirm his/her schedule, suggest options, and set up an appointment instead of stopping by.

Calling a person is OK if they don’t respond to you via email. Don’t be afraid to take the next step to get noticed and to get your point across. If you act serious about your career you will be treated that way. After you’ve met with someone it’s always a good idea to send a thank note or “thank you gift” in return.

Follow these tips and you’re sure to come out on top in your career…and in your life too! Break a leg!

By: Casting Director Jenny Rawdin

Being on a reality dating show can be a good career move for some people, but if you are a serious actor, it is probably best to steer clear of these.

The Bachelor and Bachelorette definitely feature some of the more classy candidates. The ones who are most dramatic and stand out from the crowd are the ones that are usually remembered in the end.  If you are able to get cast in dating show where you are the one selecting the dates, that is definitely the better situation to be in and could lead to more opportunities for exposure down the road.  Just make sure you always stay true to yourself and if your goal is to be a serious actor, don’t get caught up in doing anything you may regret to have on your resume down the road.

Andy Warhol once stated “In the future everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.”

You have the potential to market you talent on YouTube, or promote your business on Twitter. Overnight sensations like Justin Bieber didn’t wait for a call back: he took the initiative to record a video and was discovered.  Click here to see the video that made Justin Beiber famous.  The entertainment industry is very competitive. Don’t wait for fame to come to you. Grab a video camera make a viral and get discovered.

 By: Cody-Ann Palmer, InstantCast Editorial Assistant

A few years ago I used to teach acting classes in NYC for ages 4-7.

She started at age 4 and she was so mature, poised and focused. At every showcase, she would nail her performance and every agent knew who she was. As talented as she is, she never stopped taking classes. Every time a new course would open up, she was there. She even joined the teen class sometimes to have more of a challenge and she was definitely one of the more impressive students in that class as well. I knew she had being doing very well. She booked several commercials spots and has been on Nickelodeon and Sesame Street. I recently attended a showcase at this acting school after 2 years of being out west. And much to my surprise, this young girl was still going at it.

I usually see kids just do one or two courses and then stop for whatever reason, but this girl continued to practice, practice, and practice. I thought it set such a great example for the other kids to be in class with a successful child actor who understands the need to always keep working at your talent. Most kids just take 1 or 2 classes and think that does the trick. Or the parents pull them out of classes because they think it is too much of the same thing every time. But you have got to stick with it. Just like anything you do in life, the more practice and experience you have, the better you will be.

By: Casting Director Courtney Maglione

Acting is one of the most competitive career choices in the world

Fame
One of the most common reasons people become actors is for fame. They want to be seen on television and in magazines. Some Actors want to be immortalized via film. There is nothing wrong with seeking fame and glamour.   However, there are some people who are in desperate need of attention.  So don’t be like them! Be genuine, real, be YOU!
 
Money
Some people are after the wealth of Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt.  This is another reason why people become actors. They want wealth and all the material things that go along with it. These items include mansions and luxury cars, shopping sprees and a possible spot on MTV’s Cribs or “VH1′s Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” . This particular reason for becoming an actor is quite simple and very understandable…but you have to work hard to get there!

Joy
As our society and businesses evolve, it becomes even more difficult to find actors who truly still love what they do. The love of acting is another reason why people become actors. These individuals are more concerned about their performance than money and fame. Ironically,the level of joy and commitment that eventually makes them famous.

Whatever the case, we know you will succeed with the help of InstantCast! Break a leg!

By: Cody-Ann Palmer, InstantCast Staff Writer

Ever heard of residuals?

Residuals are the cornerstone of an industry system designed to compensate actors for the continued use of their performance. It is the actor’s fair share of the revenue generated from the project. Residuals are paid to union actors when their performance is used again and again. There are different pay scales for different types of work like TV, film, commercials. It depends on the different productions you are a part of such as low budget, made for cable, feature films made for the theaters, etc.

By: Casting Director Jenny Rawdin

If you are submitting for a casting that requires sending in a short video, be sure to keep it short! Casting Directors and Producers are not going to watch a 10 minute video of you. 

Also, make sure you start off strong.  If you’re telling a story and you start off with low energy, you can come across as unenthusiastic and get canned before they even see your best moments.  I also suggest you act natural and smile.  You definitely want to look like you’re having a good time making the video and enjoy talking about whatever it is you’re talking about.

If you don’t seem excited, the people watching the video won’t be too excited watching you.  Emotions are contagious and that’s what makes reality TV so great.  I’m not suggesting you stage a fight or a crying fit or anything, but definitely be outgoing and show enthusiasm.

After you make the tape, pretend you are a producer and just review the first 30 seconds of it.  If you think that first 30 seconds represents who you are, then you’re good to go.  But if you feel bored or lose interest in the beginning, try to come up with a more creative way to grab attention so that you land the part!

By: Casting Director Courtney Maglione

A great way to get some acting experience is to apply for parts in student films.

You can find out about student casting opportunities on InstantCast and local schools/colleges in your area.  Many High School productions have roles for young kids.  So if you are a parent of an aspiring child actor, it is good to get involved with the local school productions.  There are many opportunities out there to get you started as an actor.  You just have to go for it!

As Reality TV continues to dominate TV screens nationwide, viewers become more and more skeptical of how much “reality” is actually involved in the making of these shows. 

You can’t produce a reality star wannabe to make good TV.  The reality star potentials hold their own in auditions and producers can tell when it’s a right fit.  If someone ends up getting selected that is not right for the part, producers can change that before it goes to air.

Also, it’s important to keep in mind that the more entertaining a character is the less work it is for producers to try to keep the show interesting.  The perfect characters create the show themselves.  So if you’re auditioning for a part, the more natural and real you are, the more likely you’ll be selected if you’re the right fit.  If you try to be something you’re not, people will see right through it.

By: Casting Director Courtney Maglione

Keep those eyes open…there are casting calls everywhere you go!

Once you arrive at the casting call impress the casting director. Greet them with a huge smile on your face and an optimistic attitude! The early bird gets the worm! So get up early and keep your eyes open to opportunities right under your nose!

By: Casting Director Jenny Rawdin

I recently worked for MTV New Years Bash: aside from it being a fun party, it was a great networking event for me too.

She just got back from South Africa where the weather is always nice!  She was there for model season casting from October till right before Christmas of this year. She worked more then she has ever before. She really tries to make a connection and get into a conversation with casting directors. She makes effort to say something funny, or just get in their heads. She has no problem calling companies she thinks she would be great for!

So go for it just like she did and stand out from crowd anyway you can!

By: Casting Director Jenny Rawdin

Before you head out the door to your next audition, go see, or job interview in 2011, do as much research as you can!

By: Casting Director Jenny Rawdin