MAFIA COMEDY - Comedic films which revolve around a complicated situation, often an extended chase or manhunt, involving the mafia. The humor often is based on the portrayal of gangsters as ordinary people. Rather than being tough, serious, or even evil, they are normal and flawed. Witty exchanges are essential – think Goodfellas or the classic film Some Like It Hot. Other examples include The Whole Nine Yards, Analyze This, and 2009 Oscar nominee In Bruges.

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

• Wondering what the chemistry between Angelina Jolie & Liev Schreiber will be like on the set of Salt. Thoughts? Call here: http://is.gd/lqSB #

INDIE (or INDEPENDENT) FILM - A film that is traditionally produced outside of the “Big Six” Hollywood studios. The “Big Six” includes Warner Bros., Paramount, Columbia, Universal, 20th Century Fox, and Walt Disney Pictures. However, because indie films have risen in popularity in the last two decades, most of the major studios have also created divisions specifically for financing indie films. For example, Fox Searchlight has backed many indie hits including Little Miss Sunshine, Juno, and Slumdog Millionaire!

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

HIP HOP FILM - A movie that displays the culture of hip hop, use hip hop as the musical soundtrack, and/or cast hip hop artists as main characters. Hip hop movies cover a wide range of genres and themes, but 1982’s Wild Style is considered one of the first true hip hop films. Set in the South Bronx, the birthplace of the musical genre, it incorporates all the elements of hip hop including DJing, breaking, MCing, and graffiti art. Hip hop films are also often biographical – think 8 Mile, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, or the recent film Notorious.

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

GUY-CRY - Films that address a male audience, but have strong emotional material. Guy-cry films can be thought of as the “masculine” version of the chick flick. Important themes to the guy-cry genre are concepts of brotherhood, sacrifice, loyalty, and family. Sports films make up a large part of the guy-cry genre, such as Field of Dreams, Jerry Maguire, and The Wrestler. Guy-cry films, which date back to the 70s, often do well financially and critically – think Saving Private Ryan, Good Will Hunting, and The Shawshank Redemption!

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

GROSS OUT - A film, often comic, which aims to shock the audience with controversial material such as toilet humor or nudity. The MTV show Jackass is one of the pioneers of gross out television, and hit shows like South Park brought the genre to small screen animation. But gross out humor isn’t always lowbrow or lighthearted – the critically acclaimed movie Trainspotting, directed by Academy Award winner Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire), is considered a gross out film too.

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

FILM NOIR - Stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly ones that portray moral ambiguity and sexual motivation. Hollywood’s classic film noir period stretched from the early 40s to the late 50s. Film noir of this era is associated with a low-key black-and-white visual style. They combine with many different genres, from the gangster film to the police procedural. The private eye and the femme fatale are character types conventionally identified with noir – think Humphrey Bogart and Mary Astor in The Maltese Falcon!

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

You’ve made the first step towards fame by deciding “I want to become famous.” So, now what? Do you need to take acting classes to become famous? What does it take to walk down the red carpet and reach celebrity status? Read about eight actor must-haves that will help you get started on you path to fame.

Click here for more advice on how to become famous.

By: Isabelle Dungan, InstantCast Editor

Have you ever asked yourself “Am I destined to be a full-time actor”? As you embark on your acting career, it’s difficult to know whether you’re ready to pursue it full-time, or if you should keep your day job. There is no exact answer since it all depends on how serious you are about acting.

No matter what the case, you should always remain realistic. If you decide to pursue acting as your full-time career, take classes and commit yourself to your work 100%. If you love acting, but have other passions elsewhere, realize that you can do both. Even if acting doesn’t end up being your full-time career, it may always be a fulfilling addition to–and perhaps even a release from–your everyday life.

Click here to see if you have what it takes to be a full-time actor

FANTASY FILM - A film with fantastic themes, usually involving magic, supernatural events, make-believe creatures, or exotic fantasy worlds. The genre is considered to be distinct from science fiction film and horror film, although the genres do overlap. (For example, much about the Star Wars saga suggests fantasy, yet it has the feel of science fiction.) Lately the genre has gained new respect, driven principally by the successful adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series.

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

We want you to make the most of your InstantCast membership. So, today I’m encouraging you to add a link to your InstantCast profile in the signature file of your email program. Go to settings in your email program and follow the instructions on how to customize your signature. Now, everytime  you email a casting director, friend etc. they will be able to link back to your InstantCast profile. Remember, networking & getting out there is EVERYTHING…so get going & use your InstantCast membership to your advantage!

By: Isabelle Dungan, InstantCast Editor