When I hold open calls for actors and models, I can spot the leaders quickly. They’re the ones who start conversations with others before the casting begins.

They are the most willing to help others who come in late or have questions about their application forms. The leaders have an air of confidence that makes you excited to meet them and see what they will be bringing to the table the audition.

I also love casting people who are leaders because you know they are less likely to be difficult to work with. And they are more likely to be thrown in any situation and you. It is always more important to make yourself known as a leader rather than a follower.

If you have confidence in yourself and know how to work with others, casting directors will have confidence in you too!

By Casting Director Courtney Maglione

PS – You could WIN a one-on-one interview with me! It takes 30 seconds to enter – click here to win!

Expressing yourself can be an important asset when chasing your dreams.

I did a casting once for street performers for a TRL segment on MTV. I walked the streets and subways of New York City looking for people with unique talents and inviting them to perform on MTV. I ended up casting a break dancing duo, an electric violinist, and a folk singer for the segment!None of these artists would have ever expected someone from MTV to approach them. What’s more? Most of them didn’t even dream of getting the national exposure on MTV for their talents! They were street performing for the love of what they do … if you’re lucky enough you’ll get noticed too.

Remember, never stop expressing yourself because you never know who’s watching!

By: Casting Director Courtney Maglione

Casting directors agree, the more open you are about your individual talents, the better your chances of getting cast!

Leave a comment on this blog telling us about your special skills. Ask yourself–what makes you unique? Do you dress a certain way, talk a certain way, move a certain way…you get the point! Share with us today!

By: Isabelle Dungan, InstantCast Editor

If you know how to tap dance, put that on your resume & profile. If you can speak Spanish… let casting directors know! If you choreograph your own dance routines or write your own music… dazzle us with your talent! Any skill will give you an edge.

These are the specific details casting directors are looking for that will differentiate you from the competition… so go ahead with your bad self and never be afraid to be YOU! Update your profile, photos, and videos, and always stay true to what makes you YOU!

By: Isabelle Dungan, InstantCast Editor

The show stars Mischa Barton and is bound to be a hit. Stay tuned and let’s talk tomorrow and hear what the critics (and you guys!) have to say. Will we see any of you InstantCasters on the TV screen this season?

Click here to apply to TV casting calls now!

Click here to learn more about The Beautiful Life!

By: Isabelle Dungan, InstantCast Editor

Enter in our Fantasy Casting contest: Who Has What it Takes to Be a Vampire in the “Twilight” Sequels? The winner will get a Twilight 2-Disc Special Edition DVD! Don’t delay: click here now to win a Twilight DVD!

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

GREAT: The New York Post’s Linda Stasi gives The Vampire Diaries 4 stars, citing the bloody action scenes. “These killers are more fun than a cemetery full of psycho zombie killers on Halloween.”

GOOD: Entertainment Weekly critic Ken Tucker rates the show a solid B+, and especially likes the  “snappy dialogue and quirky pop cult references.”

OKAY: Glenn Garvin at the Miami Herald can’t shake off the stunning similarity to a certain vampire blockbuster, but admits, “No, it’s not Twilight — but it’s not bad, either.”

YUCK: TV Guide’s Matt Roush would rather be buried alive than sit through another episode: “It’s not that The Vampire Diaries is a truly terrible show. It’s just so insipid and uninspired.”

So what did YOU think about The CW’s venture into vampire territory? Did it live up to your expectations? Or is this one vampire show you’d wish would stay dead?

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

PS – Whether you loved or hated The Vampire Diaries, don’t forget to play our vampire-themed Fantasy Casting contests this week! You could win awesome Twilight-themed prizes… click here to find out how!

Get this Twilight tote bag for FREE by entering this Fantasy Casting contest: Who Should Win Tickets to the MTV VMAs to Preview Scenes from New Moon?

Click here for a preview of the full-size totebag…

Don’t forget: You can vote for yourself 100 times every single day. Click here to nominate yourself for a chance to win a free Twilight tote bag!

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

The winner will receive an official 2010 New Moon calendar! Use it to keep track of your acting goals & your auditions. Win your New Moon calendar here!

Twilight Venom gives your lips a sexy blood-red tint while plumping up your pout. Get it for FREE by entering in our Fantasy Casting contest now!

See what the full vial of Twilight Venom looks like…

Don’t forget: You can vote for yourself 100 times every single day. Click here to nominate yourself for a chance to win a free vial of Twilight Venom!

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

Our first giveaway is this hot “Edward and Bella” poster. To win, enter our Fantasy Casting contest Who Will Play Robert Pattinson’s Vampire Enemy in the Next “Twilight” Movie? and get this hot poster for free!

Check out a preview of the full-size poster here:

Remember, you can vote for yourself 100 times a day… so get going!

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

1. Which member deserves to a win a walk-on role to Gossip Girl this fall?
2. Who will transform into a vampire this fall in the Twilight sequels?
3. Who will find fame in Disney films like Miley Cyrus?
4. Which InstantCast Member is most likely to succeed this fall?
5. Who has what it takes to walk the runway at NYC’s fall fashion week?

…click here for a full listing of all our Fantasy Cast contests now!

By: Isabelle Dungan, InstantCast Editor

Because you’ll get 1) the season premiere of The CW’s new show Vampire Diaries, 2) the season finale of HBO’s sexy drama True Blood, and 3) an exclusive New Moon trailer airing at the MTV VMAs on Sunday!

And the best part is that we’re giving away awesome free Twilight swag every day next week! Stay tuned to find out what you could win…

Everyone gets a little sad when the summer comes to an end. But rather than looking at this time of year as an end, treat autumn as a beginning to jumpstart your way into new opportunities. The great thing about fall is that people are working and things are happening!

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.

In the past I have done several castings at schools, which has given me the opportunity to meet large amounts of people in the MTV demographic at once.

This is great for students because they don’t have  to miss their classes or travel to auditions since the casting directors are coming to you! I’ve traveled to schools and done this kind of casting at the high school and college level for TRL.

For example, we did a geeks vs. jocks segment on TRL a couple years ago to promote the Amanda Bynes movie Sydney White. What better way to cast groups of “geeks” and “jocks” then to go to a High School and do an open call and meet students first hand?!

I’ve also traveled to many colleges to recruit new personalities for reality segments and Spring Break programming as well as participants for studio audiences.  As a matter of fact, all of our postings for TRL were on an NYU website since we wanted people who were local to have access to short-notice casting calls we would announce.

Going back to school is also a great opportunity to get involved in school productions and build your resume. So lose the negative attitude about going back to school. There may be more opportunities there then you expect!

By Casting Director Courtney Maglione

During one open call, I met a young, new actor who did just that: He didn’t have a unique look, but his personality was so great that he stayed on my mind.

We ended up casting him for a contest on TRL where he did a great job on-air. He also expressed interest in learning how production works on the other side of the camera. Like many ambitious new actors, he said he would love to work at MTV.

However, A LOT of people want to work for MTV and it is a hard company to get a foot in the door with. You really have to know someone or have worked up the ranks from a college internship.

So, there was nothing I could do for him right away and I knew the chances were very rare that I would ever be able to help him beyond what he was already cast for. I was totally honest with him about the reality of getting into production without any experience, but he continued to stay in touch and showed a strong interest in learning about my experience working in casting. This actor’s drive, persistence, and passion impressed me.

One day I needed a casting PA for a TRL show and he was the first person I thought of. Regardless of his lack of experience, I knew he could do it. He did an excellent job and we continued to hire him for big MTV events including the TRL Finale. Not only was he now getting paid for work in the industry he wanted to be in, but he built a closer relationship with me. He started to come to me for advice as an actor and as a casting assistant. I became his mentor and referred him for jobs outside of MTV.

And he never disappoints. He has probably learned more about this business in a year and made more contacts than he ever imagined after staying connected with me in the right way. I’m so proud of him as he successfully continues to find opportunities in casting and acting. To this day he is still pursuing both dreams and kicking butt at it! Everyone I refer him too has positive feedback on his performance.

If there is someone out there doing what you aspire to do, don’t be afraid to reach out to them and learning from their advice. They will appreciate your interest and could help you get on the right path to what you want to be doing!

Click here to get career advice over the phone from me today!

By: Casting Director Courtney Maglione

1. Do your research:

Asking people you already know if they are connected with someone in your field is another great way to research. It is much easier to get an initial contact with someone if you have a reference that knows them.

You should also read up on your potential mentor’s career as much as possible. You will sound intelligent when you ask them questions and they will be impressed by the research you’ve already done prior to meeting them.

2. Be realistic: Now there are tons of celebrities out there who people would dream of having as a mentor. But be realistic, you probably won’t be getting Angelina Jolie as your mentor! You should be looking for a mentor that can be available to advice you and may be more helpful in leading you to the right contacts locally to get you off on the right foot.

3. Find the right approach: If you don’t hear back from your potential mentor right away, don’t start harassing them with phone calls or emails, or even showing up at their door! Respect the fact that they may be busy and that your career is probably not their priority. Wait at least 2 weeks before following up on your initial contact. Still no word? I think a third follow up is okay, but after that you may want to consider finding someone else.

4. Keep in touch: Okay, so you get the first meeting with your mentor and it goes really well. But this is only the beginning. To build your relationship you should keep in touch with them every few weeks. Give them updates on your career progress and seek more advice. The more invested they become in your pursuits, the more likely they will help you with networking and career growth.

5. Show gratitude: Remember that your mentor is advising you out of the kindness of his/her heart and their belief in your goals. Always be thankful and appreciative of their time and advice. Thank you notes are also a great way to keep the communication active.

Click here to talk to me on the phone today & get career advice!

By: Casting Director Courtney Maglione

Bottom line: it’s important in this industry to have someone who believes in you. Click here to start talking to our casting mentor Courtney! Get career advice and support from a pro today!

If you could choose any celebrity as your mentor who would it be? Leave a comment on this blog & tell us who & why! There are tons of them out there…Mariah Carey (she even has a summer camp for kids!), Oprah (of course), Usher…the list goes on!

Click here to start playing our mentor casting contests now!

By: Isabelle Dungan, InstantCast Editor

As a young girl, Gisele dreamed of growing up to be a professional volleyball player, but now she’s the highest paid model in the world, and an occasional actress in films like The Devil Wears Prada and Taxi.

Not to mention that she’s Mrs. Tom Brady. Well played, Gisele. Well played.

To jumpstart your modeling career and get discovered now, apply to our Baby Phat model casting call! For more fun with our theme of the week, nominate yourself and your friends in our Celebrity Discovery Fantasy Casting contests!

By Molly, InstantCast staff writer

If you’re a JoBros fan, you’ll be psyched to know that production has started on the sequel to Camp Rock! We’ve got all the details you need to snag a part in our Camp Rock 2 casting call!

Check out InstantCast editor Isabelle Dungan’s awesome blog post on the Top 5 Ways to Get Discovered in Your Hometown! For more fun with our theme of the week, enter yourself in our latest Celebrity Discovery Fantasy Casting Contests!

By Molly, InstantCast staff writer