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OLIVIA DALTON

April 26th, 2008

May 31st, 2008

The July Summer Intensive class visited with Casting Director Stuart Aikens today, and here’s what he had to say about how directors choose actors for their projects

“Directors make three decisions when you come in the room. First they want to know if you can act. Next they look to see if you can be molded, if you can take direction. Then third it’s are you right for the part?”

Stuart is in a position to know what he’s talking about. He’s a veteran casting director in Vancouver, who primarily casts film and television. You can get a sense of the projects he usually works on by checking out his profile on IMDB.com, the Internet Movie Database.

In talking more about first question “can you act,” Stuart went into some detail about how a director makes that decision. He feels that it all comes down to choices, and whether you tell a story with your acting. Even if it’s not quite the story that the director had in mind, communicating feeling and story to the camera shows an experienced director that you can act, and that they’ll be able to work with you to develop your character further. He said that “the director is discovering the scene as you act it out,” picking and choosing elements of a scene as he sees them played out in the room. An actor’s interpretation of a script can have a significant impact on the interpretation that the director chooses to use in the final performance. Stuart is very clear about not wanting a finished product in the audition room. “I want something in between a first read and a performance, I want actors to come prepared but I don’t care as much about whether they’ve memorized their lines, it’s an audition, the camera wants to see inside them, deep inside them with no self-consciousness.”

He went on to add that there’s often confusion about the word “choices” and that an actor can make clear choices about circumstances and situation, but should never make choices about specific effect (i.e. “I’ll yell this line” or “when I say this I’ll slam my hand on the table”) because it comes across on camera as artificial. In class I’ll often talk about the importance of making choices that are emotionally invested and important (bold), individual to your personality and experience (personal), and that fit the script and character (appropriate). Stuart’s language is different, but I believe the intent is the same. When you’re performing, we want to see that you’ve put yourself inside the story of the scene and are bringing it to life in a way that’s both truthful and engaging. Or in his words “we want to see deep inside you.”

He didn’t spend much time elaborating on the necessity for actors to be “moldable” and take direction in the room, but it’s a useful addition to the discussion that your choices should never be fixed. When preparing a scene, make sure that you work it several different ways to build your flexibility and prepare you to take unexpected direction in the audition room.

And I would say that as an actor you have very little control over whether you are “right” for the part. That has a lot to do with your physicality, your look and the basic way that your personality comes across on camera. I find it encouraging that Stuart listed it last in his list of three questions, because I think that actors too often become preoccupied with trying to figure out whether they are “right” for a part. I say forget whether you’re right for the part, and focus on being the most capable, interesting, engaged and flexible actor that you can possibly be.

Michael Bean
Owner+Head Coach
Biz Studio

If you’re not familiar with Actors Access, this is a good time to check it out. It’s the online division of the US Casting service “Breakdown Services,” and periodically American productions will put out an open call in the Vancouver audition postings section. If it’s a low-budget or student feature, they’ll have an email address where you can send resumes and headshots. For a big-budget production like this one you have to use the Actors Access online submission service, which costs something like $2 and requires use of a credit card. This website is legit, just keep in mind that 1000 or more kids may request an audition for these roles and only a fraction of them will get an audition time. It’s worth a shot if you think you have something special that fits the character description, and hey why not gamble on a chance to spend a couple of months shooting a movie in Hawaii with Cameron Crowe? -Michael Bean, Owner+Head Coach, Biz Studio

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UNTITLED CAMERON CROWE PROJECT
Sony Feature Film (union)

Producer: Scott Rudin, Cameron Crowe
Director: Cameron Crowe
Studio: Sony
Casting Director: Francine Maisler
Casting Associates: Lauren Grey & Kathy Driscoll-Mohler
Casting Assistant: Elizabeth Chodar
Start Date: Approx. January 2009
Location: Hawaii
Union: SAG

Originally posted to the Actors Access website, July 14th, 2008.

SUBMISSIONS: To request an audition submit yourself electronically via the Actors Access website, AND send a hardcopy submission (resume and headshot) to “Francine Maisler Casting, 10202 W. Washington Blvd, Jimmy Stewart #207, Culver City, CA 90232.” It’s important to submit both electronically and hardcopy.

[ BRIAN GILCREST ]
BEN STILLER (cast)

[ LISA NG ]
REESE WITHERSPOON (cast)

[ MITCHELL GOODROW ]
10 years old, Caucasian. An aspiring moviemaker, he
always has a videocamera in his hands, taping everything. Smarter beyond his years. (submit ages 9-12)…

[ GRACE GOODROW ]
12 year-old, Caucasian. She is at that awkward, befuddled, adolescent stage. Smart and a bit shy…

Vancouver Film School runs a new casting session about every six weeks, some of the auditions get posted up to the Vancouver Actors Guide but many of them don’t. If you’re really keen, drop off a headshot and resume with the receptionist at the VFS film program (400 W. Hastings St.), they keep a binder of actors on hand and sometimes you’ll get called for an audition from the binder. -Michael Bean, Owner+Head Coach, Biz Studio

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WHERE DO I BELONG?
Vancouver Film School Student Film (non-union)

Originally posted to the Vancouver Actors Guide

Production Company: vancouver film school (VFS)
Director: Farhad Mohasseb
Audition Date: July 20, 2008
Audition Location: 1338 Burrard street Vancouver BC
Union Status: Non – Union
Compensation / Rates: Copy of the show reel and food during the shooting.

SUBMISSIONS: To schedule an audition please email a copy of your headshot(s) as well as a copy of a resume if available, contact information, and available work times to 3d72farhad@vfs.com. Deadline for submissions is July 19th, 2008 at 1:00pm.

STORYLINE: This is a story of a Stuffed animal which is thrown out at the begging of our short and its journey of finding a home and a place to belong. (The toy will be Computer generated)

[HOMELESS GIRL]
Female, age 8-13. This character will be the lead character in our short. This is the character our forgotten teddy bear (CG stufed animal) finds a home with. We are looking for a child actress who is good with directions and can interact with “invisible” subjects and pretend they are there. If you have any questions pelase feel free to contact the director at 3d72farhad@vfs.com.

(The video is in Flash, so if it’s not playing you may need to download the Free Flash Player.)