TIPS, TUTORIALS & ARTICLES

Richard Lucas’ State of the Industry Rant Mar’11

This was sent to me by my agent in March of 2011. It's a must-read for anyone wondering why there seem to be fewer auditions this year than last year. Richard Lucas is the head of Lucas Talent, an agency that's been around since the beginning of the film industry in...

Video Tutorial | Audition Mistakes

(The video is in Flash, so if it's not playing you may need to download the Free Flash Player.) Audition Mistakes | w. Biz Studio Owner+Head Coach Michael Bean Biz Studio head coach Michael Bean on what to do when you make a mistake in an audition, and why the 'feel'...

Q&A: Professional Headshots

Q: "When should I get professional headshots? What should I expect? How much does it cost? Who do you recommend?" A: Hold off on paying for professional headshots until after you’ve signed with an agent. When you’re looking for a talent agent, just use a recent...

Video Tutorial | Sight Reading

(The video is in Flash, so if it's not playing you may need to download the Free Flash Player.) Sight Reading | w. Biz Studio Owner+Head Coach Michael Bean Biz Studio head coach Michael Bean on how to do a pro sight read, a key skill for giving a confident audition on...

Audition Tip: Starting Over

During an audition, the act of starting and then stopping--and asking if you can restart--is about the worst idea ever. Why? Well, because once you've stopped, you've already stopped. And the answer to, "May I start again" is almost always going to be, "No, thanks....

Why Actors Should Do Theatre

"I like to see theatre credits on an actors resume." -Sue Brouse, Vancouver Casting Director Most of us get better at something we do often. One of the reasons that casting directors like to see theatre on a resume is that theatre actors get practice, practice,...

How to read an independent film breakdown.

I've just added two postings to the Audition Blog that are a perfect lesson in how to read an independent film breakdown. The ideas seem similar, two independent films looking for four teen boys to act in a story about teens and drugs. The lesson is in the details....

Know Your Look, Know Your Type

Film, like life, is visual first. As an actor you need to know how you look on film so that you can use it to your advantage. That includes your physical appearance, grooming, clothing, accessories, makeup, etc. Each little change that you make in the way that you...

Casting Directors: Cards, Gifts and Thank-You’s

Ever thought about sending a casting director something? Here are some basic rules: Christmas cards are okay, birthday cards are a stretch, thank you cards are practically a requirement. It's a great idea to send a little card to the casting director every time you...

Acting is Physical

I had the pleasure last week of taking a physical theatre workshop with Avner Eisenberg. He's something of a physical theatre legend, he played "the jewel" alongside Michael Douglas in "Jewel of the Nile," he was nominated for a Tony for his solo show on Broadway and...