4 posts tagged “theater”
If
you’ve ever followed the work of theater
directors, you may notice that they often work with many of the
same actors repeatedly. Whether you’re an actor, dancer, singer or
model, it’s important to remember that cultivating relationships
with decision makers in the entertainment
industry is paramount to career longevity. If a successful
director takes a liking to you, that could mean steady work for you
for years to come.
So how do you make an impression on a director to help solidify your position and success in the industry? Here are a few tips:
Try to memorize your lines before your first rehearsal. There’s no better way to blow a director away than by showing him or her that you’ve come prepared and ready to work.
Always be on time (and preferably early.) I know I always stress this and you probably think I sound like a broken record, but in the entertainment industry time is money and there’s no such thing as being fashionably late.
Come to rehearsal prepared to take notes. You can use a pencil to mark up your script or bring an extra notebook. Sometimes it’s difficult to remember all of the notes that the director will give, or changes in blocking, so make sure you write them down. And be sure to review these notes often so that they sink in.
Be courteous of the staff and crew during rehearsal. Unnecessary chatter can be frustrating and distracting to others in the theater, so when you’re not rehearsing one of your scenes, stay focused so you’ll be ready to tackle your scene when it’s your turn.
One of the last rules of thumb is to always take great care of your costume and your props. Most costume directors will require that you leave your costume at the theater, however sometimes actors become absent-minded and may take a costume or prop home with them accidentally. I once had a friend who not only took a part of his costume home (a Starbucks apron) but also promptly lost it. He spent the next day driving to various Starbucks locations trying to buy an apron from one of the baristas. While it may sound like a funny story now - trust me - it was no laughing matter.
Are you ready to use these tips to impress theater directors and ensure a long-lasting, and successful career on the stage? Visit http://StarSearchCasting.com today and check out our casting calls for theater auditions in your area and abroad. Good luck!
Often when dance auditions are posted, the casting notice
will include a list of requirements. Requirements may be related to age
or height and often you’ll have to know a particular style of dance like tap or hip-hop. One of the most common requirements included in dance casting notices is that the dancers must be able to pick up choreography quickly.
Dancers who are able to pick up choreography quickly are most likely to be hired for jobs. Directors and choreographers prefer to save time (and money) by working with dancers who are fast learners. Both new and experienced dancers often struggle with choreography, so if this is a problem for you, don’t feel that you’re alone.
Here are a few tips that dancers often use to help them overcome this common problem:
-Visualize yourself performing the movements as the choreographer runs through them. Repetition is the key to learning new moves, and doing them in your head repeatedly can be just as effective as physically performing the routine over and over again.
-Give each step a name. Creating a name for each move often helps dancers remember the steps more easily as well as anticipate the next move as they’re going through a routine.
-Imitate the choreographer using small movements as he or she goes through the routine. By imitating the movements as soon as you are shown the steps, you begin acclimating your body to the moves, which can also help you remember them better when it’s time to perform them.
-Pay close attention to how the choreography relates to the music. If the choreographer inserts a jump at a point in the song when the singer sings, “jump back” or something similar, those keywords can be a big help.
Lots of dancers create their own techniques for helping them pick up choreography. By talking with other dancers, as well as teachers and choreographers, you can find out lots of creative ways to help you learn choreography more quickly as well as become a better dancer overall.
To discuss techniques with other Star Search Casting members who are pursuing careers in the field of dance, log on to http://www.StarSearchCasting.com. Our community forum is a great place to trade tips and get great insights into the industry. Don’t forget to check out our auditions for upcoming dance opportunities near you.
Chris Crocker scored more than 8 million web hits and exposure on some of the most popular television shows when he posted a dramatic video on You Tube begging the media and the public to, “Leave Britney [Spears] alone” just after her much talked about performance on the MTV Video Music Awards. Whether his rant left you intrigued or simply annoyed, the attention he got landed him what most actors would give their left arms for – his own television show. Crocker, admittedly an aspiring actor, signed a contract with Blue Productions to appear in his own reality show. The actor had been posting videos to the web for six months and he’d begun developing a substantial fan base. In addition to the famous rant that helped him secure a television deal, his You Tube page included more than 60 additional performance pieces.
Even the Ford Modeling Agency is turning to the web to generate more exposure for their agency and their models. The agency has produced more than 1,000 videos for the web featuring their models during photo shoots, backstage at fashion shows, and even at the gym. You can view these videos on the web, including on You Tube. Some videos have garnered more than one million hits.
Did you know that with a Platinum or Diamond membership on www.StarSearchCasting.com, you can post video files to your profile? Chris Crocker – though a bit quirky – and the Ford Modeling Agency are great examples of how you can use the internet effectively to generate valuable exposure. Whether you have a video from a previous staged performance, or you’ve recently self-recorded an audition piece, adding a video to your Star Search Casting profile is a great way to showcase your talent to casting directors and other industry executives and show them that you really do have what it takes. A picture’s worth a thousand words, but a video clip seals the deal! Just ask Chris Crocker!
To upgrade your membership so that you can add video clips to your page, visit http://www.StarSearchCasting.com and click on ‘Membership Levels.’ Remember, before posting any original material to our site, or any other site, make sure you’ve gone to the proper channels to have your work registered and copy written.While many of our Star Search Casting members may be small, they are no strangers to BIG success. Car'ynn Sims, originally from Dallas, Texas is just 10 years old, but she's booked more than two-dozen acting jobs, appearing in various commercials and television and film projects.
Car'ynn's
all-American girl image has landed her on commercials for some of
America's most popular brands, including Burger King, Southwest
Airlines, Blockbuster and Oscar Mayer. In addition to her work in
commercials, she's also been featured in print advertising campaigns, including the Fall 2007 campaign for American Girl.
Car'ynn has also booked roles on several notable television series. She's recently appeared on Cory in the House, the popular Disney Channel show. She's also appeared on Yes, Dear on CBS and Girlfriends on the CW Television Network.
Like
many of our SSC members, Car'ynn has a long list of talents. In
addition to acting and modeling, she also sings and raps with her
sisters and has performed at Macy's Passport, one of the largest
fashion events in the United States.
Car'ynn comes from a very talented family. Her first film was Choosing Your Course, which she appeared in along with her father, and her two older sisters. Car'ynn is currently filming the movie Angel Wishes with her sister Chris'tol.
While
it's clear that Car'ynn is a natural, she's also taken a number of
classes to sharpen her skills. She's studied acting with some of the
industry's top coaches including actress and director Chip Fields.
Additionally, Car'ynn has studied dance at Millennium Dance Complex
where Wade Robinson and Shane Sparks, both choreographers for So You Think You Can Dance, teach classes.
That's
quite a long list of accomplishments for such a young performer, isn't
it? We'd like to congratulate Car'ynn and her entire family on all of
their recent success. She's an awesome example of how you can achieve
anything, no matter how young you are!!!