And questions like these:
How did you get your Equity Card?
How did you book Soderbergh film without an agent?
How did you get in the room at Irish rep?
How did you book your first Off-Broadway play?
How did you become SAG-AFTRA?
How did you get appointments for T.V. without representation?
The answer to ALL of the questions above: CASTING DIRECTORS.
I often hear actors complain about how hard it is to get in the room. Often they think getting representation will solve this. Not so. Of course good representation can help you but you need to do ground work in building relationships with the gatekeepers. Casting directors hold the key.
Get to know CASTING DIRECTORS and help them get to know YOU! With or without rep, they are your friends. And they will bring you in regardless of rep. I love so many of them. Here are just a few, in no particular order:
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| How I got may Equity Card |
1. Judy Bowman
We first met at The Network a long time ago. After that one meeting she remembered me and would call me in for projects. And I made sure I kept in touch. I went in for a few things and never booked. Now I have the experience and wisdom (maybe?) to know that does not matter. We're never auditioning for one job. She called me in for a play at the Mint. I have since found out it was a very close call between me and another actress. At the time I was devastated but I realize now, it was not meant to be. I was called in for the next play at the Mint and booked it. AND it was being directed by my first acting teacher in the city, Austin Pendleton. So it felt very special. Oh, and I got my Equity card. (oh and as I was typing this, I just received an audition appt for something Judy is casting!)
2. Debby Brown.
Many friends would ask why I had never worked at Irish Rep. It wasn't from the want of trying! I had gone to some E.P.A.s and even managed to get an appointment for one of their projects. But, as ever, I kept in touch with casting directors I have met. I invited Debby to come and see "A Day by the Sea" at the Mint. She came and we chatted afterwards. So when something came up at Irish Rep that I felt I was right for, I emailed her and she gave me an appointment and I booked the job. Charlotte Moore wrote on my opening night card, "Why did it take us so long to find you?!". I had been there just waiting for the right time. I've since worked at Irish Rep three times. Lucky me!
3. Robin Carus
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| Far from the Madding Crowd |
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| Stu for Silverton |
During the run of "A Day by the Sea", I submitted for a role in a A.E.A. staged reading of a new musical of "Far from the Madding Crowd". And what a treat that gig was with some very special and talented people. We became friends in that short week and I love following all their stories and successes on social media. I even booked another reading from that because of the multi-talented Will Reynolds (acting and singing in Madding Crowd and then Musical Director for Stu for Silverton). Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago, late on Thursday evening, facebook messenger pings. Robin asking if I was around. The next day an offer for another A.E.A. reading: Indigo, a new musical. It was an American role and I asked Robin after, "How did you know I could do an American accent?" Her reply, "I think when we were working on Madding I seem to recall you doing a bunch of accents and thank goodness for YouTube. So, I knew you could do accents with ease.
And I decided, well, I have a pretty good ear and so this lady will not let me down - and there you are!" An example of another great C.D. who is good at her job!
4. Kimberly Graham
Another facebook ping! I met Kim at her wonderful class which I highly recommend. So far, I've talked mainly about theatre connections. The film and T.V. world can be a much tougher nut to crack, especially without representation. But again, Kim is great at her job and remembered me and I made sure to follow up with her. And she has called me in since for a new show on Showtime.
And finally...
5. Carmen Cuba
Flashback to March 2012: The fabulous Heidi Marshall coached me and put me on tape for a new film. As is often the case with this particular director, it was all very hush hush. I was called back to meet Carmen Cuba (L.A. based) in New York. Sadly, I was non-union and still without a Green card. It was not meant to be. Of course, I kept in touch with Carmen (do you see a running theme here?) and she remembered me and asked me to self-tape for another secret project. I was in tech for "They Promised Her the Moon" so had no time to go anywhere to record the scenes. I frantically called my friend, Vanessa who came to the dressing room and filmed me on her iPhone. We were very tight for time and had to record 5 different scenes. I think I broke all the basic rules of self-taping and uploading the videos in a basement dressing room (with sketchy wifi) during tech was stressful to say the least. But lucky me, again. I was the director's choice. On my last day on the set, I told Soderbergh that I had auditioned for Carmen for Side Effects in 2012 and that she had remembered me for this. He hugged me and said "I'm so glad she did!" Thank you, Carmen!
with Claire Foy in Soderbergh's UNSANE
I have always kept records of auditions and C.D.s that I meet and so much of what I have learned as an actor has informed my teaching with The Actor's Friend. Something I have found invaluable is Casting About. After years of using notebooks to keep track, this tool is wonderful. I've been using it since 2013 and I have records of every C.D. I've met and the auditions.
Be patient, be kind, be yourself and remember that C.D.s want you to be the solution for them. By doing a good job we let them do a good job. We're all in this together.
www.theactorsfriend.com
