What does a Casting Director look for?

I have been asked on a daily, more than I can count on fingers and toes, from talent, new or old in the industry, what they can do to be successful and specifically what does a Casting Director look for.

I do my best to take the time to answer these questions, and to be completely honest, these questions from strangers all around the world have helped me realize my own faults in not just acting, but in business, so for that I am grateful.

As an actor, you must keep in mind, you are your own business, your own brand. How you represent yourself speaks more than what an agent or casting director can do for you. Over the years I have taught and trained new business professionals on how to act, speak and even sit around a client, and I brought that same information right along when working with new models and actors. You could be the most gorgeous person, but if you don't know how to interact with a client, you won't be working much. You could be the most amazing actor, but if you don't know how to audition or behave on set, you won't be on set very long.

Social Media

Social Media runs our lives in this day in age, and the way you represent yourself online can make or break you. One of the biggest things I taught my new models & actors was watch what you do and say on social media. If you are laying the laundry out for everyone in the world to read, why would a business professional trust to work with you? Why would they risk bringing you on set if all they see on your media sites is negativity? I had a client of mine tell me she debated hiring me for her modest clothing line because I had photos of me in immodest apparel. Now I'm not the type to flaunt my body, lay around in lingerie, or pose sexually online, but it was enough for her to question bringing me on to represent her company. The thing is, I would more likely wear her clothing line than walk around in booty shorts. So, that being said, know your brand. What type of work do you want? Clients will look at your social media to determine if they want to hire you or not.

Messaging

Email, Private Message, Instant Message, all falls under this category. I get more instant messages than I can count on a daily. It's very overwhelming and I can tell you about half begin with "Hire me!". First off, no. Never send someone with the ability to hire you a message telling them to hire you, because they won't. We all believe that that person is going to give us our big break. Maybe they will, but more likely than not, they wont. Bombarding someone over messaging with why they should hire you is going to lead to them deleting your messages before they read them.

Less is more. Especially on LinkedIn, when I connect with someone new, often times I will receive a message from them telling of their life story (no, not really their life's story, but it's a long enough message you would think I'd know everything about them). Find the key things you want that person to know and Start with that. If, from there, you have peeked their interest, they will ask you more. The ten thousand links I get in addition to your entire resume typed out, doesn't draw me in. Sorry to say. I too have noticed that when I am connecting with someone on a new film project, a brief message goes a lot further than my sending links, bios, & descriptions of the project, which I have been guilty of.

I get that we all are a part of the "next big thing", but stop trying to pressure someone into working with you. Stop bombarding them with your companies product. If I get an email that sounds like a pitch, I don't listen, and I seriously ask you how many sales you make pitching over email rather than creating a relationship first. And trust me, people can tell when you are faking an interest in them. Be professional and be Genuine. Studies have shown that more sales are made not in the first contact, but after follow up. Remember, as an actor, what are you selling? You. Make it worth it. As a screenwriter or producer, you're selling the script and idea. Don't overkill with asking for feedback, asking for them to please make your movie or asking for the check. If they like it, they'll do it.

Headshot

Your headshot can determine if you are picked for a job or not. Don't skimp out on getting free headshots, regardless if this is your life long career dream or you want to do it for fun on the side, you must have professional headshots.

The first thing I do is go through an agencies website and look at headshots. If I see a consistent amount of poorly done headshots, I have a hard time considering that agency. If I have a hard time accessing headshots, meaning I have to create an account with a log in, just to even look at headshots, I won't. I don't have time. Bigger acting agencies won't have those things on their sites, so if you are calling them, it's because you know what actor you want from them. However, the regional and boutique agencies should have headshots and reels easy to see. Your headshot needs to be current. If you cut or dye your hair, get a new headshot. If you are a male that can grow a beard, I suggest getting a headshot with your beard, shave and get one clean shaven. Do not overly photoshop your photos and don't edit your headshot once you get it back from the photographer. If you have wrinkles in real life, your headshot better have wrinkles. If you have a mole or freckle in real life, it better be on your headshot. A good photographer knows how to make you look good without changing what you look like.

These are examples of good headshots, so so headshots, and some of the things people have sent me over the years. These are all me, but I wanted you to get an idea of what Casting Directors and Agents go through when asking for current headshots from talent. I will let you decide which one you would pick.

Resume

What should be on a resume? There is a national resume template for actors, and if your agency is a good one, they will have it. Often, new actors feel they shouldn't bring a resume if they have no experience. Worst mistake ever. I appreciate when actors ask what they can do to get started in this industry. I keep it pretty simple; begin with training. Get into a class. You can be a natural born actor, but classes are there to develop your skill, teach you how to audition, and if it's a good class, they'll teach you about the business. That goes on your resume. A casting director wants to see that you have put in effort, and by having training listed, is better than nothing.

In addition to training, you have skills. Do you run, lift weights, sing, race cars, fish, dance, have gun training? Those things can help get you a job even if you have never worked on set before. Your skills give you experience. Make sure you list them, and list them honestly. I was booking talent for a golf video years back and asked the talent if they could play golf. When they tell me, "Yes I play golf", and I ask how long they've been playing and level, I expect to know they are good at it. Not show up on set and then explain to the director, well I know how to play the game but never really have, or I can play putt putt really well, or I can't do a proper swing, that's a huge no no. I've gotten more specific and clear with talent since that incident.

Agency

Depending on region, get with an agency. In a regional market, you won't get work (good work) outside of being an extra unless you are with an agency. Research those agencies and ask around for recommendations. You must have a good relationship with your agent if you want to be successful, so make sure you like them and they like you. When I cast for projects, I go through agencies first. Reason being, those talent are serious enough to get representation. They are professional enough to understand their agent works off of a commission and they aren't greedy to try and keep it all for themselves. The little bit you are giving to your agent, is nothing compared to the amount you loose in not having an agent. If your agent isn't working for you, don't be afraid to leave them. But you have to work for you as well. It's not all on them. They can't force you to get updated headshots, keep your body in good shape and healthy, continue training, or reply to job offers. That's all on you. They can get you the opportunity, but it's up to you to land the job.

Auditions

We can tell when you are acting. Stop acting and just believe. A good coach will help you in making it believable. Record yourself before going in for the audition. See what they will see; it's one of the best ways to critique your work. Practice and practice out loud. Your voice sounds different in your head. My kids have gotten used to me walking around the house having conversations with myself realizing I'm working on an audition. It's not about the words. The words become second nature. If you are focusing on memorizing the words, you won't land the part. Know the words, and be memorized enough that the feeling and emotion guide you.

Secondly, why do you think they have follow up auditions? It's to check you out. To see if you can listen, to see if you have what they are really looking for, to see if they can work with you. Most of the time, I already know who is going to be cast when we get to the call back. It's a reassurance that the right person is being picked. You wont know if that is you as an actor. You may just be the extra people that did a good job and if the person they really want messes up, you're runner up.

And please, do not ask why you didn't get picked. It's the most akward situation. You may have done horribly and we don't want to have to tell dozens of people that. You may have done a tremendous job, but you just weren't the right look. You may have the right look, but your skill level isn't where we need it. Whatever the reason is, do your best every time and eventually you will get the job. If you know you didn't do your best, then you should know that's why you didn't land the part. Don't beat yourself up over it, but do make sure you did everything you possibly could to prepare. I notice when I lack on training and I'm not practicing my monologues, I'm not landing parts as much. A singer doesn't stop vocal training and expect to get a golden record, someone in a band doesn't stop playing their instrument and expect to get a concert tour, so why do actors feel like they should get the lead role in a movie or commercial when they haven't trained?

You are never done

You are never done training and developing in this industry or another. People change, technology changes, and so we too must grow and develop. As an actor, when you are on set, you are learning and developing your craft. If you are not on set, you should be working on your craft every day. There will always be new projects that encourage you to work on a new skill. There will be times when you want to give up and quit, because it is very hard. There will be moments when you have to decide if it is worth it or not, and sometimes, it's not worth it. In the end, it all starts with you. Do what you love and do it with passion. Remember to be professional and kind. Stand up for what you believe in. And don't act, believe.