THE ACTORS NETWORK

I've mentioned a few organizations on this blog, surprised I haven't mentioned this one yet. If it's not on your radar it should be. Here is the intro from their website along with a video worth watching. A little long, but great, insightful info.

The Actors Network is a unique, award winning organization which helps actors with the business half of the acting profession. Actors, in all stages of their career, can get to the next level using the benefits, tools, and expertise provided by membership. Since its founding in 1991 The Actors' Network remains the only organization of its kind in the world. The Actors' Network has dozens of successful alums and members, from Masi Oka (Heroes), Christopher Gorham (Ugly Betty), Tamara Braun (Days of Our Lives) and Amir Talai (The Ex List, CBS Fall 2008)! The Actors' Network is the on-going beacon of knowledge, harnessed and presented by veteran leaders, that no university nor class offers. Knowledge is power!

- Scott Young
Commercial Success/ Shoot a Scene. Edit Your Reel

CAREER TRAINING FOR ACTORS

When I told my parents I was moving to LA, they thought I was nuts. Of course, I wasn't going to do the stereotypical acting thing... no... not me. Rather I was going to play drums in a rock band. Certainly a much more refined and stable career path then then trying to be an actor! My point is, I can relate to the fear and anxiety of pursuing a career most will call you crazy to embrace. However the more you treat it like a career, and not a "hobby" or something you're dabbling in, the more serious people will take you, and the more successful you will be.

You need to at least be aware of the options out there so you can do this effectively. Even those of you who got an acting degree at college, once you make the move to Los Angeles, or New York, will quickly realize that, at best, you have a basic education that needs to be enhanced, fine tuned, or perhaps put aside (now that you have access to stronger acting teachers/ programs).

Here is a quick overview of professional training for actors.
Acting/ Scene Study - This is really where you start. A good scene study class gives you the fundamentals, and helps you build a solid foundation from which to start growing as an actor. There are several popular acting methods, and hundreds of programs out there. Selecting the right program/ method may take some time, and I'll discuss in other entries.

Improvisation - is a must for all actors. It helps you feel more comfortable regardless of what situation you are in as an actor, and thus enhances your ability to do better auditions. Even when given a script to follow, there is room for you to be creative... and if your improv skills are in peak form, you will be able to take advantage of this.

Commercial Audition Technique - To most peoples surprise, commercial auditions are considered to be the most difficult to do in the industry. This is mainly because the actor has so little to work with. If you can master the commercial audition, then TV and Film auditions become much easier.

Cold Reading Technique - Cold Reading classes prepare you for TV and Film auditions. the instructor helps you analyse the material, break it down and make strong choices for you character and approach.

Speech, Accent, Dialect - If you have an accent, it can be very limiting, so this kind of training is obvious. Beyond that, consider how important your speech is to how you are perceived. Cate Blanchett comes to mind, from "The Gift" to "The Aviator" to "The Lord of the Rings", she has such a command of her voice... and it brings such depth to the characters she plays.

Specialty Workshops Soaps - Sitcom - Comedy - Theatre - Stand-up Comedy - Voice Over - Character Voices - Hosting
Once you have a feel for what your strengths are, then take a workshop (as specific as you can) for that skill. Each little corner of the industry has it's own preferences... rules... short cuts... do's and don'ts. Specialty workshops can really give you a ton of information, in a short amount of time, and create some great momentum.

One final note... training should never really stop. Maybe you take a break here and there, but its' always good to continue to develop your skills and/or sharpen the ones you have. I know a few actors who dismiss the importance of training because they've managed to book a few things here and there. I think this is a mistake, and ultimately limits your options in the big picture.

This entry was inspired by Carolyne Barry's book Hit The Ground Running.

- Scott Young

Commercial Success/ Shoot a Scene. Edit Your Reel

THANK YOU'S

I saw something on Alex'sinfo about this topic. Do you send a "thank you" to casting directors, agents etc. The answer is YES in my opinion. As I talked about in the "Doing the Hustle" entry on this blog, A lot of times in this town you just have to be on someone's radar so they think of you in the future. In other words, you don't have to slam them with job inquiries or multiple reels/ headshots etc. just keep and touch and follow through. You never know where the next opportunity will come from.

Sending a thank you post card, or even an EM, shows at the very least you are plugged into your career and serious enough to make the effort. I find myself on a lot of Email lists, and actors are constantly sending me updates about where they are or what they are doing. Chances are, I will not check out someone's play, or tune at 8 to see your guest spot on How I Met Your Mother. However it reminds me of who you are, and that can be huge. It's all timing... I get some story boards in for something, I'm working away, and then I see an email from an actor I've worked with a few years ago about... something.. and "Hey, this might be good for them" bam, you're on my list that I send my casting director who is busy wrangling up talent for the first call.

I also have to say that I enjoy getting thank you's from actors because I SEND THANK YOU'S to MY CLIENTS. So, I can relate to an actor handling their career this way... it's what I do as well:).

- Scott Young

Commercial Success/ Shoot a Scene. Edit Your Reel

SCENE BITES WAS GREAT!

Last Friday I attended Scene Bites, an event featuring new and upcoming talent in the Larry Moss Studio program. Scene Bites is directed by Michelle Danner, and is kind of a "showcase" of scenes her students develop in class. There are a lot of acting programs out there, and many of them do have some kind of "showcase" event or night... however Scene Bites is several nights, and always seems to play in front of a full house.
As I've said before, I love the opportunity that the larry moss studio creates for their actors. It's a great program and should be on everybody's radar.

- Scott Young

Commercial Success/ Shoot a Scene. Edit Your Reel

YOU NEED A REEL ASAP

Casting directors are looking more and more at online reels because, with a click of the mouse, they can! Remember, their job depends on getting quality talent into an audition for their client, so anything that helps them make an informed decision about an actor is helpful. The headshot is still the first impression... but can only do/say so much. A good reel shows your abilities first hand, and let's the casting director know you are "for real". A working actor who has accumulated some experience under their belt.

When I talk about getting something on your reel, it doesn't have to be any longer then a 15 - 45 second clip from a scene. Shorter is Better! You simply want to give people a convincing taste of a character you are doing. There are companies that will help you shoot a scene (commercialsuccess is one of them)... but if you are a little resourceful, and want to learn about the process of film making, it's a great excuse to do it yourself.

You can see the blog entry 3.11.09 about "editing your reel" for more details about how a reel should flow.

- Scott Young

Commercial Success/ Shoot a Scene. Edit Your Reel

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

So a few years ago I had this idea for a cartoon... sort of a "Far Side" but the humor would be inspired by this wacky business we are in. Finally I got together with a storyboard artist and knocked a couple of them out. It was going to be a promotional thing to do every month, but I never followed through with it. Perhaps I'll pick it up again someday... but here's a sample. Happy Halloween!

- Scott Young

Commercial Success/ Shoot a Scene. Edit Your Reel

WHERE THE FUTURE IS HEADED

I have an earlier post about a campaign I directed back in June. Click this link and you will see how it all came together "online". We shot everything, including the web elements and 3 broadcast commercials (not on the site). The buzz word in advertising is "Branding"... but you can call it virals, content, etc.
The idea was to introduce 3 different inventors who use alibaba.com in "mockumentary" style so the audience would think these could be real people.

- Scott Young

Commercial Success/ Shoot a Scene. Edit Your Reel

DOING THE HUSTLE

I actually shot a bunch of conceptual "comedy" ish campaigns for Hustler Hollywood... but this is not one of them :)!

I'm not a schmoozer, or a fantastic social network kind of guy... but I do make an effort at least to do the obvious. People constantly say it's "who you know"... which in some cases is true, but what I never liked about this statement is that it implies you have to already know them... it says nothing about "meeting them". It should be "It's who you meet and follow up with". Case and point, a few years ago I was at a friends birthday party... not at all in networking mode. Suddenly I was pulled into a conversation about commercials, and I met a young woman who worked for "Hustler Hollywood", the retail store branch of the Larry Flynt empire. She explained they wanted to do a broadcast TV campaign for the stores but didn't know where to start. I'm not an ad agency, but I do direct commercials, so I gave her my card and told her to call me on Monday so we could discuss... not thinking that much about it. A few days went by, and I started to feel like I should have gotten her number or email or something. One phone call to a mutual friend and I had her EM address.

I sent a link of my work along with my contact info, and then felt at least I had given this opportunity 100%. I got a response quickly from her saying she would pass it along, and 2 HOURS LATER my phone rang with an unrecognizable area code. The next thing I knew, I was talking to Jimmy Flynt Jr., Larry Flynts Nephew, who was in charge of the HH stores. A week later I was on a plane to Kentucky (on my own nickel) with story boards to pitch a campaign to Jimmy Jr. This is not what a commercial director usually does (the campaign is usually created by the agency) but the opportunity was real, and I stepped up. This led to a 2 year run with Hustler Hollywood. It wasn't the financial bonanza I had hoped for, but we did make some good money and had a lot of fun creating and executing the campaigns.

How does this relate to you? When you take a class and there is a guest teacher, send a "Thank You" em to that person. Put them on your EM list so you can inform them of any showcases or shows you are doing. When someone casually mentions "you should meet so and so".... follow up, don't let it slide. A lot of times in this town you just have to be on someone's radar so they think of you in the future. In other words, you don't have to slam them with job inquiries or multiple reels/ headshots etc. just keep and touch and follow through. You never know where the next opportunity will come from.

- Scott Young

Commercial Success/ Shoot a Scene. Edit Your Reel

SCENE BITES!

There are a lot of "showcase" acting programs out there. One of the most successful in my opinion is Edgemar's "Scene Bites". The Larry Moss Studio (Creative Director Michelle Danner) takes scenes from class and makes a showcase night out of it. This is not a new concept, however "Scene Bites" is not a one night event, it's usually between 3 - 5 nights spread out over a week or two. They do aggressive promotion for it, sell tickets, and create a buzz many industry professionals respond to.

It's going on this week, and next week. If you are an actor curious about the Larry Moss acting program, it's worth checking out. I'm going myself, and will follow up in the blog.

- Scott Young

Commercial Success/ Shoot a Scene. Edit Your Reel

LYNDA.COM

This kind of goes along with media networking. Have you ever wanted to learn HOW to use programs like Photoshop? Final Cut Pro? Aftereffects? Iweb? etc. If you ever try to learn these programs by reading a manual, you will go insane.

Lynda.com is an amazing website that is loaded with quicktime tutorials for hundreds of applications. It's like taking a class... well, better then taking a class because everything is broken down into easy to find segments... so you go at your own pace. You may want to explore editing your own reels, short films, or retouching your own photographs, designing your own website. Lynda.com takes the mystery and frustration out of learning new applications and empowers you to creatively handle more things in your career. It's something like $25 a month... but they have several different options... and once you are up and running on a program, you can certainly unsubscribe. I wanted to share this in the blog because it rocked me through photoshop at lightning speed, and I'm constantly bopping back on the site to learn more, or refresh my memory on certain things.

- Scott Young

Commercial Success/ Shoot a Scene. Edit Your Reel

MEDIA NETWORKING

I just went to an event sponsored by BLOG OUT LOUD which inspired this entry. The blog, website, facebook... even twitter. We all need to pay attention to the roll these tools are playing in how we network professionally. Make sure you are diligent in not being left behind as this trend screams forward. I think this breaks down into 2 categories for actors. 1. Opportunities to create a buzz (get attention) and 2. Creating a living resume you can send people to. You don't have to do the first one... but the second one is critical. Every actor should have a personal website at this point. Iweb makes creating a website easy, and there are several other quick "website" services out there to take advantage of if need be. Headshots, resume, video reel, and contact info is all you really need. The easier the better. Casting directors are more diligent about looking at reels and visiting websites and it also helps your agent. It's just another resource to help "sell" you or market you.

I have my work on a big production company website (as a director), but I also have a more personal site that comes in handy. Many times I'll send people to that site first as it gives them an immediate impression of who I am and the kind of work I do. Also the personal site allows me to update things myself easily.

Creating a buzz is also good. I started this blog for both personal and business reasons. I was curious about the format, I wanted information (that I often teach) to also be available (or archived) online, and I wanted to bring attention to my headshot photography company. Read about Alexandra Raines on this blog as well... she created "alex'sinfo.com", another great example of someone helping others while getting attention as an actor. Most importantly, be informed about how people are marketing themselves and try and take advantage of it in your own career.

- Scott Young

Commercial Success/ Shoot a Scene. Edit Your Reel

DIRECTORS SWEAT IT OUT TOO!

Whether it's feature films or commercials, there is a selection process that happens where a studio, or advertising agency, are combing through reels, making conference calls, reviewing production companies (in the commercial world), and reading director treatments. I'm going to talk specifically about the commercial directors process since that is what I am most familiar with.

Ad agency producers seek out director reels and production companies to execute a campaign. The reels (now usually just links) come from sales reps, executive producers, or other contacts the agency producer may have. Each link is usually put together in a custom fashion for the project at hand. This was not the norm a few short years ago, but with the ease of internet it is now the expected. In a way, this the same as an actor's "first call"...or even headshot.

Eventually the ad agency selects approx 3 to 6 directors/production companies they want to speak with. The conference call for a director is like a "call back" for actors. This is where a director really has to shine and make an impression. Just like with casting, sometimes the simplest things can make all the difference and usually we (the director) are in the dark about what the agency is "really" looking for. (Sound familiar?!). Once the call is over, the director writes a treatment and the producer puts together a budget ("bidding" the job). We send this in and then we wait it out.

The preparation I do for a conference call inspired a comedic short film called... of course... "The Conference Call"...take a look! Anyway, the point of this entry was to help actors understand that the director judging you is no stranger to being judged. Not taking it personal is key, and I feel I become better at calls and treatments the more I do... even if I don't get the job.

- Scott Young

Commercial Success/ Shoot a Scene. Edit Your Reel

ALEX'S INFO!

I recently became aware of actor Alexandra Raines. She has started a service for actors that I think is great! It's called Alexsinfo.com, and it's a free daily email for actors with the best information and resources on everything from castings, classes, marketing to traffic and lifestyle. Many of the resources offer discounts and specials exclusive to alexsinfo.com members -all in the hopes of helping actors build their careers. The mission of Alexsinfo.com is to keep you up-to-date on all the information, resources and research you may not have time to do in a way that is accessible and easy to understand. Alex enjoys sharing information and referrals about all the products and services available in and around Los Angeles - as well as giving you the opportunity to share your services. To check out the website go to www.alexsinfo.com and sign up to receive daily emails.
This is a wonderful example of being proactive in your career, and at the same time doing your best to help others. Alexandra's Karma must be in a strong orbit! I urge everyone to sign up, or at least check it out.

- Scott Young

Commercial Success/ Shoot a Scene. Edit Your Reel

HOSTING WORKSHOP

As a director I've shot many "spokesperson" campaigns. It is a specific skill, different from traditional character acting. The ability to look into the lens and connect with people is arguably one of the most difficult thing an actor/personality must do.

If you are considering a career in hosting, or want to seriously brush up on your spokesperson skills (for commercials etc.) then definitely check out this workshop. The quicktime above is a great introduction to the program and instructor (television/news personality Suzanne Sena.) Her reel fricken rocks! When a workshop, class, or seminar is taught by someone who is out there doing it... you always get so much more from the experience.

The workshop itself is offered by Carolyne Barry who writes:

"For many years, I have often been asked by students and agents about offering a HOSTING WORKSHOP. It was a natural extension of the programs I currently offered. But, in order to present one that would provide the best training available for this expanding venue, I had to:
• Offer an ultra qualified, kick-ass teacher
• Create a program that would offer more than anything that was
currently available. One that truly produced results and was not
quick overview of information.
• Only enroll the right number of students to give every person enough
time on camera.
• Offer eight workshop sessions that would give the students enough
practice time to own the training they receive.
• And offer it all at a fair price.

Well, I am ready. I am very excited to announce the addition of television host, news personality and teacher. Suzanne Sena to my staff" - Carolyne Barry

For more information clicke HERE. It starts Sept. 23, so if this is your thing then go for it!

- Scott Young

Commercial Success/ Shoot a Scene. Edit Your Reel

A CASTING POV

Thankfully I've been busy, and I wanted to share a project i shot back in June. Lately branding, or online material is becoming more important... or JUST as important as any 30 second broadcast commercial. I've shot a few projects now where we are doing commercials, webisodes, and even print campaigns all at the same time! I personally enjoy this trend because I get to work outside the :30 format.

For actors, this means I've been casting projects where there ability to improv and be creative on the spot. We cast the following spot by asking them questions about their invention, and then having them read the commercial script. I've included the original casting session along with the finished branding video... You can see how free form the casting really was. It's also helpful to see who DIDN"T get picked (Which I do whenever I teach) but that's a little harder to pull off on a public blog. Enjoy!





Got HEADSHOTS?!

WHAT CASTING DIRECTORS SAY

A few years ago I interviewed several casting directors in preparation for my seminar. I found it very interesting, and take note of what feedback over laps. They are talking about specifically about commercial auditions... Here's what they said:

MICHAEL LIEN
(Lien Cowan Casting, now retired)
“Commercials are the grassroots of our industry. I have seen a lot of successful actors go on to do series and feature work. I think this is because commercial actors learn to sharpen their instincts, allowing them to pick up things quickly and make smart decisions. Thus, when they go in to read for a series or feature they have been seasoned by the commercial auditioning process. It’s really a great proving ground”
• Know when to leave the room, don’t ask to do things over and over again.
• Listen before you start asking questions.
• Make sure the head shot still resembles you.
• Don’t lie on your resume
• Don’t list your commercial credits on a resume (it will work against you)
• Be able to improv or tell an interesting story when casting for commercials that have no dialog.
• If you have a physical tick you do really well, make it work for you as much as you can.

ROSS LACY
(Ross Lacy Casting)
“It’s important actors remind themselves to listen to direction. Many times they get all caught up in the excitement of what their doing and forget to listen first.”
• When auditioning, stay in the moment and try to keep it real.
• Treat a commercial audition as if going up for a film role. Take it seriously, because commercials are deceivingly difficult.
• Remember, we’re looking for one or two key seconds in a performance that hit a certain emotion.
• Read through the script and try and visualize the entire commercial, from there you can break it down and start to make choices.

BRIDGET MCBRIDE
(McBride Casting) an ex-actor, Bridget has been casting for over 10 years)
“You need to have a life beyond acting. I can always tell the needy, self absorbed people from the interesting ones. Work on yourself, pursue other interests, try and be a well rounded person and it will show up in your audition.”
• This sounds trivial, but please be on time. It only takes a couple of people showing up late to throw the entire day out of sync.
• While your sitting around, instead of whining about it, use this time to PREPARE and GET FOCUSED. Overall, people “wing-it” way too much. Don’t be one of them
• Go to Commercial classes.
• It’s so important to develop your improv skills
• After a callback, don’t take it personally

- Scott Young

Commercial Success/ Shoot a Scene. Edit Your Reel

HIT THE GROUND RUNNING

Carolyne Barry, long time actor and teaching guru, has just published her book "Hit The Ground Running". I'll give a more detailed review once I've actually read through the book, but in just looking at the website, and knowing Carolyne like I do, I can easily say this would be a great investment for actors... ESPECIALLY new ones.

Many of you know Carolyne already, through reputation or taking one of her many classes. I've had the pleasure to teach for her on occasion, and every now and then will actually sit in on a class to brush up on my directing skills. Her experience in the business, and teaching the business (both the craft and everything else that goes with it) is extensive to say the least. She has put 5 years into writing this book, and all of her vast experience, so check it out!

- Scott Young

Commercial Success/ Shoot a Scene. Edit Your Reel

AUDITION CREED

This is something I used to include in my seminar booklet... I thought I would post here. The idea was you could review this before your audition to get in a good head space. The biggest point here is something I've mentioned in previous posts regarding rejection. It says "I know the people making the decision are not rejecting me, they are simply picking someone else." Sounds so basic, but if you start taking this personally it will drive you crazy!

Here is it.. the "Audition Creed"

• I’ve taken the time to break down the script, make choices, dress for the part, I’M AS READY AS I CAN POSSIBLY BE.

• When I walk into the room, I need to let go of my preparation and TRUST the people I’m working with. They want me to do well because it makes them look good, so we are all working together for a common goal.
THEY ARE ON MY SIDE!

• I need to LISTEN to the people in the room first. This means not being rigidly attached to the choices I made in preparation and taking adjustments in stride.

• The reason I’m an actor is because I am passionate about it, I love to do it. I’m here to PLAY and BE CREATIVE. This is my time to block out the rest of the world, practice my craft, trust my instincts, and HAVE FUN.

• I’m grateful for this opportunity, because every time I go through the casting process I grow as an actor. Regardless of whether or not I get the job I know commercial auditions are the stepping stone to series and feature work.

• I know that there are many reasons I may not get this job that have nothing to do with my ability as an actor. I know the people making the decision are not rejecting me, they are simply picking someone else. Therefore I will not take their decision personally or dwell on things that are out of my control.

Hope this helps...

- Scott Young

Commercial Success/ Shoot a Scene. Edit Your Reel

YOU'VE GOT 10 SECONDS

Due to the fact I've thankfully been working a lot (directing/editing), the blog has been a little neglected... so I'm going to do some catching up the next couple of weeks.

OK, I say this at all my seminars, and people are usually not happy to hear this. I usually know within 10 seconds if an actor is going to work for my project or not, at which point I'll either watch it all the way through OR press "SKIP" to the next person. This makes your first impression critical. In some cases, you simply don't look right for the roll... other then being aware of your type and what you go out for, this is beyond your control. However what is in your control is the quality of your auditions. Moment Before (in commercial auditions anyway) is the life you create before someone says action. It could be a physical thing, or maybe even dialog if it feels right. It gives you the opportunity to be creative and collaborate a bit with the script.

When I teach, I show people a casting tape of 5 women who were auditioning for the roll of "ZOO GIRL", a girl who works at the San Diego Zoo ticket booth. The script says "It's nighttime at the zoo, and there is a party like atmosphere". Most chose to ignore this set up, and stood in their "booth" waiting for the dialog to start. a couple of women (out of the 80 who auditioned) chose to break into some kind of dance, as if at a party. One of these two got the roll (For that and other reasons), and is a great demonstration of how you can stand out if you create the right opportunity for yourself.

It's hard to give examples in writing... but I think you get the idea. Remember the first 10 seconds are critical, and try your best to create a life before the actual dialog starts.

- Scott Young

Commercial Success/ Shoot a Scene. Edit Your Reel

RESEARCH WHILE YOU WAIT

I just taught another class for Carolyne Barry, and in the Q&A someone asked me about researching the director. In reality, you probably will not know who the director or production company is until you are in the waiting room. However, thanks to Iphones, and blackberry's and all that PDA stuff, chances are you can pop onto the internet and view a campaign, or a directors reel if you are a little resourceful. I would recommend spending most of your time prepping for the audition via the more traditional methods... but if you have the time, then why not.

Sometimes (not always) on the casting board you can see who the production company is as well as the director. If it's not listed, and you feel comfortable, then you can certainly ask the CD as well. Your best chance of seeing a commercial directors work is via the production companies website (which is usually a google away).

Just like Actors have "types" so do directors. There are all kinds of specialized directors... comedy, car, kids, food, sports, testimonial, spokesperson, fashion... etc. Therefore, if you are able to view a directors work it may help you see the tone in which they specialize, and perhaps see why THIS director was chosen to do this particular campaign by the Ad Agency. Better yet you may realize the commercial you are going out for is part of a past campaign, and that campaign already has a look and a feel to it that you can draw influence from.

- Scott Young

Commercial Success/ Shoot a Scene. Edit Your Reel