SUSAN BATSON VS. DAVID MAMET

I assigned my class at the Prague Film School to read Susan Batson's Truth and David Mamet's True and False. These are both great books, by the way, and all actors should read them. As you may know, Susan Batson is the acting coach for the likes of Nicole Kidman, and Juliette Binoche, and David Mamet is the award-winning writer and director.

It was a fun juxtoposition because they are so different in their point of view about acting, and actor training. One of my students, Ben Palacios, has given me permission to post his imaginary debate between the two of them here:

TRUTH, by Susan Batson

TRUE AND FALSE, by David Mamet

I can imagine a discourse between Batson and Mamet, which goes something like this…

Mamet:

You’re a fraud. Life in the studio is not acting. All you do is take up the energy and time of a privileged class of people who’d like to call themselves “actors”.

Batson:

I see you have trouble trusting people, David. Why is your Public Persona so abrasive and untrusting? This suggests to me that your Need is to be cared for.

Mamet:

No. My need (with a lowercase ‘n’) is for actors to stop trying to learn their craft from so-called teachers like you – and your cultish nonsense, and learn it where they should: in the arena.

Batson:

I give actors the tools to foster their acting through a belief system. I think we’ll both agree that playing at a feeling or sensation won’t reach an audience. You have to believe it. That’s where I come in. In your play, Oleanna, did Carol not truly believe that John had sexually assaulted her?

Mamet:

Carol and John do not exist; they are mere words on a page. I hate it when people ask me stuff about my plays as if they actually happened and I was the only witness. All right, let’s get this straight: belief only induces self-deception. You’re training people to deceive themselves, when they should just accept the circumstances of their situation as an actor on stage. That takes real courage. As I said: You’re a fraud.

Batson:

But I taught Nicole Kidman, who’s a great actress.

Mamet:

She was a very good actress before she met you. She is one now in spite of you. That – I’m impressed by. And Great Actors or Actresses only exist to fulfil the cultural need for one. And honestly… she’s not that great.

Batson:

All right Bucko, what do you give actors? A lack of preparedness? …at least I give them something to believe in.

Mamet:

Again with the belief! That ‘lack of preparedness’ is how we spend our lives. That’s the real Truth – with a capital ‘T’. That’s what’s interesting to watch.

Batson:

I disagree.

Mamet:

I knew you would.

Batson:

Fine. Goodbye… Come on, Nicole.

ACTORS; YOU CAN DO THIS TOO

Here's a teenage kid who made an at home TV series with his siblings, and now it's being made into a studio feature film: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/movies/08fred.html

New Review of Secrets from the Casting Couch

Thanks, Guy Roberts!

http://prague.tv/articles/cinema/secrets-casting

MASTER CLASS IN HOLLYWOOD, Sponsored by iWa

M A K I N G T H E M O V E T O H O L L Y W O O D

Master Class in Hollywood

Monday March 1 – Saturday March 6, 2010 (off 4th)

iWa and the Beverly Hills Playhouse, one of the oldest and most respected acting school in Los Angeles have the pleasure of introducing for the first time an extraordinary and unique 5 day Master Class in Hollywood.

With Globalization and the Internet, borders have almost disappeared and more and more Actors/Directors today desire and dream about an International Career. However questions arise. How do you make a move to Los Angeles? Do you have the talent? Do you have the networking? Do you know the business?

The Master Class in Hollywood will answer all of your questions regarding your talent and the business of Hollywood. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to expand and push personal boundaries and maximize opportunities to achieve success in Hollywood. YOU will have the opportunity to work and meet with top entertainment professionals, teachers and honourers from the industry who will teach, coach, listen and advise you about your talent and the business of Hollywood

Actors will train at the renowned Beverly Hills Playhouse. Founded by renowned director and teacher Milton Katselas, the Beverly Hills Playhouse has for over thirty years offered ongoing intensive scene-study classes for both the professional actor and those who are looking to develop themselves into professional actors. This approach has helped lead a generation of actors to success on stage, in cinema and on television - actors including George Clooney, Michelle Pfeiffer, Alec Baldwin, Jenna Elfman, Jim Carrey, Doris Roberts, Patrick Swayze, Anne Archer to name just a few.

The Master Class will consist of:

Scene Study Acting Classes, Dance and Voice Classes, Audition and Cold Reading Techniques. In addition to the classes, their will be Lectures and Workshops with highly respected professionals on International Law, Proper Headshots, Life Coach Support, etc.

Participants will also attend a Theatrical Performance and visit the working set of “Desperate Housewives” at the Universal Studios.

It will be an intense and rewarding experience that will change your destiny. J o i n u s !

For more information and registration:

Contact: Sophie Papadopoulos at sophie@iwanet.biz (o) 211-1061234, (m) 6945971127 and/or to send CV for personal interview.

Schedule & Cost: www.iwanet.biz under Current Events. (TBA)

Preparation: There is no preparation required for the Master Class.

Participation: Class is open to Actors, Directors, Producers and Teachers who are in Acting Schools or/and just finished and are working professionals. Auditors are also allowed by special request.

Price also includes all materials, tickets and events that are directly linked with the workshop.

*Price Does NOT include: airline, hotel or meals.

www.bhplayhouse.com www.iwanet.biz

THEATRE AUDITIONS IN PRAGUE

Blood, Love & Rhetoric Productions will be auditioning for their Russian Night -3 Chekhov short comedies (Swan Song, The Dangers of Smoking Tobacco and an original translation of The Proposal), accompanied by Mongol Dancing and free vodka – this Tuesday, from 1700-2000, at the Prague Film School, Pstrossova 15.

The show will be directed by Jim High and produced by BL&R (who brought you Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead) and will run over mid-Feb and again over mid-March for a total of at least 6 performances.

We are currently looking for one female for our updated version of The Proposal, set in 1990's Moscow, in the office of a wealthy nouveau riche 'business' man:
Natalya Stepanonva, the daughter and secretary, 18 - late 20's. An alternatively charmingly sweet and savagely fiery 'princess'.

Please contact Jim at
j.high@bloodloverhetoric.com or on 728206951 to schedule an audition and for a copy of the audition text.

"WANTED" - Alternate beginning

Here is the scene that I worked so hard to cast but never made it to the screen. Starring, Jan Triska, Mirek Simunek, and Tomas Hanak.

http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=675160562&share_id=172682921889&comments=1#s172682921889

PRAGUE PLAYHOUSE AUDITION

Prague Playhouse will be having auditions for True West, the dark comedy by Sam Sheppard, this coming Tuesday, November 10th, from 6-9pm at the Prague Film School, Pstrossova 15, Prague 1 (kind of across the street from the Globe Bookstore). We are asking for a 2 minute monologue for the audition.

The show will start rehearsals now and be performed at the end of January. Jeff Beck will direct the show. Actors will be paid 300 Kc per performance. We are planning 6-10 performances.

We are looking for the following roles (ages are approximate):

Austin - late twenties/early thirties - screenwriter

Lee - His older brother - late thirties/early forties

Saul Kimmer - Hollywood producer

Mom - mother of the boys.

Please write to brian@pragueplayhouse.com to schedule an audition.

WOMEN IN FILM AND TV EVENT

Thanks to the pros who helped me out at the CASTING COUCH Panel Discussion last month in London. Pictured here are: Pippa Cross (Producer), Sharman McDonald (Writer), Aisling Walsh (Director), Me, Ros Hubbard (CD) and Natalie Haynes (Journalist and Comedian.)

I hope to post the transcript from the event soon, where we discussed the lack of female roles in TV and Film (According to the Equity survey, there are two male roles for every female role.)

WFTV working with Skillset recently did a survey which was announced at the London Film Festival. The survey was of what successful women in film had in common. The items are:

1. STRONG FEMALES INFLUENCES IN THEIR LIVES

2. EARLY CREATIVE LEANING

3. PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: a passion for the chosen occupation, effective management of rejection,

4. ROLE MODELS AND MENTORS. Significant role models of women working in the field.

5. INDUSTRY EDUCATION AND TRAINING. Key to success is to seek out every possible training opportunity.

6. INDUSTRY CULTURE AND ATTITUDES. Older participants reported overt sexism in the industry, but not the younger ones.

7. NETWORKING

8 SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT; many participants grew up in predominantly female families or received single sex education.

CSA GUIDELINES FOR CASTING DIRECTORS TEACHING WORKSHOPS

At various times it has been brought up by various anonymous writers on my blog, that there may be some dodgy ethics involved with a casting director teaching workshops. The suspicion seems to be that actors might be paying to get cast. I have always assured actors that I am wearing a slightly different hat while teaching and that the workshops are purely educational.

Since there are many casting directors who teach workshops, CSA (Casting Society of America) of which I am a member, has an official policy for casting workshops. Please click here.

So from now on I will ask all participants of my classes to read and agree to these guidelines before taking my classes so that everything is %100 clear.

-NB

More press on Secrets from the Casting Couch

New article about SECRETS FROM THE CASTING COUCH in the Prague Monitor (click here)

22 Oct, Casting Symposium

There are still tickets left to see:

CASTING FEMALE ROLES; ACTRESSES AND THE CASTING COUCH

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION

LONDON CASTING SYMPOSIUM; BRITISH ACTORS AND THE AMERICAN MARKET

Contrary to my recent announcement, we will NOT be providing a transcript of the London Casting Symposium. Not all of the panelists wish to be taped. Sorry.

O1 VISAS-- possible problems and CSA response

On Wed, 14 October, I am organizing a casting symposium on the subject of:

BRITISH ACTORS AND THE AMERICAN MARKET

sponsored by Spotlight and The London Film Festival

Catherine Shoard from the Guardian is moderating, and the panelists are:

Duane Clarke, Jeremy Conway, Priscilla John, Pippa Harrison and Jeremy Zimerman.

The event is sold out and already people have been writing in to ask if there will be a transcript available. The answer is YES, there will eventually. I also want to post some information about O1 Visas in advance.

The O1 Visa is what European actors need as a first step to working as an artist in the USA. There is information on it in my book, Secrets from the Casting Couch, or you an consult:

http://www.usimmigrationsupport.org/visa_o1.html Please note that this website is not a government organization; they are private. I have not researched them, so I can't recommend them, but I will look into some recommendations. If anyone recommends a particular company, please let me know.

It has, however recently been called to my attention that there are limitations involved with the O1. Amy Mathieson, a British actor, who is now living and working in LA, wrote me this letter (click here). In this letter she starts by telling some horror stories about British actors who were actually cast, but then not allowed to work on their Visas. She then proceeds with some more positive news on the same subject and makes suggestions to other British actors.

I consulted C.S.A. (Casting Society of America) members to find out what their take on it was

Dear Casting Directors,

I will sit on a panel in London soon that will discuss the issue of British actors wanting to work in the US. I understand from some British actors that the O1 Visa is no longer accepted as a work permit by the big studios and networks in the US, and that the Green Card is required. Is this truly the case? Are O1 visas being turned down? Please if you have a moment, share your comments on this.

- Nancy Bishop

and here is the response:

Most Studios still do in my experience however NBC/Universal will not accept 01 Visa's that have not been specifically applied for by the studio. 99.9 percent of the time this is not the case. I was recently unable to hire an actor on "Law & Order: SVU" who was a series regular on "24" and "Califorication" for this very reason.

-Jonathan Strauss

Yes, unfortunately it is true. Sony will no longer allow us to hire actors with O1 Visas - they must have a Green Card.

- Camille St. Cry

I imagine every studio has a different view on this. We do mostly television and hire foreign actors all the time. At CBS-Paramount, they have to approve an O1 Visa, by reviewing all the paperwork that was submitted along with the application. We've had very few problems, usually fixable by resubmitting the paperwork with broader language.

So long as the manager-sponsored O1 Visa isn't project specific and allows the artist to work on a broad range of projects, it's usually fine.

Since it may take a couple days to get approval, we've actually gotten to the point where we will preemptively have the studio review the paperwork as we're setting up someone for producers.

Feel free to email or call with any questions. Hope this helps.

Best,

Jason Kennedy

I also spoke with MEG LIBERMAN (who works for CBS) on the phone and she gave a more complicated response:

Basically if an actor is hired by one production company to work on a particular production, that Visa might not extend to another production company. The best thing to do is get a "Blanket O1" that is not specific to any one project. The language on the underlying paperwork has to be as broad as possible.

In some cases Meg has had trouble hiring foreign actors on episodic work. Pilots can be easier since they have 21 days to petition for a visa. NBC does not accept the O1 because it's owned by General Electric.

Meg hired one actor on "Medium" for NBC (but production company was CBS studios) then hired the same actor on "Las Vegas" which used a different production company, which didn't accept the Visa. So after shooting a few scenes realized that she had to fire him and it cost the production $250,000 to re-shoot.

Ultimately the Green Card is the best thing to get.

---

I want to emphasize that I am no expert on these matters and that a a good immigration lawyer is required for anyone seeking to work in the US.

-NB

PRAGUE FILM SCHOOL AUDITIONS

ACTORS WHO WANT MATERIAL FOR SHOW REELS OR MORE PRACTICE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA...

AUDITIONS FOR PRAGUE FILM SCHOL

Sunday, October 11, 12:00 - 15:30, Kino Evald, Narodni 60 (right by Tesco)
The school will be holding a casting session inviting actors from the school and community- PLEASE COME, and bring a headshot. Audition material will be provided. For more information, please write to helena.novakova@filmstudies.cz

www.praguefilmschool.eu

auditions at ACTOR EXPO tomorrow

MESSAGE FROM REMI AT THE ACTOR EXPO:

"This weekend at the ActorExpo tradeshow 3^rd October, Goldsmiths, London, for the very first time – we are holding open auditions - for Pantomime this season coming.

This is a real opportunity for up and coming actors to get paid work, but they must attend the tradeshow to get the opportunity to audition.

Auditions will be taking place between 10pm-12pm in the Goldsmiths Theatre.

All the actors would need to do is come prepared with:

-1 minute Monologue (short acting piece)

-1 minute Song

It’s FREE to come and audition.
To register and read the roles available please click here: http://auditions.actorexpo.rd-r.com/

For more information about the trade show please visit the website: www.actorexpo.co.uk."

3 UPCOMING ACTOR EVENTS IN LONDON

ACTOR EXPO,

Trade fair for actors

3 October, 11am-6pm

I'll be doing a free seminar at 12-1pm

called "Secrets from the Casting Couch."

I'll also pop by at the Methuen Drama stand at 2pm for a book signing.

Click here to see the Prague FIlm School in Action

CASTING SYMPOSIUM; BRITISH ACTORS AND THE AMERICAN MARKET (Click here for info)

at the LONDON FILM FESTIVAL, sponsored by SPOTLIGHT

Panel discussion, followed by Q+A

Moderator: Catherine Shoard. Editor Guardian.co.uk/film

Panelists:

Nancy Bishop, CSA, Casting Director (US/Prague) and author of Secrets from the Casting Couch

Duane Clark, (US) Director, Duane Clark, (US) Director, (CSI, CSI:Miami, CSI:NY, Cape Wrath, Medium)

Jeremy Conway, (UK) Agent and founder of Conway, Van Gelder, Grant

Pippa Harrison (UK) Spotlight, Head of Client Relations

Priscilla John (UK), Casting Director, (Mamma Mia, Pirates of the Caribbean)

Jeremy Zimmerman (UK) Casting Director. (Hellboy, The Scorpian King.)

Symposium Details

Where: ICA, The Mall, London SW1Y 5AH, London

When: 14 October,

Wed, Time: 2-4pm

Tickets: £11.50 call to book: 020 7928 3232 at Festival Box Office from 26th September, Please book soon, seats are limited

CASTING SYMPOSIUM AND BOOK SIGNING FOR SECRETS FROM THE CASTING COUCH (click here)

CASTING FEMALES ROLES: ACTRESSES AND THE CASTING COUCH (click here for info)

sponsored by Women in Film and TV (WFTV)

A recent WFTV survey revealed that there are two male roles for every female role in today's film and TV. Why is this and what can we do about it?

Please join our panel to discuss it:

Moderator: Natalie Haynes, Comedian and Journalist for The Times and the Woman’s Hour

Nancy Bishop, Casting Director, and author of Secrets from the Casting Couch

Pippa Cross, Producer (Vanity Fair)

Ros Hubbard, Casting Director (The Da Vinci Code) and Winner of WFTV award

Sharman MacDonald, Writer (The Edge of Love)

Aisling Walsh, Director (The Daisy Chain)

Followed by a book signing of Secrets from the Casting Couch

Where: ICA, The Mall, London SW1Y 5AH, London

When: 22 October,

Wed, Time: 7-9pm

Tickets: Free for WFTV members. £10, call to book: +44 (0)20 7287 1400 or email: administrator@wftv.org.uk

Drama Short Film Festival

It was such a pleasure to serve on the Drama International Short Film Festival jury in Drama, Greece. I was treated very well and had a wonderful team to serve with on the jury. Here pictured (in a not very good iPhone photo) is me with VASSILIS MAZOMENOS (film director from Greece,) JACQUES MITCH (Film Director, France), GERALD WEBBER (Distributor, and curator, Austria) and MANUELA CERNAT, (Film Professor, and cultural ambassador Romania)

We selected Kavi for the Gran Prix Winner, directed by the young and promising Gregg Helvey of USC.

Second Prize went to A Long Way Home, by Anamaria Chioveanu of Romania. The performances by two girls lost in Bucherest were fantastic.

The Best South- Eastern European Award went to Lullaby, about sex traffic in Cyprus, directed by Yianna Americanou

The Special Award of the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace went to a one shot film called I Hear Your Scream, by Pablo Lamar of Paraguay. He should also be commended for his direction of the ducks in his shot.

The EFA Award went to Dutch film, Goodnight, about a single father, by Rosier Valery.

Since we wanted to award a fun film, we also chose the offbeat Swedish comedy, Seeds of the Fall, by Patrik Eklund for an honorary mention.

There were lots of good animation films, and we chose Rojo Red, by Columbian director, Juan Manuel Betancourt.

The best acting mention went to Polish actor Radomir Respondek in Echo.

I also particularly like the animated film, The Sylphid by Danish Dorte Bengston. It was a mythic story about mother and daughter.

I also really like another mother/daughter film called Missing by Dutch director Jochem De Vries.

ACTOR EXPO, LONDON 3 OCTOBER, Saturday

Please come to the Actor Expo, a trade fair for actors.

I'll be there to present the Acting For Film program at the Prague Film School, and I'll also be teaching a short seminar, and doing a book signing for Secrets from the Casting Couch.

Hope to see you there.

- NB

COMING UP ON 14 OCTOBER IN LONDON

CASTING SYMPOSIUM:

BRITISH ACTORS AND THE AMERICAN MARKET

Sponsored by Spotlight,

and hosted by the London Film Festival

Join a panel of film professionals and casters for a discussion and question and answer session related to the topic of British actors working on American film and TV projects. Topics covered will include:

- British actors have huge success in America, evidenced by the many Brits working on American series, and winning Academy Awards. Why are British actors so successful on the other side of the pond?

- How British actors can break into the American market.

- Legal issues related to working in America.

- The difference between American and British training, acting styles and production practices.

Panel

Moderator: Catherine Shoard. Film critic for The Gaurdian.

Panelists:

Nancy Bishop, CSA, Casting Director (US/Prague) and author of Secrets from the Casting Couch

Duane Clark, (US) Director, (CSI, Crusoe)

Jeremy Conway, (UK) Agent and founder of Conway, Van Gelder, Grant

Priscilla John (UK), Casting Director, (Mamma Mia, Pirates of the Caribbean)

Pippa Harrison (UK) Spotlight, Head of Client Relations

Jeremy Zimmerman (UK) Casting Director. (Hellboy, The Scorpian King.)

Symposium Details

Where: ICA, The Mall, London SW1Y 5AH, London

When: 14 October,

Wed, Time: 2-4pm

Tickets: £11.50 call to reserve: 020 7928 3232 at Festival Box Office from 26th September, Please book soon, seats are limited

PRAGUE ACTORS PLEASE JOIN ME AT THE GLOBE on Thursday!

I'm celebrating Secrets from the Casting Couch at the Globe bookstore. Please join me for book launch and sangria! To order Secrets from the Casting Couch, click here.

BOOK LAUNCH

“SECRETS FROM THE CASTING COUCH”

Prague resident, Nancy Bishop, has written Secrets from the Casting Couch; On Camera Strategies for actors from a Casting Director. The book is illustrated by Prague resident, Bonnie Glover.

About the Launch:

Join us at the Globe Bookstore for a short panel discussion about casting and actors working in Prague. Author and casting director Nancy Bishop is joined by Czech actor, Pavel Kriz, who has worked on numerous international productions. Screen International journalist Theo Schwinke will moderate a discussion about casting, Prague actors and the Prague film scene. A book signing by the author and illustrator Bonnie Glover will follow.

Date: Thursday 17 Sept, 09

Time: 7:00pm Discussion, followed by book signing and wine reception

Where: The Globe Bookstore and Café, http://www.globebookstore.cz/

Pstrossova 6, Prague 1

About the book: Why is it that so many good actors don't perform well at castings? Secrets from the Casting Couch gives practical advice for actors, written from a casting director's point of view, teaching the craft of film casting in front of camera. It shows how actors can work with today's internet technologies to get cast and features advice and actual exercises that achieve results in the casting studio. The author has developed a successful approach through many years experience of working in the casting studio.

I'm thrilled to be in the new office at the Prague Film School. Had a meeting with the teachers today and we're all excited to start the first Acting for Film Department that the school has had with fourteen students. My new address once again is:

Nancy Bishop

PFS

Pstrossova 19

1 Prague 11000

From now on electronic submissions only. I have no room for lots of bulky show reels.

Thanks

NB

Czech Republic

BOOK LAUNCHES, SECRETS FROM THE CASTING COUCH

I hope Prague friends will join me at the next launch at the Globe Bookstore on Thursday, 17 Sept at 7pm.

Thanks very much to those who helped me in Stirling and London. We had a very nice turn out in both places. Thanks to Michael Basset (director of Solomon Kane) and Phil Matthews (Editor of Drama Student Magazine) and Michael John at the Actors Centre. Also thanks very much to Steve Dolman in Stirling at the Off the Page Book Festival and I'm sorry I called you Tom Dolman in my book.

NEW ADDRESS

Starting tomorrow:

Nancy Bishop

PFS

Pstrossova 19

1 Prague 11000

Czech Republic

DIRECTORS AND CASTING DIRECTORS: HOW WE WORK TOGETHER

There are still tickets left to this event at the Actor's Centre. Phil Matthews of The Drama Student Magazine moderates a discussion between director Michael Bassett and myself. We collaborated on the upcoming blockbuster Solomon Kane, starring James Purefoy and Max Von Sydow.

I know that actors are often curious about the process and how to make contact with directors and casting directors.

Join us afterwards for a wine reception and a book signing of Secrets from the Casting Couch.

For more details please click here.

Where: The Actors Centre, London, 1a Tower St,London, WC2H 9NP
www.actorscentre.co.uk
When: Monday, 7 September, 09
Time: 3pm- 5pm, followed by a wine reception.
Tickets: £12 bookclass@actorscentre.co.uk

Secrets in Stirling Scotland

I'm looking forward to speaking about Secrets from the Casting Couch in beautiful Stirling, Scotland. Please join me if you're in the area. Thursday, 3 Sept at 7.30PM

Click here for details: "An Evening with Nancy Bishop"

A List Actors reveal Painful Audition moments

In The Screening Room

Please join me in London for a seminar, and a glass of wine to celebrate Secrets from the Casting Couch.

Secrets from the Casting Couch

Seminar: Directors and Casting Directors

In this seminar casting director and author Nancy Bishop shares information from her new book, Secrets from the Casting Couch. She is joined by Michael Bassett, director of the upcoming blockbuster Solomon Kane, (released in UK cinemas in Dec 09) starring James Purefoy, Max von Sydow and Pete Postlethwaite. Discussion will focus on how directors and casting directors work together to cast a project. Clips will be shown from Solomon Kane, on which Michael and Nancy collaborated. Topics covered will include, how actors can best forge a relationship with industry professionals, strategies for success at castings, and how casting decisions are made. The seminar will be followed by a question and answer session, book signing, and then please join us for a wine reception. Secrets from the Casting Couch will be available at a discounted price.

Michael J. Basset, is a writer and director, his former projects include Deathwatch (Jamie Bell, Kris Marshall, Andy Serkis) and Wilderness (Sean Pertwee).

Nancy Bishop (C.S.A.) is an Emmy nominated American Casting Director who has cast supporting talent in Europe for over 60 films, including the recently released G.I. Joe, and Prince Caspian. She is chair of the Prague Film School Acting Department. www.nancybishopcasting.com

Where: The Actors Centre, London, 1a Tower St,London, WC2H 9NP

When: Monday, 7 September, 09

Time: 3pm- 5pm, followed by a wine reception.

Tickets: £12 bookclass@actorscentre.co.uk

Edinburgh Symposium: From Fringe to Silver Screen

Thanks to everyone who attended the Casting Symposium at the Edinburgh Fringe sponsored by Spotlight. I think it was very interesting and informative. I had hoped to get a transcript up on line but unfortunately it's looking like the tapes may have been wiped when I went through security on the plane. I'm sending them back to Scotland to see if they'll play there...

-NB

Anila Gajevic and I in Sarajevo

I also got to hang out with Anila, a talent agent who knows every actors in Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia.

Book Signings, Secrets from the Casting Couch

Thanks to everyone who came to my book signing in Edinburgh. I have to say that I really have to work on my technique. I mean I look like I'm about to eat my potential readers in this photo... though my colleague Helen Raw is looking a bit friendlier but in a drugged out sort of way.

Please, readers, if you like the Secrets from the Casting Couch, write a review on Amazon. If you don't like it, please just keep quiet. And speaking of Amazon-- those scurvy swines-- they listed the wrong price for my book and the publisher is working on correcting it. But what it means for readers is that if you want to order it for super cheap you can order it now on Amazon before they put the price back up!

There is some kind of scam they have going there making it look like they have different vendors. They can somehow afford to sell it for cheaper than I can! Sorry for the loyal fans who came to my book signing and bought it for higher than the Amazon price... but at least you got free wine.

-NB

More notes on Sarajevo

I'm back in Prague and now that I'm here I need to go to the circus since it's that time of year... but life is a circus for me right now.

Sarajevo was absolutely fascinating. A village like city, full of old Ottoman architecture, mosques, bullet holes, churches, bullet holes, creviced into the mountains where the 1984 Olympics played out. The people of Sarajevo are eager to be hosts and showcase their town and their culture, attracting visitors to the region in a positive way; to show case their culture and humanity.

I saw three films about the Yugo war. Storm; fantastic. A must see with Kerry Fox and Anna Maria Manica among other very talented cast members, about the war crimes trails in the Hague.

Back to back I saw films about the war; first from the Serbians: Ordinary People (no not the 1980 film with Tim Hutton). It's a brutal self indictment from the Serbs about their conduct in the war. How could an "ordinary person" stoop to killing children? the film asks. This film won all the awards and it's painful to watch with overly long shots.

Then I saw The Blacks by Croatians with an equally self scathing examination of war-time behavior. The Croats don't let themselves off easily either.

I also had the opportunity to work with a great group of actors from several Balkan countries for two days on the talent campus so many thanks to them.

Still tickets left for Edinburgh Casting Symposium

CASTING SYMPOSIUM

FROM FRINGE TO THE SILVER SCREEN;

Superstars Jude Law, Gerard Butler, Hugh Grant, Ricky Gervais and Rachel Weisz all started their careers at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Spotlight, the UK’s leading casting service, sponsors this casting symposium; a panel of theatre and film professionals will discuss how actors can use the Fringe to launch a career.

Listen to leading casting directors, agents and promoters discuss the differences between casting in Film and Theatre, and how can actors branch out from theatre to screen work. This two-hour symposium will begin with a moderated discussion followed by a question and answer session from the audience.

Moderator: Pippa Harrison, Spotlight.

Panelists:

Nancy Bishop,C.S. A, Casting Director(US/Europe); credits include Prince Caspian, and author of “Secrets from the Casting Couch”

Sam Jones, Casting Director (UK); formerly Head of Casting at the RSC, recent TV credits include Occupation for BBC1 and Above Suspicion for ITV.

Tim Hawkins, Manager of Press Office, and formerly acting Chief Executive of the Fringe.

Kate Staddon,Talent Agent at the Curtis Brown Agency, London.

Lucinda Syson, Casting Director (UK). Credits include, Children of Men and Batman Begins.

Place: Festival Theatre, 13-29 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9FT.

Date: Wed, 19 August, 2009.

Time: 11AM- 1PM

Tickets: £10, Seats are limited. To order tickets ahead, http://www.edfringe.com/ticketing/detail.php?id=17029