TAX INCENTIVES FINALLY PASSED

Productions should come back to Prague soon.


http://www.filmneweurope.com/news/czech/eu-passes-czech-film-tax-incentives

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, "THE CASTING PROCESS"

Please join us in Edinburgh for "the Casting Process"


Casting the right actor is one of the most important aspects of filmmkaing; being cast is the most important things in an actor's career. Actors and directors--  Join a panel of casters to discuss the casting process. Question and Answer Session and networking session at Cargo to follow. 


HELEN RAW of Raw Talent Productions will moderate.
BILL PETRIE, of The BWH Agency in London
AMY HUBBARD, CSA Casting Director, London (the Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings)
DES HAMILTON, Casting Director, Scotland (Bronson, This is England)
NANCY BISHOP, CSA Casting Director (Prince Caspian, Wanted), Author of Secrets from the Casting Couch.


Where: Cineworld
When:19 June, Saturday
Time: 15:30 - 17:00
Cost: 6.50/5.50
to reserve: http://www.edfilmfest.org.uk/whats-on/2010/the-casting-process-a-panel-discussion

HINTS FOR COMMERCIAL AUDITIONS

Here's a little piece I contributed to about COMMERCIAL AUDITION HINTS in The Stage


Full text is below. You can also tune into John Bryne's site for more tips: www.showbusiness-success.com


Does anyone else have any success stories about how they booked a commercial job? Please write in to me here or at Facebook. 

Commercial Castings

When auditioning for a commercial most of the same rules apply as a for film or TV casting.

1) Make specific choices, and make sure you answer the “W” questions. These are the basic Stanislavski acting questions and yes, they apply to commercials.

            Who am I?

            Where am I?

            Who am I talking to?

            What do I want?

Know the answer to these questions so that you’re not acting in a vacuum.

The main difference between a commercial and film casting is that the ultimate goal in a film is to keep the audience watching, while in a commercial it is to sell a product.

2.) Therefore, know the product that you’re selling, and the specific ad campaign.  For example: Product: Federal Express. Slogan: “It’s not just a package. It’s your business.” You may not be able to do a lot of preparation in advance, but at the very least know this before you walk in the door, or ask your agent to find out.

3) Know your type. A lot of casting, regardless of genre, is about archetypes. In commercials, this is even more so the case. When you market yourself for a commercial, make sure you have identified the type that you can play well. I once ran into an actor friend of mine on the street, and he was dressed untypically in a bowtie, an argyle sweater, and a bookish pair of spectacles. When I asked him about his kit, he sheepishly answered that it was his “commercials costume”. Even though it’s not who he is in life, he and his agent know that those are the roles that he plays convincingly. So he markets himself that way and dresses the part. You may even have a separate headshot for commercials only. Commercial headshots tend to show a toothy smile; that’s what sells the conflakes.

4.) Lastly, Be open to play. Improvisation is a useful skill in commercial auditions. Commercial directors are less likely to be married to a script. It’s not Shakespeare afterall. When you walk into a commercial casting, there will be scores people in the room, balancing laptops and a cups of Starbucks. You won’t even know who the heck they are, but some will be copywriters, some from the ad agency, others from the product etc. They’ll be constantly revising the script and ideas for selling the product so the director may ask you to just take an idea and run with it. Don’t be afraid to go really far, and most of all have fun! 

VOICE OVER ACTORS NEEDED IN PRAGUE

Michaela Flenerova is looking for voice over actors in Prague who are native speakers of French, Russian and Spanish. Contact her at: +420 775386078 or misaflener@volny.cz. http://www.zastoupenihercu.cz

BLOOD, LOVE AND RHETORIC AUDITIONS

Blood, Love & Rhetoric are having their 2010/11 season casting at Divadlo Inspirace, 12pm-5pm, on Saturday 12th June. Please bring a 2 minute monologue and we will give you a piece to improvise at the theatre. Contact info@bloodloverhetoric.com for more info.
B,L&R has a full season coming up with 6 major shows planned for 2010/11 kicking off with a large scale production of Othello in the Autumn.
www.bloodloverhetoric.com