Joseph
Los Angeles,#2REBUTTAL Owner of company
Wed, March 03, 2010
One of the main requirements
of my job as a casting director is that I find new talent. Where I find this
talent, via what means, or in what location is secondary to the fact that my
job depends on my finding it. Between projects, or as a part of working on
projects, I travel around the world searching for actors to cast in films. In addition
to speaking at colleges and universities, Ive periodically worked with the
John Robert Power Schools, in part because this is one way in which I can see
hundreds of young actors who otherwise would have no way of getting in front of
me.
Because Im a casting director who works on major movies, I generally dont work
with novice actors who arent yet represented by agents and managers. Im an
experienced casting agent, and the talent I work with tends to be experienced.
That said, Ive also cast unknowns in lead roles. My reputation depends on my
finding the best fit for a role, whether the actor in question is known or not
known.
Im not in a position to speak to how the actors training programs at the John
Robert Power Schools are structured or what the payment protocols for these
programs might be. Do I think that their school is expensive? I do. But I leave
it to the parents of young actors to do their research on programs, schools,
photographers, and all the other factors that come into play in the training of
young talent, and to make smart decisions about where to invest their money. I
(along with other top casting agents) am paid a high fee to come and hold open
call casting sessions at the school, in which I honor my commitment and see all
the kids enrolled in the program. I keep notes and records on the kids I think
are gifted, and try to dispense as much practical advice as I can within the
given time frame.
Because the acting world is tied up with fame, fortune, and fantasy, it can be
hard to remember that the business of making movies is in fact that: a
business. I have to make a living just as everyone else does. I've worked hard,
for many years, to reach my level of expertise, and I'm paid for that
expertise. There is no way that someone at my level would be calling in
inexperienced actors for free, and, to be clear, when I hold open call
auditions for movies Im working on, a studio is funding those open calls.
Im sympathetic to any hard-working parent out there trying to help their children
realize their dreams. And Im cognizant of the fact that without actors, whom I
love, I wouldnt have a job. But I
again want to stress that the burden is on any parent, and any actor period, to
make informed decisions about how to best go about the business of acquiring
the necessary training. Some sort of training is always called for, and
fortunately there are lots of options out there, such as drama departments at
high schools and colleges, community theaters, private acting lessons, and private acting schools. The key lies in researching all your options and then making informed
and responsible choices.
One of the main requirements
of my job as a casting director is that I find new talent. Where I find this
talent, via what means, or in what location is secondary to the fact that my
job depends on my finding it. Between projects, or as a part of working on
projects, I travel around the world searching for actors to cast in films. In addition
to speaking at colleges and universities, Ive periodically worked with the
John Robert Power Schools, in part because this is one way in which I can see
hundreds of young actors who otherwise would have no way of getting in front of
me.
Because Im a casting director who works on major movies, I generally dont work
with novice actors who arent yet represented by agents and managers. Im an
experienced casting agent, and the talent I work with tends to be experienced.
That said, Ive also cast unknowns in lead roles. My reputation depends on my
finding the best fit for a role, whether the actor in question is known or not
known.
Im not in a position to speak to how the actors training programs at the John
Robert Power Schools are structured or what the payment protocols for these
programs might be. Do I think that their school is expensive? I do. But I leave
it to the parents of young actors to do their research on programs, schools,
photographers, and all the other factors that come into play in the training of
young talent, and to make smart decisions about where to invest their money. I
(along with other top casting agents) am paid a high fee to come and hold open
call casting sessions at the school, in which I honor my commitment and see all
the kids enrolled in the program. I keep notes and records on the kids I think
are gifted, and try to dispense as much practical advice as I can within the
given time frame.
Because the acting world is tied up with fame, fortune, and fantasy, it can be
hard to remember that the business of making movies is in fact that: a
business. I have to make a living just as everyone else does. I've worked hard,
for many years, to reach my level of expertise, and I'm paid for that
expertise. There is no way that someone at my level would be calling in
inexperienced actors for free, and, to be clear, when I hold open call
auditions for movies Im working on, a studio is funding those open calls.
Im sympathetic to any hard-working parent out there trying to help their children
realize their dreams. And Im cognizant of the fact that without actors, whom I
love, I wouldnt have a job. But I
again want to stress that the burden is on any parent, and any actor period, to
make informed decisions about how to best go about the business of acquiring
the necessary training. Some sort of training is always called for, and
fortunately there are lots of options out there, such as drama departments at
high schools and colleges, community theaters, private acting lessons, and private acting schools. The key lies in researching all your options and then making informed
and responsible choices.