What impresses me most when I meet actors is a blend of passion, originality, and reality. I want to represent people who are stand-outs in their look, their performance style, their bold choices. Also I am impressed by actors who know about the business of acting and all that it entails.
“I think actors are the scariest part for any young director. The camera is a machine that gives responses based on pressing buttons etc. An actor is a human being who requires an individual approach and will offer feedback if they’re not satisfied. So many directors hide behind the camera and become frustrated when the actors don’t give them what they want in the editing room.”
I can’t teach you to have an interesting point of view…which is what we look for. But as a teacher, we help guide you in those areas and pull things out of you that you might not know exist. Comedy is all about how you perceive the world and then how you can communicate that with characters and writing and improvisation.
I think most people have insecurities when they start out, and I had to gain confidence through experience. But, now, I consciously put myself in insecure positions. I scare myself whenever I can. When I read a script and wonder how I could possibly play this part, that’s when I know I’ll have a chance to be original in it.
it is the path that is important, not the final arrival. I feel that if an actor can’t enjoy the path they miss out on life. For most actors we never have enough “performance moments” but have many more “path moments” if that makes sense. I encourage people to look for the fun and joy during all the aspects. To me, living my life as an actor is my life.
Just as the actor has to trust him or herself in the choices they make, so does the casting director. Playing it “safe” on either side of the camera just isn’t interesting enough.
If someone is interested in working with you, you need to be sure of a few things. They should be a working professional with credible business contacts. They should have a palpable passion for your talent. And you should like them. I really mean this.
When an actor has had enough training to feel confident in his/her abilities, then it is time. It may take awhile, but and actor should always continue training, showcasing, and pursuing work (plays, student films, indy films, etc) while waiting. The industry always gravitates towards talent, so if an actor is talented, and is showing his work, then agents will find him.
Actors don’t seem to realize that it’s not a position of strength to walk into a room with producers, writers, and a director and preface your audition with static. You are basically stating that the audition is compromised and the effect is that your audience is now half-listening.
