ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

3 years, 10 months ago - Jim Read

Hi Andrew!

Great to hear that you posted your casting call through us - hopefully you should get some leads through that. Formatting for your posts is great too - one thing you might find helpful would be niche down your post a bit more (if you can), giving a vague idea of what the narrative is etc.

Besides that, Facebook can be a great tool for finding actors - word of warning though is that you may find yourself swamped with alot of irrelevant answers.

One thing I would say is very important, and that we get as a lot of feedback from actors that having clear info re:pay, location, gender, playing range, ethnicity (if applicable), prospective shoot dates, requirements for entry submissions etc is often lacking! So really if you can - add in all the info you possibly can.

Wishing you luck!
Jim

3 years, 10 months ago - Andrew Fisher

Hi Jim,

Thank you so much for your help. I'll update the call. I've written the script with characters in mind but, apart from age ranges, I'm happy to look at anyone. I want to let the actors shape the characters with me. The story is about relationships and how they change over time with a snapshot of the new, established, deteriorating and ended.

If I make a poster image is there anywhere I can send it or post it out do you think?

Thank you again!

Andrew.

3 years, 10 months ago - Polly *

Hi Andrew,
I'm an actress and as Jim said, as much detail as possible. Make it clear if it's a profit share or just expenses and what those expenses are and if the actors are getting fed if there is no money at this stage. Be prepared to have completely unsuitable people submit themselves as well.

Good luck with your project :)

Polly

3 years, 10 months ago - Andrew Fisher

Thank you Polly!

I'm quite happy to share profits but I didn't want to promise something that is not certain? I know that I'm going to shoot and make the film and I know that I want the actors involved early on and to work with them to make something as a group.

I'm also a pretty good baker so I can bring cake :)

Thank you again for the suggestions, I'll update the call!

Andrew.

3 years, 10 months ago - Andrew Fisher

Hi!

Just to let people know I've put the casting call on my website with downloads available as well. Please help spread the word!

Thank you

Andrew.

https://jumpingshrew.com/casting

3 years, 7 months ago - Kevin Yeboah

Star Now website

3 years, 7 months ago - Oré Sanderson

Mandy.com etc. it depends what you are looking for. I would suggest something as broad as social media - Twitter (with the correct #tags - IE. #castingcall #ukcastingcall #featurefilmcastingcall #drama #actorsbeeded #Londoncastingcall or #withthenameoftheloacation), Instagram - samething. Facebook -ukactors etc. I worked with Polly - on "The Long Walk" short film (I was an AP at the time - now I am an Executive Producer as well an Actor(ress). I can shoot you some samples of tweets/Instagram etc. That I put out specifically as I posted the casting. With the tweeting - you will need to screenshot the casting - best to write it on a word doc - screenshot and post and continue the thread post all in one with the relevantly information. Create a completely separate email account for casting. Keep your crew email - the one that you communicate with your APs, EPs, Producers, riggers etc. Separate from your casting email - make sure you clearly label files - yes, no's maybes - BEFORE sending out any castings (this will make your life easier when you get inundated with castings. You will need a small crew of capable individuals for casting side - a team of about 6 people - who know exactly what you are looking for. Take each expenses only role that you have and multiply it by at least 100 - so if you have 10 small roles expect around expect at least 1000 applications in total for them. Sounds ridiculous - but when you calculate lockdown, Covid, the amount of graduates that weren't able to perform under any or standard conditions for their showcase - that is alot of people.

3 years, 7 months ago - Oré Sanderson

If you can, budget actual casting directors for your leads, lead supports for "named"/established actors. I can be followed on Instagram: oresanderson & Twitter oresanderson. We managed to work with some great, well known casting directors and have a couple of named individuals on alour short film. They helped us immensely by contacting the agents of a long list of established individuals we had that we wanted in our film. Regardless, your supporting cast regardless of how big or smalls is essential to your script - so sourcing them with the same rigour (aka how suitable are they for the role) is just as important as the lead - sometimes more important (West Side story is a great example of this along with Get Out etc.). Any other info - give me a holla. How this helps.

3 years, 7 months ago - Oré Sanderson

Ps. As the others have said - be clear in your descriptions of exactly who you want, ethnicity(where appropriate), gender (where appropriate) etc. Playing age and also - more than anything describe characters in terms of essences (e.g. Brassy. Vulnerable. Bold. Outsider. Troubled. If looks could kill etc ) rather than - sexy, good looking etc. The only time to include looks and/or physical attributes - e.g. long red hair - is if they actually play directly into the narrative of the story for some reason/if it's set in a particular period of time and is a re telling/playing a person that actually existed etc. Good luck with it all

3 years, 7 months ago - Oré Sanderson

Sorry this is a bit all over the place.

3 years, 7 months ago - Oré Sanderson

And also for the bad grammer, spelling

3 years, 7 months ago - Mark Collins

Hi Andrew,

As well as some of the good advice already put forward, I believe that you need to think about motivation for the actors that you’re trying to attract. Without the motivation of being paid, a lot of (particularly experienced) actors will just scroll past unless you attract them with something that may get their creative juices going. I hope you manage to move forward with your endeavour.
Best regards
Mark

3 years, 7 months ago - Angela Peters

Hi Andrew,

I hope I can add to the already extensive and brilliant suggestions you've received.

As a working actor, these would be additional things you should consider for the posting you've put on your website:
- Are actors being paid expenses to get to those regular meetings for rehearsals? Or just for the actual shoot. If you intend on covering their expenses to the rehearsals in London, then specify that. A tube or bus journey being paid for each rehearsal will make a difference in terms of who is interested.
- If you can't cover costs for actors outside of London or the M25, specify this. It will save you the heartache of receiving applications from actors too far to even be considered. Even though you say they need to be able to get into London, they may not realise that you aren't able to pay for them to come from Newcastle every rehearsal even if they're happy to travel that far.
- I don't think there's enough detail on what the project is about. At a very basic level, almost every film is about relationships and how they change. That's just us as humans. What does your film explore specifically? Why would I want to be in this film so badly that I would jump at the chance to be cast even if I am not being paid?
- In your briefing, you specify you want 3 actors who are 30+. But I think that might be a little general. If you know roughly how old they are, say it if you can. Example, 30-45. Do you want a 65-year-old, for example, applying for one of those three roles? Help us as actors to not waste our time applying for roles we are really not going to be considered for.

Overall, your project and passion are wonderful and I really do wish you the best. I also run the UK Actors Tweetup and I'm happy to share it with the actors in my network too if you want to DM me or email me at some point.

And I do agree with Ore that Casting Directors are really great at helping get access to actors you might not otherwise be able to reach. However, be aware that they rarely work for free (nor should they have to). So if you go down that route, you'll probably need to pay them...and the decent ones aren't cheap.

Best of luck with it. Hope this helps.

Best
Angela