I have been asked to audition for this tomorrow with one of the top CDswho is taking the new season. I wrote toher and chatted on the phone and she called my agent to ask me to come in. Any advice on these general interviews?
Hi Blake,
All I would say is be yourself, enjoy the opportunity, don't come across as too desperate, find out a bit about the CD and the programme but generally stay calm and focussed - but ultimately ENJOY ENJOY ENJOY!
All the best mate I hope it goes well.
Cheers
Gary :)
Sounds fantastic, Blake. And I agree with what everyone else has said.
To be honest, I think you have a perfect situation to win someone over to your cause here, because they will give you a fair amount of time to explain yourself to them, and are clearly already interested enough to want to see you.
On the other hand, I suppose you cannot treat such an opportunity as anything 'cast iron' - the CD has seen possibilities in you, and wants to see how you might fit in an upcoming season, but not guaranteed you anything yet.
So, really, what you have to do is be yourself as much as possible, and sell to them what makes you specific as an actor. I'd hope they'd even be happy to talk to you about what they might have wanted to see you for - did they think of a certain part with you in mind, or is this a general casting conversation? But more than anything, you have the opportunity to sit down with someone and just talk about your wishes, skills, how you see yourself etc. That's a good opportunity to have, because you know you aren't going to be rushed through it. So, try to find the common ground between what they need and what you offer, and GO FOR IT!
Just be yourself, if your with the casting director I think you are then just have fun and relax, she is amasing, that's all she wants plus lots of reality.
HI Blake ,
Although I didn't get the job I auditioned for at the Bill I have to say it was the most enjoyable casting I have ever attended and was a model interview. I came out feeling valued as an actor and as an individual.
Ooh supa! I know a few people who have been on The Bill. In fact one guy who was on it once as a store-seller and then he was asked back to play another character! Getting to a top c.dir means a helluva lot, whether or not you get the job this time. Don't let him/her forget you! I'm sure your agent will be pushing too. If your face doesn't fit this time, I'm sure it will next time! Nice one. Well done, Blake! Let us know how it goes.
It generally went well. She said that she wants to see me on screen with a showreel before she considers me for the Bill- but to keep in touch and if she gets classical theare etc in, she will consider me for that as well...
Its a contact, but she wants me to get more experience with student films etc first.
Well, that does sound like a good start, Blake. I suppose, looking at your CV, while you're clearly a hugely experienced stage performer, it would be a bit of a gamble asking you to work on screen if you haven't done very much screen acting.
The problem is: that while acting on screen is not really different in quality from acting on stage, it does demand an adherence to technique which is quite hard to master. I'm just starting to get it now, after spending a few years working out how acting for camera and acting on stage are not quite the same thing. So, the CD's advice is probably good and well meant. If you spend time doing lower budget films and so on, you may be able to get experience and grounding that they can then utilise at a different level, and they can trust you wouldn't be fazed by a TV set - up.
If she sounded like she was willing to accept a showreel with student stuff on it, then I think that's a real bonus, because for student films, seek and ye shall find. If, on the other hand, what she meant was do student films for the experience, but that you would also need to get good quality stuff together for the showreel, then you may have to be more selective about what projects you get involved in.
But given that you have the contact, that's no bad thing in itself - when the time comes, she'll remember who you are, and that will really work in your favour.
No, youre right. The main thing is that I am fully aware that my main thing IS stage- all aspects of it- classical, musical etc. I have a very limited casting bracket in film and its NOT leading man unless its a character part such as a Dustin Hoffman type. I have learnt to accept that and am pretty resolved about that.
Also, what is one mans meat is anothers poison, so many can have different opinions.
I have always seen my focus as musical theatre first, straight theatre second and film third- I have enough classical theatre on my Cv to prove I can do the job but its really about not limiting yourself, while having a focus on one area at the same time.
Thanks all of yu for such incredible support- the trth is that on thsi board are some truly quality people wh are supportive in every way.
its up to you blake it really is
i totally appreciate your passion for musical theatre, and ive heard your voice and you are excellent at it.
but if this CD thinks that doing a few shorts just to get an idea of how you look on camera would help, then why not? its worth it just to be concidered for a role in the bill. and ona plus, you get the short film on your cv
I think that is totaly fair, but itsa mission geting the student films. I get very close but they never choose me.... I may make a showreel witha friend...a better way perhaps...
Great to hear of your interview- so pleased for you!
Just a word of caution- make absolutely sure that the work you put on a showreel is stuff you are proud of.
I know that sounds obvious, but you might feel a pressure right now to do anything and everything. Sure, there are some good filmakers out there, both student and established, but there is also a lot of sh**e! Some isn't even broadcast quality which sticks out like a sore thumb.
I once got an agent from ICM to see me in a final year show at Mountview. She asked if I had a showreel and I said "yes". What I actually had was a god awful scene from a project we'd done at Mountview with a highly dodgy script, but I was in it a lot, so I thought it would be good to show her.
I thought at the time, something was better than nothing... oh how we learn the hard way!
Didn't hear from her again, despite the letters and phone calls!
So go for everything you can get, but be really picky with what goes on there.
It's a shame my production company's not filming at the moment, but if anything comes up, we'll drop you a line.
You don't necessarily need to do student films, there's lots of other stuff knocking around. And as I keep saying, team up with a filmmaker who can help you record some really excellent clips to go inamongst your student stuff...
Good luck!
Oh fabulous! Wonderful news. Write to the best film schools & ask for your details to be kept on file and/or to ask if 3rd or final year students are casting soon & perhaps think of joining Shooting People to look at their daily bulletins (or see if a friend is subscribed & ask them to look out for you). Huge Luck! ;-)
All true, but if you are doing showreel stuff, remember the golden rule for all Casting Directors is 'broadcastable quality'. You'll need to check with any given set - up things like what stock they're filming on, how big their crew is, how good a budget they've got, before you can easily judge that on a project by project basis. I would hope most student 'final' pieces are of 'broadcast quality' in the sense that they are designed to show off the students' professionalism to the highest level - though, of course, that doesn't always mean they'll produce something that would be on a par with stuff the BBC is putting out! Mid - term projects are more likely to be experimental, and not as decent for showreel purposes. The best bet, in fact, in my opinion is finding good low budget films, with a solid crew set - up, who know what they are about, and will spend a bit of cash on the film, even if they don't directly pay you. Then at least you know the end product will look good. And anything they are hoping to commercially distribute has to be 'broadcast level' (unless they really have no idea what they're doing!!). Finding such projects, though, is easier said than done.
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