hi guys, i am meeting two well-known casting directors in London next week for a general chat/meeting. has anyone ever done this before? what should i expect? i've been told that i don't need to prepare anything (but i probably will because i'm a bit anal like that!) and that it will be a general chat to find out a bit about me. does anyone have any experience ie. what kinds of questions they will ask etc.
also, has anyone been to the studios in st. margarets in twickenham before as that is where i will be headed? i'd be so grateful for any help guys, so thank-you in advance! x
I would make sure you can answer any questions about your past work. "So, what have you been up to?" is a favourite one. Also, know who your acting influences are/who you admire in the industry. Know where you want to go with your career, and what you've done to help with this.
Also prepare some monologues. There's always the small chance they'll ask you to perform, to make sure you can give them something.
If you don't mind me asking, which C/D's are they and how did you manage to get the meeting?
I met a cd recently and they asked me if I had 200 thousand pound (sorry working abroad and no pound sign on the keyboard) and I could do any show and star in it what would it be! Always good to know what to say in advance. I said Sweeney Todd and I would be Mr Todd, haha the feminist in me! anyway good luck! xx
Without stating the obvious if you haven't been to a venue before make sure you get there in plenty of time of your appointment, physically go to the place so you know where it is then find somewhere for a coffee. Tardiness is frowned upon.
As mentioned in the previous posts Casting Directors may ask you many questions like:
What you have been doing recently?
How did you find drama school? (And whether you're continuing with any classes)
What do you see your casting as?
What's your perfect/ideal role?
What did you last see at the cinema/theatre?
Do you prefer Theatre or Television?
How would your best friend describe you?
Would you consider a permanent move to London?
What made you want to become an actor?
Literally hundreds and hundreds of possible questions!!!
It is also a good idea to prepare something in advance also its highly likely they will ask you to sight-read.
They may ask you if you have any questions for them. Always say Yes!!! And if they don't ask you then you ask them anyway. It's always an idea to find out about the person/company you are meeting with and with the Internet that isn't very hard.
The best piece of advice I can give is: Be Yourself - clichéd I know but it's the best thing you can do, plus you'll do it so well, after all you are the original Alexandra Laverick. Of course you'll be nervous but trying to be someone else will make you even more so.
They want to see a relaxed, alert and coherent individual.
Good luck with it all. Let me know how it goes. My page is www.actorsinfo.blogspot.com
I had a meeting Jeremy Zimmerman, I was pretty terrified as he's quite large fry, but it was very informal in the end, we went for a drink and just had a general chat. I think they prefer to see you at your most natural and relaxed, so bear that in mind and try and be confident and remember they're only human too! Best of luck.
Lucy x
Thanks so much guys! I now know where I'm going which is a good start and all the questions that you listed were pretty much what I had thought so I'll just make sure I can answer them all...provided I don't get so nervous that I can't remember my own name and swallow my tongue!
I'm meeting Fiona Weir and Lucy Bevan. I blitzed a LOT of casting directors in the last month or so with my CV, headshot and a letter, and then sat back and tried to remain positive...much easier said than done! My agent rang my yesterday and said that they wanted to meet me for a general chat after receiving my stuff...nice to know they don't all go straight into the black hole of 'actors cv's...'!
It was a bit of a cheat really, he's a friend of my uncle's (also an actor) so he introduced us. The meeting was a general one. Zimmerman casts almost entirely US productions and told me that while he thought I'd have no trouble finding work through him I needed to brush up on my american accent. Which I've done but with not too much success. Don't know why but I really struggle with it. I'm working on it!
Lx
While i was out a couple of months ago on a saturday night i met one of Jeremy Zimmermans casting assistants, got talking to her, lovely lady, she gave me her address to send her my CV and she would personally hand it to Mr Zimmerman - Quality! Unfortunately i was already (for want of a better word) rat arsed and i subsequently lost the address. absoloutley gutted. This led me to thinking about having a business/calling card with my photo, contact details, agent details on to have on my person for any of those moments in the future where you never know who, when or where u may meet someone with casting clout.
Does anyone have this sort publicity package? its surely a lot easier than carrying your cv around with you everywhere u go.
I've experienced the same woes of fumbling for a pen and paper to write details down and finally invested in some business cards. I used vistaprint and was pleasantly surprised at the cost as they are so reasonable! You also make your order cheaper by using the free slow delivery service or pay a small fee for an express delivery.
I've added a link which will give you a further 25% off your order if you choose to use it:
Reading about these anxieties about the questions one should ask in these situations is v. interesting. A friend of mine [HUGH GEARS UP FOR HILARIOUS ANECDOTE] had an audition recently for Trevor Nunn's production of The Royal Hunt of the Sun, at the National. We spent a long time - on MY mobile phone bill, I hasten to add - rehearsing lots of fancy-pants potential answers to questions about Peter Shaffer, the human versus the divine and man's place in the cosmos, the nature of imperialist conquest and its potential relevance to contemporary audiences etc. etc. drone drone. Anyway, my friend went in for the meeting, and was thrown completely by Sir Trevor asking him sweetly if he'd enjoyed his time at school. My friend left a gibbering wreck and didn't get the part.
I met Jeremy Zimmermann purely by chance whilst waiting for a casting at Spotlight about two years ago when he was casting for an Italian film. He told the team there I was perfect for the film and exactly who he was looking for but it seemed that everyone who was being auditioned had come through a competition to get the chance of a role and so they wouldn't let him audition me. He gave me his number and told me to call to make an appointment as he had projects he thought I would be suitable for. At the time I was casting with Carl Proctor so put the address in my handbag and thought I'd call when I had time - I did call some days later and the only time he was able to see me was when I was working on another job and so said I would call some other time to re-arrange, in a very blase manner, I have to say. At the time I had no idea who he was and so didn't follow it up any further as the work was coming in at a steady pace - more fool me! Age and experience have taught me not to let such opportunities pass me by! I advise the same to all CCP Members.
Bet I wouldn't even get a look in now!
Sasha
Business cards - keep the detail simple in terms of contact details and make sure you have your headshot on your card.
Another thing to remember is that most phones these days have a recording facility. Use it - it's helped me out on more than one occassion when, like Oli, I was well oiled!
17 years ago
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