Blog Posts
Tips for Performing Your Best Monologue
At an open house event hosted by Spotlight, our sister site, Joe Richardson of the Guildford School of Acting led a wonderful session on auditioning for drama school. Here’s a recap of Joe’s sound advice on how to get your… Read More
What’s Your Vocal Range and Voice Type?
Casting professionals will often search for singers whose vocal range and voice type suit a particular role. Clearly indicating these fantastic skills on your resume is integral to landing that perfect job. All the musical terminology can be confusing, and… Read More
Casting Directors Discuss How Talent is Selected
In television and film casting, the decision of selecting an actor for a role typically rests with the production team, which includes the director, casting director, the producers and executive producers. While the casting process can be complex and involve… Read More
5 Tricks to Manage Audition Nerves
When Dallas Buyers Club casting director Allison Estril was asked if casting directors can see past an actor’s nerves in the audition room, she recalled her own acting experiences. “This is a very good question. When I started out, I… Read More
The Actor’s Job: Shining a Light on the Human Spirit
Every person has a story, and despite knowing this, there are moments when we may feel alone in our struggles as we navigate through our daily lives. But when we go to the theater, turn on the TV or watch… Read More
Acting Coach Caryn West on the Importance of Knowing Your Character’s Function
What is your character’s function in the role and the scene? According to Caryn West, the answer to this question makes all the difference in giving a great performance. West is an acclaimed acting coach and teacher who is known… Read More
The Power of the Actor’s Giving Frame of Mind
Acting requires a deep emotional investment from the actor, which emerges from a profound commitment to the craft, plus collaboration with others to achieve a creative vision. It is a form of artistic expression that goes beyond rational calculations and… Read More
Should Actors Read Social Media Comments About Themselves?
Twilight star Taylor Lautner recently had a rude awakening when he checked his social media after an outing and saw a number of negative comments about him “not aging well.” In response, the actor posted a video where he said,… Read More
Seven Signs You Have A Professional Acting Career
I’ll never forget the eye-opening moment when I was asked by an agent whether or not I wanted to be an actor. I was crushed. After all, this was years into my ‘career’ (or what I thought was my career)…. Read More
The Top 3 Things a Hosting Agent Looks for in a Reel
If you want a successful career in broadcast hosting, one of the first things you need to do is find a great agent to represent you. It may sound simple, but it’s tougher to get your foot in the door… Read More
Tips for Actor Websites
Do actors really need a website? According to casting director and social media consultant Amy Jo Berman, the answer is no; actors do not need their own websites to achieve their career goals. However, she firmly believes actors should have… Read More
Listening is Key: What Directors Look for From Actors in Auditions
I was speaking with a group of television and film directors and asked them what are the top 3 things they look for when watching actors audition. One of those items we agreed was essential: “listening and reactions.” Here, we’ll dive in… Read More
Lessons from Fred Figglehorn
For anyone who’s witnessed the irrepressible, obnoxious, high-pitched YouTube character Fred Figglehorn, you know that he can be a very annoying force of nature. The energetic and erratic Fred rants, raves, whines and fibs, yet he has endeared himself to… Read More