Blog Posts

Choosing an Audition Song: Advice for Non-singers
So you can sing, but you’re not a singer. Even if you’re doing non-musical theatre or even film, there are plenty of occasions on which you might need to sing. If you can sing but just generally, you know, don’t,… Read More

How Kim Coleman and Her Peers Pulled Together to Create Casting’s Long Overdue Oscar
Kim Coleman is a hero. How else would you describe the woman who was at the forefront of the movement to get the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to finally create an Oscar for casting? It took years,… Read More

Casting Director Leah Daniels-Butler Talks Casting Apple TV+’s ‘Manhunt’ and Her Approach to Historical Dramas
Leah Daniels-Butler, a seasoned casting director renowned for her work on historical projects like The Butler and The United States vs. Billie Holiday—both directed by her brother, Lee Daniels—recently undertook the casting for the Apple TV+ mini-series Manhunt. The project is based on the real-life 12-day manhunt for… Read More

3 Things You Need to Move to NYC or LA Without Financial Stress as an Actor
New York City and Los Angeles are the hot spots for actors to live, because of access to live auditions, being a local hire where things are being made and being surrounded by a large community of other artists. These… Read More

How to Create Complex Characters
People are complicated. They can feel a wide range of emotions at once while still managing to get through their day. This is what actors seek to explore and express in their dynamic characters. When done well, a compelling performance… Read More

Empathizing with Your Character
The father of individual psychology, Alfred Adler, once described empathy as “seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another, and feeling with the heart of another.” Doesn’t that sound like the job description of an actor?… Read More

Things To Consider When Interacting With Casting Directors
Casting directors gravitate toward their job out of a love and appreciation for actors. They’re also quick to assure performers that they’re rooting for their career success. Casting directors are constantly keeping up with their knowledge of actors and performances… Read More