Tips and Tools Blog Posts

Tips to Enter a Scene Powerfully
Whether performing onstage or on-set, auditioning or creating self tapes, never underestimate the importance of the first few seconds of a performance. That moment has the potential to make or break a performance. Indeed, the transition from the actor being… Read More

How to Not Take Things Personally
You’re convinced you nailed a challenging audition, but at the end, the casting professional looks at his cell phone. Someone who you believe has less skill than you lands the significant role for which you also auditioned. You read a… Read More

Voice-Over Talent Agent Portia Scott’s Advice for Actors
Portia Scott runs the voice-over department at Coast to Coast Talent Group in Los Angeles, specializing in animation, video games, and commercial ADR. Starting as an actor, she transitioned to representing voice actors 25 years ago. During a conversation with… Read More

Tips From Top Talent Agents
What’s the best way to get on the radar of talent agents? During a conversation with the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, William Morris’ April King, United Talent Agency’s Jonathan Weinstein, and Creative Artists Agency’s Brian Boone shared valuable insights for actors. Brian… Read More

5 Voice Acting Tips
Voice-over work comes in many varieties—commercials, audio books, video games, corporate training, conversational, metro systems, and animated characters. All of these job opportunities require a real person speaking genuinely and clearly. Improve Your Voice’s Darren McStay is a voice coach,… Read More

Casting Directors on What’s Most Important About Self-Tapes
In recent years, casting has largely transitioned from an in-person process to virtual. Actors, who were used to focusing on just the performance aspect of auditions (as well as battling traffic), quickly found themselves needing to be technicians. Suddenly, actors… Read More

How to Use Casting Frontier’s Agent and Talent Finder Tools
Whether you’re an actor looking for an agent or a talent representative seeking fresh faces for your roster, you can find it within Casting Frontier. When you click into your profiles, you’ll find our Agent Finder and Talent Finder tools…. Read More

Tips for Aspiring Actors from Casting Directors Diane Heery and Jason Loftus
What’s most important for aspiring talent to know before embarking on an acting career? Casting directors Diane Heery and Jason Loftus share an assortment of insights about the business and the life choice to become an actor during an interview… Read More

Tips From Acting Coach Suzanne Shepherd
Renowned New York City acting teacher and coach Suzanne Shepherd studied with Sanford Meisner, and her former students include Gregory Hines, Christopher Meloni, Helen Slater, Joan Allen, and Bebe Neuwirth. Shepherd is also a working actress herself, and has appeared… Read More

Audition Terms and Their Definitions
When new to acting, it can take some time before you understand the many industry terms that are thrown around. As much as possible, it’s helpful to learn the audition terminology before jumping in the game. Pretty soon, you’ll feel… Read More

4 Acting Exercises To Improve Your Acting Skills
The craft of acting requires thespians to have a command of physical, mental, facial, vocal, and emotional expression. To promote fresh and responsive performances, actors can warm up their minds and bodies with a wide assortment of games. These exercises… Read More

Read a 5-Year-Old’s Life Affirmations Before Your Next Audition
“Think about the donuts of your day.” –Clark Todebush The next time you’re feeling trepidation before a big audition, consider reflecting on the playful life advice for adults from a Michigan kindergartener, wise beyond his years. When Gwenyth Todebush was… Read More

4 Tips for Playing Villains
Some actors in cinematic history portray such spine-chilling villains, it can be hard to separate the actor from the character. How do they do it? As Leonardo DiCaprio once said, “Don’t think for a moment that I’m really like any… Read More

Advice for Actors from Voice Casting Director Linda Lamontagne
Casting Society of America Artios Award-winning voice casting director Linda Lamontagne shared valuable tips for voice-acting submissions during an interview with “Variety.” Lamontagne is known for finding the voices for “Invincible,” “BoJack Horseman,” “Family Guy,” “American Dad,” “The Angry Birds… Read More

Tips for Slating
Slating at the beginning of a commercial audition seems like a simple enough task: you look at the camera in a personable manner and state your name. But there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes… Read More