The internet. What a great way for those of us without representation to gather information about casting calls and available roles. Until you find yourself drowning in websites that prove to be less than legitimate.
Enter any of the following phrases (casting calls philadelphia, acting philadelphia, open casting calls, etc.) and you may find yourself bombarded with websites boasting "Free Casting Calls!" "Proven to Boost your Acting Career!" "Act your way to Stardom!" How is a person expected to weed through all of this to find the auditions and calls that are worth the time and are not scams? I don't have a foolproof answer but I do have some thoughts on the subject that may or may not be worth hearing. If you don't feel like listening, just scroll to the bottom of the post for a list of sites that I check daily. Each offers pertinent and accurate casting information.
Although the acting community didn't go around setting up faux casting sites littered with promises of fame, casting calls launching your career, and undeniably plastered with ads and links guaranteed to do nothing more than infiltrate your computer with viruses, these sites and the time that it takes to divulge each one has become the first road block in stopping those who aren't willing to sacrifice their time. There is no one site that will offer all casting calls available everywhere. You must be ready to invest some q.t. into sorting through all of the potential sites. It's not always fun but hey, it builds character, right?
In the never-ending search for the perfect role, keep in mind that you're probably not going to find it at this stage of the game. Most large roles for feature films are cast through agents and agencies, that's not to say that some don't stray from the norm and hold open calls, just don't get discouraged if you're not finding lead roles for the next summer blockbuster posted on public sites. Take time now to audition for and work on independent and student films. No they usually don't pay, but they'll offer great experience both positive and negative and give you material to use for your reel. Never ever think that you're too good for a role. You can always use these projects to experience new characters and sides of your personality that you may not have had the opportunity to unleash yet.
Remember, everybody, well maybe not the Olsen Twins, but everybody else had to be a nobody at some point. You'll get your chance. Work hard, practice your craft, take on every role you can find, and take deep cleansing breaths while sorting through those casting call sites.
As promised here are a few sites that I check on a regular basis and trust for accurate and up to date casting information. Enjoy!
1. Greater Philadelphia Film Office
2. Heery Casting Agency
3. Philip Jacobson
4. Alan Baltes Casting Blog
5. Theater Alliance of Greater Philadelphia
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
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