How Influential Can You Get

Posted on April 29, 2012 by Casting Frontier

TIME’s 2012 100 Most Influential People in the World list was recently released. “We are living in a transformative period in which leadership and influence emerge in unlikely places…the TIME 100 list is about the infinite possibilities of influence and the power of influence to change the world,” the article states. Among those listed are Manal al-Sharif who started a movement of women driving in Saudi Arabia even though the government there bans women from doing so; and the innovative math educator, Salman Khan who’s helped so many around the globe learn math concepts online. Also among those listed are Claire Danes, Viola Davis, Tilda Swinton, Chelsea Handler, Jessica Chastain, and Kristen Wiig–thanks to the impacts of their performances and careers. Seeing them associated with such global figures goes to show how influential actors can be—not only on American culture, but in the world.

We’ve all heard about remarkable humanitarian practices by many actors including George Clooney, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt . And then there are the lists like the one published in Forbes stating which actors gave most generously to their charities in 2011–big names such as Jamie Gertz, Mel Gibson, Meryl Streep, Jerry Seinfeld, Barbara Streisand, and Matthew McConaughey. Through their performances, their fame, their money, and their service, these accomplished actors are in a uniquely favorable position to influence the culture and the world.

But what about those aspiring or working actors who have not yet achieved the kind of stardom as those listed? What kind of influence can such actors have if he or she is struggling to both pay their bills and take acting classes?

Ben Cameron runs the arts-granting program at the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation in New York where he supervises a $13 million grants program aimed at the theatre, contemporary dance, jazz and presenting fields. Cameron insists the arts are going to be more important than ever in our modern times with all of its modern sufferings and pitfalls, to bring about social conscious, a common cause, and call us all to be activists in our various causes to create a more empathic world.

What kind of influence do you most want to have on the world? Whether you use the performing arts, film or video, you can make a difference in the causes that are most important to you. Some actors, wondering about an angle into the industry, for example, immediately gravitate to the horror genre. And why not? The influential The Blair Witch Project inspired aspiring actors and directors alike to come up with horror plots and themes aiming for low budgets and starring just themselves–knowing there’s often a wide audience to greet finished projects. All the power to them! That’s certainly one way to be influential. But don’t forget other avenues to pour your passions into; causes most dear to you are likely dear to many other potential audience members as well. Hear Ben Camerson speak here about ways you as a performing artist can motivate others and change the world.

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Theater Arts Degrees Take Another Punch

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Casting Frontier

Just this week, Papermag, a New York City-based arts and business magazine focusing on cultural trends, listed the 13 most useless college majors on their website. I doubt you’ll be shocked upon hearing the arts were well represented on this ignominious roster. Indeed, Fine Arts, Drama, and Film and Video Arts took the top three spots. Ouch! That had to hurt. You, as an actor, are somehow included and connected to the top three dud college majors! The only thing that would top this is if you attended a party school to boot. And with student loan debt reaching one trillion dollars this year in the US, I’m sure this list is more than a bit daunting.

Well, be of good cheer because I have an opposing point of view. Conventional wisdom has always underestimated those who are imaginative, the thinkers, the insightful, the poets, the dreamers. But the truth is you can’t run your magazines, and Internet companies, and TV stations, sports broadcasts, and restaurants without artistic people in key positions. This is the great unspoken truth of modern business. A degree in Theatre not only trains you to be comfortable in front of a crowd, but it prepares you to write an intelligent email, to learn how to utilize limited resources, to think outside the box, and to glean wisdom from criticism. These are all useful skills an arty type like you can bring to a conventional career–in addition to a career in acting. And, by the way, don’t we have enough folks majoring in Business, Economics, Engineering, and Information Technology? I’m getting bored just listing these majors! Major yawn is more like it.

And while I’m rolling, how do you quantify useless? I’m sure there’s some fancy equation that has to do with employment, credit, bank balance, and equity; But what about happiness?! Surely, the measure of a life well lived should include pleasure and joy in its equation. I’m willing to bet people who majored in the arts have generally fond memories of their college experience. Can the same be said of Accounting or Molecular Chemistry? Maybe, but I doubt it. We in the arts have memories of Shakespearean productions that blew minds, of staying up all night working out sketch routines, of learning the value of silence, of being touched by brilliance. Really, if everyone took Papermag’s list to heart, Louis Armstrong’s lyrics to What a Wonderful World would need to be updated to What a Depressing World.

Being an actor, there will always be a reason to fail. The odds are stacked against you, you have a useless degree, and nobody ever really makes it; blah, blah, blah. But why not prove them wrong? Let the haters be your motivators. Papermag’s list, and all the similar lists that have come before it, are bogus. Seriously. Having a degree in the arts is one of the most noble, genuine, interesting, useful things you can do. It will enrich your life whether you become a working actor, or use these educational skills toward another career, and throughout your life. As the Scarecrow came to find, a degree is merely a piece of paper; but tripping down the yellow brick road is what it’s all about.

This all reminds me of Ken Robinson’s Ted Talk about how schools kill creativity, imagining 7-year-old Shakespeare being reprimanded to stop speaking like that. Over 10 million people have viewed Robinson’s talk–and for good reason. We all instinctually know there’s something huge at stake when the arts and creativity are downplayed. Refresh your passion for your art by listening to him speak by clicking here.

Happy Earth Day from Casting Frontier

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Casting Frontier

Today is the day we celebrate our earth with beach clean ups, recycling, and a growing awareness of ways we can decrease our personal and collective ecological footprints. Although there’s a lot more work to be done, people are making real efforts to make a difference by bringing their own bags to grocery stores, installing solar panels on their homes, and driving more hybrid cars. Earth Day is so important because it keeps us focussed on our daily decisions that impact our planet–and forces us to really consider the good, the bad, and the ugly of our habits.

What practices have you been exercising to help in this cause? Do you turn the faucet off when you brush your teeth? Do you put on a sweater instead of turning up the heat in your home? Unplug your appliances when not in use? Whether you’re diligent about these things, or have been more lax than you care to admit, there’s one thing for certain: If you have a Casting Frontier membership, you really are participating in healing the earth.

Back in the day, Casting Directors dealt with paper headshots, resumes, size cards, and Polaroids for each actor every time he or she auditioned. In a casting facility with, say, eight casting jobs going on any given day, you’d have to multiply all of this paper waste by 800. Now consider the many couriers required to ship audition tapes across country to the various people involved in the production process. Remember, this reflects the waste from just one day in one casting facility. Needless to say, the casting business was an ecological mess!

In 2006 Casting Frontier changed all of that with the launch of iSession™. Using their years of experience in commercial casting and technology, Joey Rubenstein (CEO) and Andreas Tompros (COO) created this revolutionary audition-uploading system that allows Casting Driectors to streamline their workflow. Building on that initial success, Casting Frontier has since developed into an A-Z casting solution, moving the entire casting process online and reducing the carbon footprint of the casting business. It is also the first company to develop a comprehensive set of mobile casting tools specifically designed for the iPad, iPhone as well as the Android devices. These revolutionary apps include: iSession Mobile, Director on the Go, Agent on the Go, and Actor on the Go.

Casting Frontier is proud to be part of the green movement. And we are so appreciative that you’re onboard as well. Click here to see Casting Frontier members give their testimonials about the many green advantages our profiles provide.

The Dude Abides

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Casting Frontier

Big Lebowski-ites celebrate the Dude’s escapades and misadventures in near cult-like fashion at bowling alleys throughout the world in honor of the stoner classic, The Big Lebowski. “Lebowski Fest”–an annual multi-city hurling phantasmagoria–began in the year 2000 as a last-ditch marketing event for a failing bowling alley in Bowling Green, KY. Since that epochal day, the festival has grown exponentially in terms of volume, exposure, and devotion. The Dude is a slacker who smokes weed at any time of the day or night and drinks White Russians just as regularly. The Dude finds himself in the midst of a mystery so nuanced and complex that only a drug-addled, “flexible” mind could unravel. So, why are people so fascinated by this chronically unemployed, out-of-shape, shamefully unambitious, slack-jawed, Eagles-hating, private dick? Because “the Dude abides.” The Dude does not sweat the small stuff…and it’s all small stuff. His life is threatened, he has his head stuck in the toilet, some reprobate defecates in his car, he’s assaulted by the police, and he has his throw rug stolen out from under him. And as he so consistently maintains, “That rug reallly held the room together.” But he is not fazed because when all else fails, he can go roll with Walter and Donny. No sweat.

See, it’s hard to beat a guy you just can’t get down. The Dude will not allow anyone to ruin his flow. This is a profound insight from a Zen master. You, as an actor, can learn from the Dude…or His Dudeness, Or Duder, or El Duderino, if you’re not into the whole brevity thing. The point is, if you get rejected at an audition, or a director treats you poorly, or if you flub your lines, lose your agent, learn from the Dude, and abide. Things will work out. This is what the Dude knows so well; things will work out; you just have to give things a little breathing room. And you can’t let your thinking get too uptight. A role doesn’t work out–let it go, one will come back around. An avail falls through–hey, it happens. Your car stalls on the 405 on the way to a callback–se la vie. The important thing is to stay calm, and stay the course. The universe is on your side, the universe is in awe of your courage and supports your dream. Listen, the Dude abides. You would be wise to do likewise.

What’s This Hollywood Gluten-Free Trend?

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Casting Frontier

Free at last! Free at last! Miley Cyrus is gluten-free at last! In fact, the former Hannah Montana star believes everyone should be gluten free. She’s been quoted as saying, “Gluten is crap! Everyone should try to go without it for a week. You won’t go back!” But she’s not the only one touting the benefits of gluten abstinence. A gluten-free diet and lifestyle is the new rage across the nation, and it’s particularly evident in the fitness and youth obsessed capital of the world: Hollywood, CA. Zooey Deschanel, Ryan Phillipe, Gwenyth Paltrow, Jessica Alba, Al Roker, Scar Jo, and even the chain-smoking, hard-partying Billy Bob Thornton have sworn off the enigmatic protein. So what is this mysterious, potentially hazardous substance? A substance, by the way, most of us have been eating our entire lives. Gluten is a protein composite found in wheat, rye, and barley; but from a practical point of view, gluten is the substance that gives all the delicious foods we love to eat (breads, cakes, pasta, muffins) their yummy, chewy texture. So, be forewarned, if you decide to give up gluten you’ll be eschewing club sandwiches, pasta, spaghetti and meatballs (yes, including the meatballs which are made with breadcrumbs) beer, pretzels, cookies, dumplings, pancakes, pizza…oh, this is getting brutal! Your hamburger will go bunless and sit on a salad; your dessert options will be severely diminished to options like dark chocolate, marshmallows, and rice-crispy treats. But don’t be too crestfallen; Miley goes on to rave about her newfound mystical fountain of youth, “The change in your skin, your physical and mental health, it’s amazing!”

Now, keep in mind, these celebrities have been diagnosed a severe food allergy to gluten called Celiac disease or suffer from a sensitivity to gluten. But some experts believe, from an evolutionary perspective, none of our stomachs are ready for gluten foods. After all, science tells us Homo sapiens have been in existence for over 100,000 years, but we’ve only been consuming gluten for the past 10,000 at most. This is a mere blip on the epochal radar of human experience. But critics of the new health kick caution if you are not gluten sensitive, it may not be a good idea to cut out the gluten because you could put yourself at risk of not getting enough fiber, iron, calcium, and B vitamins. And for those who are inspired by Miley’s recent weigh loss, keep in mind there’s no hard evidence that going gluten free is an effective weight loss strategy–especially with all the new high-calorie gluten-free products in markets including waffles, cupcakes, biscuits, and brownies.

So, what’s the bottom line on to-be or not-to-be gluten free? Well, if you’re happy and fit with lots of energy and enthusiasm, and you have the initiative and fortitude to chase your dreams and desires…well, first of all, God bless you! If that’s the case, you’re probably not gluten intolerant. But, if you are sluggish, daunted by everyday tasks, have achy joints; if you feel weak and in need of naps throughout the day, it might be wise to check with your doctor or registered nutritionist to see if a gluten-free adventure is in your future. And, if you happen to be on the fence about the issue, take Miley’s advice and try it for a week. Who knows, maybe your “skin, physical and mental health” will be “amazing!”