Author Archives: Casting Frontier

About Casting Frontier

Information about casting calls, digital casting, and auditions in Los Angeles, New York and nationwide.

Be Super!

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Don’t let anyone fool you; it’s a great time to be an actor! In a weak economy, the film industry is booming. Just this weekend the Zack Snyder-directed Man Of Steel broke box-office records for the month of June with a $125 million opening. This is significant as the summer months are traditionally box-office bonanzas to begin with. And although these Superman numbers are undeniably super–as well as unprecedented for their time slot–they don’t come close to the Iron Man 3 opening which was a measly $174 million; or The Avengers blockbuster opening which clocked in at a paltry $207 million. Now, one might argue these metrics aren’t necessarily accurate as they measure revenue as opposed to units sold; but, with the increase in ticket fees over time, it’s safe to say, all roads lead to Rome. Not to mention these movies tend to do very well overseas. It seems films are one of the few US exports left with any international cache. Keep in mind, Man Of Steel’s producer, Christopher Nolan, scored his own box-office jackpot with the wildly popular Batman franchise. In the summer of 2005, Batman Begins opened to the tune of $48 million. One doesn’t need a graph to see these box office megaliths are rising as quickly as Superman bounds to the moon.

This is all to say that you, dear actor, are in a thriving field. Any young professional would be more than excited to get in on such a booming industry. Now, here’s the downside: to get your share of this gigantic pie…you have to be good! So, what’s the problem? You know you’re good, and you know you have the will to succeed. But the real question is, do you have the will to prepare? As artistic and creative and fun as acting is, it’s also a numbers game–or more like basic physics really: a body in motion tends to stay in motion; a body at rest tends to stay at rest. If you’re at rest at this stage of your career, you need to get in motion. If you’re in motion, you need to get in faster motion. Challenge yourself: go on as many auditions as is humanly possible, get in an actors’ group, complete and update your digital account and upload your reel, procure the lead in an independent film. Get your career in motion!

The movie business is rolling along and has been for a hundred years; it’s a good bet. Invest in the film industry with the capital of your very own unique talent.

Submit your profile for commercial auditions, TV auditions (and more!) in Los Angeles, New York & nationwide. Get more auditions using Casting Frontier's online casting system and showcase your talent! Post your reel & plus get your Casting Card that includes your personal Actor ID Barcode. Visit us at http://castingfrontier.com.

Playing Roles Opposite of Yourself

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Christopher Walken in A Late Quartet

When you think of Christopher Walken‘s repertoire of characters do visions of quirky, haunted, or psychotic miscreants come to mind? With such a prolific career portraying such convincing characters, one might jump to the conclusion that Christopher Walken, the man, shares some of these attributes. Ironically, according to Walken himself, he is not like the madman roles he plays. “Well, my life is really quite conservative. I’ve been married nearly 50 years. I don’t have hobbies or children. I don’t much care to travel. I’ve never had a big social life. I really just stay home, except when I go to work. So in that sense, I suppose I’m a regular guy,” Walken reflects. When asked why he believes he was consistently asked to portray roles so unlike himself, Walken explains, “Well, movies are so expensive to make that if something works you get asked to do it again. And when I started, I did well with these eccentric people. Troubled. Often villains. And that’s fine.” Walken expresses gratitude for this acting career which started in early childhood. “I can’t imagine anything else I could have done that would have given me such a nice life.” Breaking the pattern of his type-cast past, Walken was glad to be given the opportunity to star in A Late Quartet in which he portrays a gentle cellist with Parkinson’s disease. ”Yes, it was different for me,” he says. “I don’t usually get to play fathers or grandfathers or uncles. Now that I’m older, maybe I can play people closer to myself. I’d like that.”

Louise Fletcher as Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Similarly, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest actress, Louise Fletcher–who so convincingly played the merciless Nurse Ratched character–is now 78 years old. With the passing of time, she finds she can no longer bear to watch this performance anymore as she finds the character too cruel–even though she won an Academy Award for Best Actress for the performance back in the 1970s. Indeed, Nurse Ratched has become the stereotype of a formidably aggressive woman, as well as a metaphor for the corrupting influence of power and authority that can occur in various institutions–mental and otherwise. But the superintendent of the hospital used on the set, Dr. Dean Brooks, has described Louise Fletcher as being nothing like Nurse Ratched in real life. In fact, Brooks insists, “I have found her to be angelic.” According to Brooks, Fletcher, whose parents are deaf, took time out from filming to visit students at the Oregon School for the Deaf. Also, she was devoted to her parents, tending to them lovingly as they aged, and when her friend was dying in London, Fletcher dropped everything to be there for this friend. Not exactly the ruthless qualities we immediately associate with Fletcher’s performance!

One might argue that actors should be able to portray characters unlike their true selves; that’s what acting is, after all. But, to pull them off so convincingly especially when you’re so unlike the characters is a true feat! Have you ever been asked to perform a role completely unlike yourself? If so, was it more difficult or was it liberating perhaps to be released of your true nature?
Submit your profile for commercial auditions, TV auditions (and more!) in Los Angeles, New York & nationwide. Get more auditions using Casting Frontier's online casting system and showcase your talent! Post your reel & plus get your Casting Card that includes your personal Actor ID Barcode. Visit us at http://castingfrontier.com.

Find Out What Roles Your Special Skills Can Land You

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Sylvester Stallone in Rocky 2 trying to catch a chicken

An aspiring actor named Sam had been the captain of his high school football team. Hoping to broaden his avenues into the business, he added these specific sporting skills to his resume. “What I got really surprised me,” Sam said. “Producers were looking for a young guy who could run around and catch a chicken–which is not easy to do by the way!” In fact, Sam’s football experience helped him land a recurring role in a popular weekly series…and it all started with his ability to catch a cagey chicken.

Lenka had some modeling experience in the Czech Republic. A few of her photos made it into a clothing catalog, and she’d once walked the runway in a local clothing designer’s fashion show. Aspiring to become an actress in America, she added her cat-walking skills to her resume. Good thing she did: she landed the principle role in a national hair-removal lotion commercial. Casting directors were looking for a young woman who knew how to showcase her legs and found what they were looking for in Lenka. “That role gave me the confidence I needed to move on in the business,” Lenka said.

What special skills do you have? Do you consider yourself a Nerf basketball champion like Bart does? Bart listed this specific skill on his special skills form and this caught the eye of casting directors looking for someone who could toss crumpled paper into a waste basket with deadly accuracy. Bart turned out to be the Michael Jordan of that particular skill.

Casting Frontier wants to match you up with commercial executives who are looking for your unique abilities. Which of your special skills will get you called into your next audition? And you need not judge your abilities too harshly; Casting Frontier’s Special Skill Wizard offers the ability to check off if you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced in any particular capability. Just make sure to assess yourself honestly to assure you get called in for roles that match your actual ability.

Actors can immediately increase the chances of being called in for auditions based on specific skill requirements they already have. So let Casting Frontier assist you in the process. All you need to do is populate your Special Skills Wizard in your Casting Frontier profile. The more skills you list, the more likely you will get an audition.

And, as an added incentive, Casting Frontier is offering a 15% discount on a yearly Premium profile (limited time $42.50) and yearly Premium Plus profile (limited time $59.50) as soon as you have filled out your special skills.* And just by filling out your Special Skills Wizard, you can call (323) 300-6129 Mon. – Fri. 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. PST to be entered into a raffle. Prizes include: a Premium or Premium Plus upgrade, two free Dodger tickets, and a free photo shoot (3 looks) at our state-of-the-art digital photo studio. This offer will expire June 15, 2013.

So remember to give yourself the credit you deserve. Fill out your Special Skill Wizard today! Give yourself every chance you can to get discovered and achieve your acting goals.

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* The 15% off credit offer is valid for a 12-month term. Valid for first-time Premium upgrades only and requires 12-month commitment to a Premium or Premium Plus profile. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with other coupons, discounts, or other special offers. To be eligible for the 15% discount, talent must log into their Casting Frontier profile, add multiple special skills to multiple categories and save the changes. Your subscription will renew at a standard rate after the 12-month term has expired. Offer expires 06/15/13 at 11:59 p.m..

Submit your profile for commercial auditions, TV auditions (and more!) in Los Angeles, New York & nationwide. Get more auditions using Casting Frontier's online casting system and showcase your talent! Post your reel & plus get your Casting Card that includes your personal Actor ID Barcode. Visit us at http://castingfrontier.com.

Avoiding Wardrobe Malfunctions

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Gwyneth Paltrow's almost wardrobe malfunction

It seems like every day, media outlets seek to intrigue audiences with the latest wardrobe-malfunction story–or the highly touted almost-wardrobe malfunctions. One day it’s Miley Cyrus’ side breast, the next day it’s Zac Efron’s drooping jeans, then it’s Sienna Miller’s neckline revealing the lace of her bra, and still next it’s Lindsay Lohan’s popped shirt buttons. Wardrobe malfunctions are a phenomenon that is here to stay. And it’s actors who are at prime risk for such mishaps because they are among the most likely individuals to frequently be in the position to challenge cultural norms in their appearances, performances, and attitudes–which can include wardrobe and fashion statements that press the envelope.

So the questions for you aspiring actors is how are you going to avoid such glamour glitches, and how will you handle them should they actually occur?

First of all, when you try on clothes, don’t hesitate to bend over, sit, stretch, and squat. Closely observe how the fabric responds to your movement. If too much of you or your undergarments show, consider a different size or cut.

Zac Efron's fashion mishap

Fashion tape with its double-sided adhesive is considered a must-have fashion staple. This fashion friendly tape can repair hanging hemlines, keep slippery straps in place, and can usually be reliable at keeping your plunging neckline intact; but remember it’s not foolproof! Fashion tape is not washable, so should be reapplied each time you wear your daring outfit. And it’s a good idea to carry some with you whenever you’ll be in the line of fire.

Undergarments that match your skin tone are particularly helpful when you wear lace or semi-sheer fabric. And body smoothers and shapers like those made by Spanx are made for both men and women.

Remember basic details like wearing waterproof mascara and clear deodorant to avoid streaks and smears. If deodorant does end up getting on your clothes, remember the old rub-pantyhose-on-the-spot trick.

It’s a good idea to keep everything clean and tucked while in the public’s–and especially the camera’s–eye. That being said, remember to have fun and not take yourself too seriously. An embarrassing situation handled with a bit of humor and grace can be the best way to look captivating after all.

Jennifer Lawrence comes close to spilling out of her dress while exiting a van on the set of the David O. Russel movie recently.

Submit your profile for commercial auditions, TV auditions (and more!) in Los Angeles, New York & nationwide. Get more auditions using Casting Frontier's online casting system and showcase your talent! Post your reel & plus get your Casting Card that includes your personal Actor ID Barcode. Visit us at http://castingfrontier.com.

“Play Your Life with All You Have”

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Ji-Hae Park, Violinist

One never knows when inspiration is going to hit or what form it will take. Inspiration could come from a mountaintop view, a well-written book, an unexpected conversation with a stranger, or an uplifting movie to name just a few sources. It could also come from music, as in Ji-Hae Park’s case.

Ji-Hae Park‘s goal was to become the best violin player in the world. In pursuit of prestigious concert-hall dreams she developed some of the most exceptional skills in the world of classical music. But while she was on the fast track to achieving violin stardom, her dream burst like a balloon. Consumed with the thought that her goal was one-dimensional, Park wondered if there was anything more fulfilling that music could ever give her. As a result, she fell into the depths of a severe depression, and just as she was “about to give everything up,” she discovered that the only thing that could reach her in that dark state–and indeed, restore her soul–was music. Certain musical pieces seemed to understand her pain and sense of isolation more than anyone in her life, and in doing so, these pieces gave her great comfort. Reinvigorated by the sheer emotion and poetry of the music, Park began to consider a new and deeper approach to her career as well as her life in general.
Park desired to share her musical talent with those who might be in the depths of despair hoping to comfort them in their loneliness. That is, she poured her heart out on the violin to audiences at hospitals, prisons, charities, and even among those suffering from leprosy. By doing this, she found the meaning in her life that she had hoped for all along. Now Park continues in this newfound approach–and indeed plays grand concert halls as well.
As artists, actors are in a position to seek what inspires them, to dig deeper, and revitalize their work and sense of purpose. Park puts it this way:
So, here’s to you aspiring actors to find what inspires you, and to project all you’ve got out to the world–which will, in turn, certainly inspire many others. Please share with us your source of inspiration for your acting dreams.
To hear Ji-Hae Park’s “jaw-dropping” violin playing on her Ted Talk, click here.
Submit your profile for commercial auditions, TV auditions (and more!) in Los Angeles, New York & nationwide. Get more auditions using Casting Frontier's online casting system and showcase your talent! Post your reel & plus get your Casting Card that includes your personal Actor ID Barcode. Visit us at http://castingfrontier.com.