Be Super!

Posted on June 16, 2013 by Casting Frontier

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.

Avoiding Wardrobe Malfunctions

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Casting Frontier

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.

The Stars’ Secrets to Staying in Shape

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Casting Frontier

Jennifer Aniston in We're the Millers

Jennifer Aniston plays a super-fit stripper in the new movie We’re the Millers, and, although she doesn’t take everything off in her risque role, she does show a lot of skin. Being that Aniston is currently 44 years old, her super-toned physique is remarkable if not mind-boggling. So what is her secret to staying in such exceptional shape? She credits her friend and yoga instructor, Mandy Inger, as well as doubling her usual yoga hours. “You get up into my age and you’ve gotta do a little bit more,” Anniston admits.

So what is it about Mandy Inger’s approach to yoga that makes it so effective? It begins with the belief that “You already have a perfect body!” Encouraging people to challenge any self-critical and self-judging thoughts about their bodies is where Inger wants her clients to begin. “…Love your body just the way it is. Remember, even if nothing changes, you are perfect just the way you are, and fitness and wellness is a celebration of your greatest gift. Celebrate your body!” Ingber says. This seems to be particularly prudent advice for aspiring actors who face such intense scrutiny on a daily basis.

Kate Hudson with son Ryder

Kate Hudson manages to maintain her svelte figure even though she’s now a mom with precious little time to pour into an exercise program. She emphasizes first off, “You’ve got to work at it… You gotta find ways to do it.” Hudson gets creative with her approach by kickboxing, sprinting, and squatting–all with her young son, Ryder, on her back! She also enjoys doing Pilates, pointing out she doesn’t like to get too structured when it comes to an exercise routine. Click here to listen to Kate talk more about ways she maintains a healthy lifestyle.

Robert Pattinson

Robert Pattinson, Jimmy Fallon, Robert Downey Jr., Halle Berry, Megan Fox, and Katherine Heigl are among the long list of celebrity names that have worked out with Harley Pasternak. Pasternak is known to simplify health and exercise routines, and emphasizes the idea of remaining active throughout the day verses sitting at a job for hours on end with a 1-2 hour burst of exercise at some point in the day. To accomplish the goal of steady activity, Pasternak promotes the use of a pedometer along with resistance exercises. In addition, he’s big on the habit of smoothies and soups for healthy and quick meals.

Gwyneth Paltrow, always open about her health choices, has shared with the world many of her beauty secrets including her exercise program with celebrity trainer, Tracy Anderson. She was recently honored by People magazine, being given the title of “Most Beautiful Woman” of 2013–not an easy feat especially for a 40-year-old mom of two, with a prolific, star-studded acting career, owner of an e-commerce company, and a singer to boot! A predictable schedule helps Paltrow tend to all of her responsibilities–which includes a two-hour daily work-out routine when the kids are at school.

The entertainment industry has in insatiable appetite for gorgeous and healthy physiques. What do you do to maintain your edge in this competitive field?

What’s More Important: Talent or Grit?

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Casting Frontier

In your career, your education, your life in general, what is more likely to bring you success: your natural aptitude and skill or your resolve, stamina, and hard work? This was one question that University of Pennsylvania psychology researcher, Angela Lee Duckworth was determined to have answered. Through the course of her research, she discovered that no matter what area people were trying to succeed in–whether it be students endeavoring to graduate, teachers working in disadvantaged schools striving to make a meaningful difference in their pupils’ lives, West Point cadets determined to make rank, or corporate salespeople attempting to earn the highest paychecks–a clear tendency became apparent:

Grit was the undisputed winner.

Taking a variety of professions into account, the question ”Who was successful and why?” was answered quite clearly: gritty characteristics like passion, perseverance, and a dedicated work ethic spanning over years ultimately proved efficacious.

“Our data showed very clearly that there are many talented individuals who simply do not follow through on their commitments. In fact, in our data, grit is usually unrelated or even inversely related to measures of talent,” Duckworth asserts.

In the acting profession, it’s tempting to believe those who seem most talented will be the ones who ultimately land the big, desirable roles. And certainly, sometimes they just might. But overall, talent is not a shoe-in. These research conclusions read as both a fair warning and a flagship of hope to actors looking to succeed in an undeniably challenging industry. To those naturally gifted actors, the data suggests that being gifted will not open all the doors in your career. And to those actors with perhaps less talent but a heap of true grit, it encourages you to keep persisting, keep working, and resolve to do so for the long run. “Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint,” Duckworth insists.

Doesn’t this remind you of the tale of The Tortoise and the Hare?

To hear Angela Lee Duckworth speak about The Key to Success, click here for her six-minute talk.

Viral Blunders

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Casting Frontier

Rebecca Martinson, a Maryland University sorority girl had a big problem with her sorority sisters: Rebecca felt like her sisters weren’t showing the proper school allegiance and were definitely not representing Delta Gamma spirit during fraternity Greek Week. What followed was an expletive-filled, highly offensive, and inappropriate email to her sisters that would make Marilyn Manson’s corpse-white visage turn crimson. ‘Becca accused the majority of her chapter of being awkward, and boring, and weird–and that’s just for starters. The demure gentlewoman (not!) went on to physically threaten her sisters, saying she “will assault” anyone she deems “mentally slow” or anyone crazy enough to display good sportsmanship. “You cheer for our team and not the other one!” she ranted. The email quickly went viral spawning scores of parodies and a good deal of hate mail. Rebecca recently resigned from Delta Gamma amidst furious media attention and negative university PR.

You, as an actor, must be bold; you must push your career forward at breakneck speeds, and you will make mistakes–it’s just part of the process. But be forewarned: any project you participate in can go viral at any time. Be it an independent film, a music video, an industrial commercial, or just you and your friends out having a few too many drinks. I’m sure Rebecca had no idea her diatribe would get beyond the confines of her social club or her university; but the fact is her denunciation went uber viral in a matter of moments. So, take risks with your career, and allow yourself to be vulnerable–but be smart! Have a clear understanding of the project you’re undertaking and the possible ramifications. Art, by its very nature, is polemical so there’s a good bit of latitude here. But knowledge is power, and the more you know about any given project, the better.