Casting
Sara Isaacson from Isaacson Casting and Collin Daniel from Greenstein/Daniel Casting were onsite at the Career Center to discuss their career and best practices for auditioning. Both are Columbia College Alumni, and both have wildly successful casting careers in Los Angeles. Here are some helpful hints from the experts about auditioning and your career:
- Never shake hands with the people auditioning you. They don’t want to shake hands with each of the forty people coming in that day.
- Don’t make small talk. Just thank them for auditioning you.
- Don’t try to "Stand Out." Stand out by being a great actor.
- Headshots should ALWAYS be 8 x10, in color and a shot of you that looks like you – no surprises!
- Always have your name on the front of your headshot.
- In Los Angeles when you audition you always are in front of a blue screen, so don’t wear a blue shirt.
- In some aspects, dress for the audition – for example: you’re auditioning for a Goth role, perhaps wear black. But if you’re auditioning for a nurse, don’t wear scrubs and a stethoscope.
- Be an Extra and work on Independent Films– build that resume.
- Take acting classes where you want to live – if you’re in Los Angeles, take classes there.
- The hardest parts to audition for can be the one liner speaking parts. If it’s a role of a waitress and the line is “Can I take your order?”- the waitress is setting up the line for the actor, so just deliver it normal. Don’t try to be overly dramatic with it.
Helpful Resources