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What is the first actual meeting you will have as a new actor in the Los Angeles film and television community? It is likely to be a general audition with a casting director. This is a meeting that will not be for a role in a current casting project such as a movie or television show, but will be a chance for the casting director to get to know you as a person. They will be judging whether they can use you for something in the future so don’t treat a general audition lightly. Dress professionally, present yourself well, and use the opportunity as a preliminary to a casting call. The casting director will be looking at how well you can chit chat about yourself and your special talents, skills, and abilities. They will be looking for confidence, professionalism, and they will be watching how you present yourself, to see how you will fit in on a working set. They may ask for your marketing material, a picture and resume and perhaps biography if you are not represented by an agent and they don’t have access to that information from your representation. They may need a demo reel, so you should be prepared to have that ready. This is a valuable first step that you should take seriously and not waste! You never get a second chance at a first impression. If you are late or rattled or badly dressed or unprofessional, you will not likely have access to that casting director in the future.

We have discussed the concept of the Demo Reel previously, but let’s delve a little deeper.  In Hollywood most actors have a Demo Reel that they send in DVD format to casting directors, agents, managers, etc as a representation of what they look and behave like on camera.  It is an invaluable tool and every beginning actor should have one.  Whether it is a Disney Channel audition or a Speilberg Movie, actor’s Demo Reels are usually the first thing a casting director (or some Directors) see. Read the rest of this entry »