Casting

Auditioning: It's Your Time and Space

Veteran casting director Fern Champion launched her career more than 30 years ago in New York, casting for Sidney Lumet, John Badham, Alan Pakula, and Herbert Ross.

Worshiping a Technique and/or Teacher (aka The Cult Factor)

"Everything I say is right. Everything I say is wrong. There are many conflicting opinions in this industry. Don't take one person's word as gospel. Including my own. Take what works for you."

Publicity Blunders

Fame and attention. Nouns conjoined, the two desires are often borne from one source: insecurity. It's a "Someone, anyone, please pay attention to me!" syndrome.

Spreading Their Wings

"We’ve got great memories for talent. One or the other of us will remember someone that we’ve seen two years ago that came in to audition."

Innovative Marketing Tool for the Actor

In my 30-year career as a director, casting director and former actor, I have never once come across an actor who had a reduced, easy-to-pocket, up-to-date resume on them at all times.

Headshots: Border or Not?

Recently a reader sent me a question about the latest headshot trends: whether a headshot should have a border or be full bleed. Every five or so years the "in" headshot format alters.

Audition As If You're Rehearsing

Todd Thaler launched his career as a casting director 25 years ago by overseeing background casting for Woody Allen, a position he held on 14 of Allen's films.

They're Just Neil and Oliver to Her

Over the course of her two-decade career, Los Angeles–based casting director Heidi Levitt has worked with everyone from blockbuster king Michael Bay ("The Rock") to indie darlings like Wim Wenders ("Don't Come Knocking").

Is 'Beautiful' the New 'Ugly'?

The headshot is the passport into the casting director's office. It has to say something about who the actor is. A pretty headshot does not always serve the actor in terms of getting an audition.

Team Players

Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Erika Sellin spent many an hour perfecting pirouettes as an aspiring ballerina.