Ask an Insider

Should Clients Produce Their Own Work?

"In Hollywood, a talent can be waiting forever to get a callback. Everyone and anyone, including the gas station attendant, is in the biz. The competition is fierce." -- Daniel 'Big D' Mahan

When To Brand Yourself?

"I think that branding yourself is a great idea if you are very specific to begin with. Many actors are more versatile, so branding can pigeonhole them." -- Josselyne Herman-Saccio

Using Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube?

" We're entering a new era where everyone is using MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter, and it would be silly not to take advantage of that." -- Sean Marks, Barbara McNamara Casting

When Does An Actor Need a Financial Planner?

"Immediately! Anyone who is devoting his or her life to a career like acting, in which 2.5 percent of those trained in it make their living at it, needs financial planning." -- Erin Burns

Actor Training Abroad?

"I would say the gung-ho attitude toward the work would be the most obvious difference between training abroad and training actors here in the U.S." -- Ron Burrus

Best Acting Advice?

"We have to allow ourselves to let go and be vulnerable and allow people to question our sanity. Then the audience will forget they're watching a performance and feel guilty about intruding in our personal lives."

Interviewing An Actor?

"Let the agent conduct the interview. Some actors come in, sit down, and proceed to do a monologue about themselves. That doesn't usually go over well with me." --Renee Glicker

Manager and Agent Working Together?

"When building a team, an actor hires agents—legit, commercial, voiceover—and a manager who can work together, complement each other, and provide opportunities to achieve success."

How Do You Give Notes?

"I think giving notes is among the most important tasks a director must do. And how one gives a note is often as crucial as what the note is." -- Scott Alan Evans, Co-Artistic Director of Actors Company Theatre

VIDEO: Casting Director April Webster Talks "Star Trek"

Back Stage talks to casting director April Webster about the process of casting "Star Trek" and her tips for actors going into auditions.