Ad lib Ad lib AFTRA – AFTRA – Agent Agent Audition Audition Beat, as in, “Take a beat.” Beat, as in, “Take a beat.” Blocking Blocking Book Book Boom Boom

“Break-a-leg!” “Break-a-leg!” Callback Callback Casting Director Casting Director Client Client Cue Cue Director Director Hand Props Hand Props

Headshot Headshot Open Call/Cattle Call Open Call/Cattle Call Residual Residual SAG – SAG – Sides Sides Slate Slate Storyboard Storyboard Talent Talent Top, as in, “Take it from the top!” Top, as in, “Take it from the top!”

Focus: Commercials are about selling the product. Focus: Commercials are about selling the product. Memorize your lines; be prepared. Memorize your lines; be prepared. Be comfortable in front of the camera. Be comfortable in front of the camera. Treat the product with respect. Treat the product with respect.

Product = #1 Product = #1 The client is paying for you to sell the product. The client is paying for you to sell the product. It’s not about what YOU think; it’s all about pleasing the director and the client. It’s not about what YOU think; it’s all about pleasing the director and the client. Leave your opinions and your ego at the door. Leave your opinions and your ego at the door.

You must be prepared to practice memorizing your lines from Day 1. You must be prepared to practice memorizing your lines from Day 1. Showing up without preparation = YOU’RE FIRED! Showing up without preparation = YOU’RE FIRED! Test yourself. Test yourself. 2 things at once=SUCCESSFUL MEMORIZATION 2 things at once=SUCCESSFUL MEMORIZATION

If you are not comfortable, you have probably not prepared, or have not warmed up. If you are not comfortable, you have probably not prepared, or have not warmed up. Discomfort is very, very hard to hide from a camera close up on your face. Discomfort is very, very hard to hide from a camera close up on your face. Practice in front of a point on the wall, or your video camera, rather than in front of the mirror. Practice in front of a point on the wall, or your video camera, rather than in front of the mirror. WHY? WHY?

Treat the client’s “baby” with respect. Treat the client’s “baby” with respect. SMILE when you say the product name. SMILE when you say the product name. Don’t cover the label/name. Don’t cover the label/name. Hold it high & in the shot. Hold it high & in the shot. Don’t toss it or plop it down, even when the shoot is over. Don’t toss it or plop it down, even when the shoot is over.

Yep, it’s important! Yep, it’s important! Body Warm-ups Body Warm-ups Vocal Warm-ups Vocal Warm-ups Enunciation & Articulation: Enunciation & Articulation: Tempo: Tempo: Inflection: Inflection: Pronunciation, esp. unfamiliar words…LOOK THEM UP!! ASK SOMEONE!! Pronunciation, esp. unfamiliar words…LOOK THEM UP!! ASK SOMEONE!!

Referrals Referrals Agents More to come on this… Agents More to come on this… Scouts Scouts Parent submissions Parent submissions Open calls, aka “cattle calls” Open calls, aka “cattle calls”

Their take: 10% of the work they book for you. Their take: 10% of the work they book for you. SCAM ALERT: Never Never Never pay up front !!! SCAM ALERT: Never Never Never pay up front !!! What about headshots, resumes, & work permits?? What about headshots, resumes, & work permits?? The Letter The Letter The Interview The Interview

Any agent who tells you to buy their products, take their classes, give them “up front” money, etc. and they will “guarantee you work” is a dirty, rotten scoundrel. Any agent who tells you to buy their products, take their classes, give them “up front” money, etc. and they will “guarantee you work” is a dirty, rotten scoundrel. TURN AND RUN! Run like the wind. Do not look back. TURN AND RUN! Run like the wind. Do not look back.

What a reputable agent will NOT do: What a reputable agent will NOT do: Promise you jobs Promise you jobs Take money from you before you work Take money from you before you work How do I know? INVESTIGATE How do I know? INVESTIGATE Hollywood Creative Directory Hollywood Representation Directory Hollywood Creative Directory Hollywood Representation Directory Assn. of Film Commissioners Assn. of Film Commissioners

Short Short Shows personality – YOU write it, not your parents. Shows personality – YOU write it, not your parents. Include a photo Include a photo To the point To the point Your name Your name Your bio: age, experience, schooling, etc. Your bio: age, experience, schooling, etc. How you heard about them How you heard about them Request an interview/meeting to perform a commercial for them Request an interview/meeting to perform a commercial for them

Be nice; be courteous. Be nice; be courteous. Be talkative. Be talkative. Answer with a full, complete answer. Answer with a full, complete answer. Turn negatives into positives. Turn negatives into positives. Volunteer a prepared commercial. Volunteer a prepared commercial. That means you need to have one in your bag of tricks. Hey, you could use the one from this class!! You owe me $10. Just kiddin’… That means you need to have one in your bag of tricks. Hey, you could use the one from this class!! You owe me $10. Just kiddin’… TELL THE TRUTH!! TELL THE TRUTH!!

DO: DO: Show up 15 minutes early Show up 15 minutes early Wear the same outfit each day you audition Wear the same outfit each day you audition Take direction Take direction Be prepared Be prepared Warm up Warm up Be confident; greet the casting director Be confident; greet the casting director Memorize your lines at once; look at the storyboard for blocking/use of props Memorize your lines at once; look at the storyboard for blocking/use of props Slate yourself Slate yourself

DON’T DON’T Change your “look” from day one to the day of the Change your “look” from day one to the day of the shoot (hopefully) Argue with the casting director Argue with the casting director Be inflexible or unwilling to try, even if you think you look silly Be inflexible or unwilling to try, even if you think you look silly Ignore the notes of the casting director Ignore the notes of the casting director Act like you are indispensible; you’re not. Act like you are indispensible; you’re not. Be devastated if you don’t get the role. Be devastated if you don’t get the role.

What is a union? What is a union? A union is a group of professionals who form a collective bargaining group. HUH?? A union is a group of professionals who form a collective bargaining group. HUH?? Unions try and negotiate the wages, working conditions, and benefits of their members. Unions try and negotiate the wages, working conditions, and benefits of their members. There are teachers’ unions, steelworkers’ unions, truck drivers’ unions, and unions for many others, including PERFORMERS. There are teachers’ unions, steelworkers’ unions, truck drivers’ unions, and unions for many others, including PERFORMERS. SAG, AFTRA, (Actor’s Equity) SAG, AFTRA, (Actor’s Equity)

Admission: Unions can be very controversial. Admission: Unions can be very controversial. They’re expensive to join! They’re expensive to join! Many jobs require union membership; some do Many jobs require union membership; some donot. Union jobs pay more, but you can be tossed out Union jobs pay more, but you can be tossed out if they find out you’ve worked on a non-union set. In order to be a professional actor on stage, TV, In order to be a professional actor on stage, TV, film or radio, you may need to become a union member, but it depends on where you want to go.

Masters Degree, University of Messing It Up, Hollywood, CA har har Masters Degree, University of Messing It Up, Hollywood, CA har har Stevens, Chambers. Hollywood 101: The Ultimate Commercial Book for Kids and Teens. South Pasadena, CA: Sandcastle Publishing, Stevens, Chambers. Hollywood 101: The Ultimate Commercial Book for Kids and Teens. South Pasadena, CA: Sandcastle Publishing,