Notes from a casting director

I don't have a lot of money to produce my films. In fact, many times (with short films), I have zero money. So, I act as my own casting director. I enjoy many parts of this process but it is very time-consuming. Also, it can be a bit frustrating.

If you are an actor, I want to give you some friendly advice.

I hope what you're about to read does not apply to you. If that's the case, then just pass this link on to your actor friends.

Actors, when you respond to a casting notice, you are applying for a job. So, like any job application, you should follow instructions. Read the posting and submit per instructions. If they ask you to e-mail a headshot and resume, e-mail a headshot and resume! This is the first impression the casting director has of you. Are you professional? Can you follow simple instructions? If you're serious about acting, then you need to take every part of the process seriously.

For "Shadows of Death," I listed the breakdown on this blog and then shared that link via Twitter, Facebook, Stage32, and LinkedIn. I also posted on casting websites.

Here are some of the things that have happened that have given me pause when considering someone.

1. People post links in the comments sections of the various websites where I posted. I clearly stated that to submit, actors should e-mail me their materials. I'm not trying to be difficult. It is a big job to organize all of these submissions, so it's easiest on me if I have them all in my inbox. I don't have time to keep checking every single posting for comments. Even when I left a comment reiterating how to submit properly, people continued to do the same thing! 

2. People emailing "I'm interested. What role which do you think I should be?" Do I know you? No. So how could I possibly answer that question? Read the breakdowns and if there is a fit, then submit. The breakdowns are each about a sentence long, so it's really not that much reading. You don't want to put extra work on the casting director. You may think that you're showing that you're open to being cast in any of the roles, but it comes across as lazy.

3. People sending attachments with silly filenames. I got a picture called "me in a sexy suit." Really? How about "your name-suit"? Also, I know that you're probably the only person saving a resume on your computer, but it's more helpful if you put "your name-resume" so that it can be easily differentiated from everybody else's submission that is also just called "resume." Yes, I can rename the files - and I do - but again, this is just one example of extra work that you can save the casting director.

4. People sending multiple e-mails. This one isn't a huge offense in my mind, it just saves my e-mail inbox from getting cluttered unnecessarily. If you're going to submit it for more than one role, that's great. But if you're sending to the same e-mail address and say the same exact thing in your cover letter, then just send one e-mail. Say what character you are first interested in, then list the other roles for which you would like to be considered.

So hopefully, like I said at the beginning, you have not done any of these things. Remember, filmmaking is like any other job. People want to work with those who take care about what they do and will be easy to work with. Put your best foot forward!