The Week In Acting Review For The Artist

Zach had a big audition this week for a comedy project that is also a dream gig for him. As with most auditions, I can't give too many details but it involves some of his favorite comedy folks currently working. Fingers and toes crossed.

The audition itself was on the former NBC Burbank lot. The production facility is now known as The Burbank Studios. They currently film "Days Of Our Lives" there and I've seen the back parking lot used for a crowd scene on "Superstore". The building was the home of The Tonight Show for Johnny and Jay for many years. I was there for a work meeting once and got lost trying to find my destination in the building. I somehow ended up on the set of "Days Of Our Lives". The show crew was very nice to me after it became obvious that I wasn't trying to crash the set. 

As with most auditions, it is now the "wait and see" game when it comes to hearing whether or not he gets a callback. I was happy he got the audition because it was his first chance to pass out his new headshot.

The new headshot for auditions

He won't need a headshot this Saturday because he is not going on an audition. He is attending his first class at The Groundlings Theatre on Melrose Avenue. Zach has been doing improv since 2012 and was a cast member at Second City for 2 years (before he aged out of the teen troupe). While he enjoyed these opportunities, the chance to take some classes at The Groundlings to improve his sketch writing skills is very exciting to him. Zach doesn't even mind getting up early on a Saturday morning!

The final bit of actor related business this week was the arrival of his new computer. The one he used for a few years worked fine but Zach needed an upgrade to a computer with better editing software. As part of his sketch writing plans, he wants to film and edit some sketches and put them on YouTube. Be on the lookout in the near future for Zach's videos online. He also plans to videotape some of his stand-up comedy gigs and put them online as well.

Dana and I will be uploading his new demo reels to IMDb soon so you can take a look at the reels that get sent to casting directors when Zach is submitted for a part. 

So long (for now) from Hollywood!

This Actor Likes To Write Comedy Material.

Screening Screeners On My Home Screen

One of the great things about having a kid "in the biz" is screeners.

If you don't know, a screener is a copy of a movie or television show made for the purpose of reviews, trying to get distributors interested in a project or (in Zach's case) allowing industry members to see the movies nominated for awards in Hollywood. (Zach is eligible to vote for the SAG Awards)

It also means that I get to watch movies with him in the comfort of our own home. Don't get me wrong. There is something great about going to a movie theater and seeing a film on the big screen. Plus, it is a good excuse to enjoy food I never eat otherwise such as nachos with the "tastes good but can't be good for you" nacho cheese, caramel popcorn (the only kind of popcorn I will eat) and chocolate covered raisins

Screeners have evolved over the years from VHS tapes to DVDs to digital downloads. Zach gets a mixture of DVDs and digital downloads. It was really nice over the weekend to be able to watch a current movie without having to go out in the California rain to see a film. We watched "La La Land" (still in theaters and up for many Oscars this weekend) in the comfort of our own warm and dry home. It is a beautifully shot movie that I'm sure looks amazing on the big screen. It also looked really nice on my television while watching it from my couch.

Screeners do come with the standard warning to not share them on the Internet or give them to others to watch or attempt to sell or profit from their existence. I don't want Zach to be on the receiving end of any anger over screeners so we definitely keep them "in house".

I'm looking forward to the Oscars because we've been able to watch many of the films up for best picture thanks to screeners. It's a great way to save money and enjoy the best of Hollywood at the same time.

I'm looking forward to watching screeners starring this actor in the future.

Career Moves Between Auditions

It was a slow week for auditions but a busy week for The Artist in moving his career forward. His acting related activities this week included:

• Signing up for classes at The Groundlings 
• Writing new material to use on stage 
• Open mic work at The Laugh Factory and Flappers
• Meeting with his manager to pick his new headshots
• Checking out a new (to him) comedy club in North Hollywood
• Determining the best program for editing videos on his computer
• Working with his manager to make 3 new demo reels (dramatic acting, comedy and stand-up)
• Driving to Palm Springs to support a friend appearing in a play

He is very excited about attending classes at The Groundlings as it will be a chance for him to get some long-form writing experience. He is great at writing jokes and constructing stand-up that tells a story throughout the set. He doesn't have as much experience writing sketches so this will be a good chance for him to work on that skill.

He wrote some new material this week for stand-up gigs. He can perform at a number of different venues now that he is 18 years old. There are some clubs around town that won't let comics go on stage until they are 21. However, there are venues that welcome comics that are 18 so he is doing research on their open mics to try and get on the radar of the folks who book the talent for those clubs.

Zach got new headshots last month and we finally had a chance to sit down with his manager and go over the photos. It's our job to pick 30 or 40 of our favorite shots and then take them to her office. His manager spreads them out on a table and removes them one by one until she gets to the 4 or 5 that she really likes. We came out of the meeting with a new main headshot and additional headshots for comedy submissions, dramatic auditions and a headshot for hosting open mics and other events.

It's late afternoon on Friday as I type this and his management team just sent me two of the new demo reels they've made for Zach. They look good and definitely showcase his range as an actor. This task might be something we can handle in the future since The Artist is checking into new editing programs. Until then, he has a good support system that puts together demo reels that should help his manager and agents get him noticed by casting directors this pilot season.

Even though he accomplished a lot this week, there is still plenty to do in the weeks ahead. The Artist is busy between stand-up, auditions and school (which starts again soon). Thankfully, he enjoys staying busy and chasing his dreams in Hollywood.

An actor who took care of business this week.

How To Survive Pilot Season

Pilot season is underway and you can feel the tension across the city. Everyone is comparing the amount of auditions they've had so far, what parts they went out for and wondering why they didn't get the call for certain parts. While pilot season is an important part of the year for actors, they also need to learn how to stay sane and survive the next few months. Here are some tips to help actors remain calm during pilot season:

• Keep Your Focus - Pilot season is busy and you could be driving to multiple areas of town in one day or multiple times during the week. Stay focused on your work and don't stress about Los Angeles traffic. Stay in the moment with your acting and don't worry about your agents or managers of any other "business" aspects of the television industry. Your agent and manager help you get in the room but it is your talent that will get you a callback for a project.
• Find An Outlet - Pilot season is more than going to auditions. It is also keeping track of new projects, submitting yourself for parts besides the ones your agent and manager handle, making connections and getting your name out there even more than you normally do during the year. It's a nonstop process but you need to make time to relax and let your mind rest. Go to the gym. Meet friends for dinner. Go hiking once or twice per week. Give yourself time to take a deep breath and think about something other than acting.
• It's Not Always You - There are a dozen or more reasons why you might not book a part. Your acting ability might be the last reason you don't book a pilot. They might have been searching for a "certain look" and you didn't match what they had in mind. The part might have been rewritten to be an older person or the opposite gender or even written out of the show completely. It might have been budget reasons. It's certainly disappointing if you don't land the role you were after but keeping it all in perspective is vital to staying sane during the pilot season casting process.
• Be Prepared - The art of being prepared is more than just knowing your lines and being off book. You will often be given a copy of the entire pilot script. Read through it so you know what the show is about beyond the part you hope to land, Showing an interest in the entire script and knowing how the characters interact with each other will go a long way in making you stand out in the eyes of the casting director. Being in the room is your time to shine and show you have what it takes to play the part as well as be an important part of the acting ensemble. 
• Don't Let It Define The Rest Of Your Year - Don't let the success or failure you have in booking a pilot define the rest of your year. Pilot season is only a few months out of the year. If you don't book a pilot, it doesn't mean you will be unemployed for the rest of the year. Keep your eyes and ears open for new opportunities down the road. It might seem like the end of the world if you don't book a pilot but it can also mean there is something better waiting for you later in the year. Stay positive and keep your eyes on the goal of being a working actor.

This actor has had a couple of auditions in the last few weeks.

It's Easy To Audition When The Studio Works

Dana and I have been lucky enough to have a voice-over studio for years in our home. It is very helpful making extra money doing commercials and VO projects for industrial films and on hold messages for business owners. It's also helpful when Zach has a voice-over audition because we can record it at home and email the MP3 to his agent.

I should say...It is great when the studio is actually working.

We recently moved from one part of Sherman Oaks to the other and decided to upgrade our studio. While the old setup sounded fine, the studio was rapidly becoming "old school" with more equipment than necessary these days to have a functioning and modern studio. As part of our move, we decided to get rid of as much old equipment as possible while still keeping our mic. It's a sweet Neumann mic that is worth more than all of the old equipment combined.

We took our old gear to Guitar Center to see if we could trade any of it towards new equipment. They ended up taking everything we brought and gave us $250 worth of trade towards new gear. It's funny how I took a backseat full of equipment to trade and ended up walking out with everything I needed in one small box. It's definitely the digital age of audio recording.

We've had two issues with setting up the new studio:

1. Dana went on a business trip to New York and I wanted to wait on her because I trust her ears more than my own when it comes to audio
2. We were both fighting the flu during the moving process and were too wiped out to do anything extra 

No big deal about the studio not being set-up yet. It's not like we need to record audio anytime soon.

Or not.

Zach got a VO audition while our studio was down. The audition came in after hours on a Friday night so I spent most of the weekend trying to get confirmation from his manager that Zach could record the VO at her office on Monday morning. I was doing my best not to drive her staff nuts but I needed an answer because the MP3 was due at noon on Monday and they don't open until 11am.

I finally got the confirmation on Sunday direct from Sundance where his manager was attending the festival. Zach arrived at 11am on Monday and had his part recorded by 11:20am. The MP3 was emailed at 11:50am and there was no need to worry about the studio before Dana got back to Los Angeles. 

You know where this is going...He got another VO audition that came in after hours on Monday night. I emailed the management crew and got him set-up to arrive at 11am (again) because the MP3 was due at noon (again) on Tuesday.

Thankfully, that was the last VO audition of the week. Dana is back from her trip and our main goal this weekend is to get the studio up and going so we have the ability to record auditions again.

It was a bit stressful last weekend trying to make sure he had a place to record his audition since all of the parties I needed to reach were out of town or off work for the weekend. It all worked out in the end and I have a new appreciation for having a home studio.

I should say...I will have a new appreciation for having a home studio once we get it up and running again!

This actor feels good about both of his VO auditions.

VITs For Your Next Audition

With pilot season gearing up, and auditions becoming more frequent, it is more important than ever to have a good audition. A good audition experience is more than simply knowing your lines (although that is an important part of the experience). Here are 5 VITs (Very Important Tips) to help you have an ideal audition each time you enter the room.

1. Know your lines – You will be sent lines for your character when you get your audition time. Unless the audition is completely improv, there is no reason not to know your lines. Even if the audition is for a voice-over gig, you should still know your lines in order to sound natural and not like you are reading right off the page.
2.  Don’t try and fake it if you don't know your lines – Casting directors would rather watch you read off the page instead of watch you stumble your way through an audition. It’s better to be honest and admit you don't know all of your lines. Would you rather the casting director remember your honesty or remember you as the person who butchered the part?  
3. Always have a resume and headshot – Just because you got an audition doesn’t mean the casting director knows who you are when you walk in the room. Always bring your resume and headshot (complete with your contact info) to an audition. If you want to be remembered, be sure and have your materials ready to hand over when you enter the audition room.
4. Make a good first impression – Some actors take the baggage of their day into the room with them. Always be on your best behavior and act like you are having the best day ever. You might not get the part but the casting director could keep you in mind for another role in the future. Being professional at all times means a good chance of paying off with a future booking. 
5. Remember what you wore to the audition – If you’re lucky enough to get a callback, wear the same outfit you wore to the first audition. As great as you were as an actor, there is also a good chance that the casting director liked your look. Wear the same clothes again to reinforce the idea of you playing the part in the mind of the person making the casting decisions.

Be sure and put these tips to good use this pilot season. It never hurts to have some tips and tricks up your sleeve to stand out from the rest of the audition crowd. If you get the attention of the casting director in a positive way, your chances of landing a callback and booking the part are better than the others reading for the role. I hope these VITs make you a VIP during your next audition!

This actor has a voice-over audition today.

Are You Prepared For Pilot Season?

Are you ready for pilot season?

Even if you think you're ready for pilot season, and answered "yes" to the above question, here is a checklist of the items to take care of before pilot season begins.

• Don't Be Unprepared - Know your lines and be off book as quickly as possible. Being able to perform your lines without having to constantly look at the script allows you to connect with the casting director or your scene partner, Would you rather showcase your acting ability or your skills at reading off the printed page?
• Stop Worrying - Worrying too much about booking a role during pilot season can put too much pressure on you and have a negative impact on your performance. It is an important time of the year in the acting world but not important enough to psych yourself out and ruin your chances during an audition. Relax and be yourself so the casting director is able to get a natural performance out of you.
• Have Your "Essentials" In Place - The competition during pilot season is fierce so you need to have some essential items in place before you get to Los Angeles, Even if you already live here, it's still important to have your "acting essentials" in place. These essential items include:

1. A place to live - Rent prices greatly increase during pilot season because so many people are looking for housing. Landlords know they can charge the higher rates because of the number of people in town for 4-5 months. Don't think you'll get to Hollywood and be able to easily find an affordable place to live. Have your housing set-up in advance of your arrival.
2. Money - Los Angeles is not a cheap city and it is expensive to live here for months on end as well as on a daily basis. Make sure you have some savings set aside just in case.
3. Agent and/or Manager - There are hundreds of actors submitted for parts in TV shows. If you don't have an agent or a manager, it will be tough to get your headshot or demo reel to the right people in the casting department. I'm not saying it can't be done but it will be harder for you to make it in the door to read for a role. If you do have an agent and/or a manager, stop in and see them because you want to be top of mind when they are submitting talent to casting directors,
4. Headshots - Please have headshots that match your current look. Don't be "that person" who is at least 10 years older than their last set of headshots.
5. Online Presence - I'm not simply talking about social media even though that is important, I'm talking about ways to showcase yourself and your acting abilities online. Is your current acting reel on the Internet? Is your IMDb page updated? Do you have your own website with clips, credits and a bio telling people more about you? If you answered "no" to any of these questions, what are you waiting for???

• Acting Lessons - Regular classes with an acting coach will keep your skills in good shape. Even if you don't want to take a regular acting class, be prepared to do private coaching sessions before a big audition.
• Have Reliable Transportation - Make sure your vehicle is in good shape because you'll be spending a lot of time on the 405, 101. 134, etc. Be sure and leave a set of audition clothes and extra headshots and resumes in your car. It's always best to have an emergency supply on hand in case you don't have time to run home before a last minute audition.

The start of pilot season is just around the corner. I hope your acting wishes all come true and, even if you don't land your dream role, you have a good time chasing your dream of being a working actor. 

This actor is hoping to have a busy and successful pilot season.