Vote for Back Stage’s Readers Choice Awards

Once again, we’d like you to participate in our Back Stage Readers Choice survey of all things ‘actor’ — answer this brief questionnaire to pick everything from your favorite photographer to acting teacher, from your favorite gym to casting assistant.

Full Article @ http://bit.ly/bgeCDc

Via Backstage

SAG split on AFTRA’s call to merge

An open letter from AFTRA’s top brass calling for “one media and entertainment union for all actors, performers and broadcast journalists” has met with mixed reaction from SAG leaders, with moderates hailing it as an important step and hard-liners sounding a note of caution.

SAG president Ken Howard, who was elected last year on a platform that…

Full Article @ http://bit.ly/b3dHcn

Written by: Daniel Holloway

Via Hollywood Reporter

Mark Hoeger: Thoughts on Direct Casting

“I am excited that someone who knows how the casting business really works has developed productivity software to streamline the process.”

-Mark Hoeger

Co-President Oberon Entertainment

Spotlight on Acting Schools & Coaches

Back Stage’s annual guide to Acting Schools & Coaches.

Along with a comprehensive guide to Los Angeles-area stage and film acting schools, teachers, and coaches, there’s a discussion of the ways actors can carry their classroom training to the stage and beyond.

Article @ http://bit.ly/bEAG99

Via Backstage

Steve Armbruster: thoughts on Direct Casting

“Direct Casting has all the tools that, as a Creative Director and Producer, provide me with a one-stop resource to access a broader scope of talent quickly and efficiently. That kind of capability keeps my project moving”

-Steve Armbruster

Creative Director/Partner Redstone; Advertising Agency

AFTRA, SAG Urge Action on Piracy

The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Screen Actors Guild joined five other industry and labor groups—among them the Motion Picture Association of America—in a joint filing Wednesday with the White House Office of Intellectual Property Enforcement that outlines a consensus view regarding threats to intellectual-property enforcement.

Full article @ http://bit.ly/bpdCpn

Written by: Daniel Holloway

Via Backstage

Successful Shooting

A great headshot works on two levels. First, aesthetically: It looks good to the eye, even upside down. It grabs the viewer’s attention and pulls him or her in. Agents and casting directors receive thousands of headshots a month. Yours has to stand out, grabbing that industry insider by the lapels and saying “Look at me!”

Full article @ http://bit.ly/bXt28Q

Written by Joe Henson

Via: Backstage

Is your profile 100% complete?

TALENT – If you haven’t completely filled out your profile, you’re missing out on the many opportunities that travel through the Direct Casting pipeline every day! What makes DC unique is that we PERSONALLY verify and register our casting directors and agencies to Direct Casting in, and outside of, your area. What this means to you is that your profile will be seen by casting directors or agents on national AND local levels.

So complete your FREE profile today, and make sure you are able to be found by all the DC registered casting directors, producers, directors, and production companies. You have nothing to lose, other than 10 minutes of your time to complete your profile.

If you have not finished your profile, CLICK HERE

If you have a free profile and would like to take your career to next level, CLICK HERE!

NY State Film Tax Credit Key Economic Driver

New York state’s film tax credit has generated about $7 billion in economic activity since 2004 and become a key economic driver, the state’s comptroller said on Tuesday.

Lawmakers are considering extending the program through 2015 to help New York compete with similar tax incentives on offer in 42 other U.S. states…

Article @ http://bit.ly/c2V97T

Written by: Backstage

You’ve got a project… Now you need talent!

So Casting Directors, you’ve created your project breakdown with Direct Casting. Now what?

DC is all about options! That’s why we’ve provided multiple paths to gain access to those talented actors and models.

The first option is adding talent to your project personally. You can do this by:

Click on SEARCH TALENT and perform either a quick search or an advanced search. When you find a desired talent, click on their image. On the right side of the display screen click ADD TO BREAKDOWN. Then choose which project and role the talent will be attached to. Finish by clicking ADD TO PROJECT.

The other option is to publish your breakdown. You can do this by clicking PUBLISH from inside your PROJECT DETAILS screen under MY PROJECTS. When you publish a project, DC notifies all the agents in your specified markets about your needs and gives them the ability to add their talent directly to your project.

Publishing your breakdown is a powerful way to gain access to more talent, since many agents don’t have every actor and model registered with Direct Casting.

Epic Talent Agency Joins Direct Casting

Epic is a 15+ year career veteran of personal management, public relations, social media, technology and entertainment marketing whose career has helped achieve out-of-the-park results for individuals, early-stage companies and blue-chip corporations seeking to find their “voice” and garner awareness that produce desired results.

With nearly two decades of incessant networking, Epic has the ability to open doors and make introductions for clients that produce game-changing results.

Download Back Stage’s FREE “Actor’s Guide to Taxes” Now!

Actors: Do you need help with your taxes? Back Stage wants to help.
For a short time only, you can download this FREE guide to actor’s taxes, written by Back Stage’s financial experts. This guide will help you with many of the questions performers have concerning taxes.

Article and downloadable tax doc @ http://bit.ly/auH0GE

Article by: Backstage

Getting a step ahead in the game

Work when you’re not working!  The industry traditionally slows down a bit during the winter (unless you’re in LA during pilot season).  This doesn’t mean you should slow down.  Remember:  actors and models don’t get vacations!  Take the time when you’re not auditioning and working frequently to learn a new skill.  Doing so will make you more marketable when the work does arise, and it will show your agent that you are truly serious about your career.  Here are some ways to keep busy when you’re not busy:

• If you don’t sing, take some lessons!  You never know when a role will open up for you in a new musical
• Take stage combat or stunt lessons
• Become a licensed makeup artist
• Go to the library and read as many plays as possible
• Buy an instructional tape/book to learn new dialects and accents
• Take an acting class
• Take a dance class

But make sure to add any skills to your Direct Casting profile!

Fame Talent Agency Joins Direct Casting

Fame Talent Agencies mission is to enlarge the vision of their clients and to bring greater potential far beyond the norm.

Fame was born from deep rooted relationships in the Film and Television as well as Modeling and Fashion Industries in Hollywood.

Fame Talent Agency is proud to represent an elite brand of Rising Stars.

Getting your talent in front of casting directors

Agents – You’ve registered with Direct Casting, and now you need to make sure your actors and models are completing their profiles so casting directors and clients can search them! That’s why we made this as easy and painless as possible!

We will supply you with an e-mail and letter containing your agent code, along with an explanation of the registration process, which you should send to all your talent. Once your talent have your unique agent code, we will take care of the registration process. We encourage you to direct your talent to our Help Desk so we may assist them with the process if necessary.

After time you may notice you have many incomplete actor profiles on your main page. Remember that until they have been approved by you, they will not be seen by our registered casting directors, producers, directors, and photographers, which means they will not be available for auditions. If you do not have the time to contact these talent yourself to remind them to finish their profiles, Direct Casting will be more than happy to contact them for you! Just let us know.

A Rising Star!

Direct Casting would like to showcase one of our first members: Bryan McClure, for his past, present, and on-going work in and outside of Hollywood.

Bryan began studying acting at The Omaha Community Playhouse, where Marlon Brando began his studies. He was heavily involved in the The Nebraska Film Group and film community in Omaha prior to relocating to Hollywood. In addition to working with Tom Arnold in Andrew Robinson’s film, ‘April Showers’,  ‘Easy to Assemble’ with Illeana Douglas, and ‘The Scientist’  with Adam LeFevre and Bill Sage, he just wrapped his new SAG film: ‘Lucky’ starring Colin Hanks.

Bryan is currently receiving top notch Meisner training at the William Alderson Acting Studio in Hollywood.  Bill Alderson taught at the Neighborhood Playhouse in NY for 20 years prior to relocating to Hollywood, and worked very closely with a pioneer of modern acting training, Sanford Meisner.

Bryan recently signed with the top L.A. talent agency, The Osbrink Agency, and is currently working on Andrew Robinson’s next film, ‘In the Darkness’.

We wish Bryan incredible success with his rise in Hollywood and look forward to seeing him on the big screen soon. You can view his demo reel and follow his progress at his website: http://bryanmcclure.net/wordpress/

Warners production president to shift roles

Article @ http://bit.ly/251t95

Kevin McCormick, who has served as Warner Bros. president of production since early 2008, will become a studio-based producer in January upon the expiration of his current contract.
Unlike Universal — which is looking for a new production president to replace Donna Langley, who was made vice chairman this month — Warners doesn’t plan to anoint a new production president to replace McCormick.

Written by Gregg Kilday

Via THR.com

Wild Things Scares Up $32.5 Million

Article @ http://bit.ly/3RAT13

The verdict’s in: Where the Wild Things Are is not too scary for kids for Hollywood.

Director Spike Jonze‘s version of the Maurice Sendak children’s classic beat back the bad buzz stemming from its reshoots and debatably dark vision with a first-place, $32.5 million box office debut, per estimates.

Full Article @ http://bit.ly/3RAT13

Written by Joal Ryan

Via E! Online

Martin Landau, Mark Rydell, Lyle Kessler to Hold UCLA Seminar

Article @ http://bit.ly/3YsCJd

Actor Martin Landau, director Mark Rydell and playwright/screenwriter Lyle Kessler will conduct the Total Picture Seminar, an immersion course in the inter-relationship of film writing, acting and directing, Nov. 14-15 at UCLA.

Full Article @ http://bit.ly/3YsCJd

Via Backstage

Tell Us Your Story – We Might Publish It!

Article @ http://bit.ly/22W47v

Back Stage is looking for actors to tell us their stories.

Full Article @ http://bit.ly/22W47v

Via Backstage