Meet the Casting Directors is back. June’s initial date has already sold
out by returning actors as they find the workshop so useful for their
careers.
We have now added a second date and it will be on Monday 11th June.
We are expecting a quick sell out as the first date sold out in 2 days. 6
places have already gone for the 11th.
The format we use is a very American style where you see two casting
directors in one day. You will be given scripts to learn by the casting
directors and perform it to them to be critiqued. You will either perform
your scene one on one with a reader or with a partner. There will then be
a Q & A at the end of each session.
The cost is £75.
The venue is Spotlight, London.
The time is 9.45am – 5.30pm.
The two casting director’s booked are Jane Deitch & Sue Jones.
Jane Deitch was the head of casting for the BBC and cast countless TV
shows and has vast amounts of experience. She is now running her own
casting company.
Sue Jones is an experienced film casting director and has worked with the
likes of Robert De Niro. She is casting a few films at the moment.
More information is on the website at
www.micksingproductions.com/workshops.html
You can also book your place there too.
Thank you again for passing this information on.
Character Breakdown.
ISABEL: Early - mid 20’s. Quirky, not a typical girly girl. Isabel spends most of her time
daydreaming and taking photo’s on disposable cameras. She takes photo’s that are out of focus or of things that most people would ignore. She see’s beauty where others see fault and is longing to find someone like herself.
Isabel is not a sun bed queen, nor is she interested in shopping. She is not vain and is often on her own, preferring her own company and thoughts over the company of others. Isabel is not like most girls and often asks herself questions that serve no purpose or offer no answer, like do stairs go up or down?
MARC: Early - mid 20’s. Marc looks like a normal guy but he has a silent quirkiness to him. Something of a tech geek Marc enjoys his gadgets and adores his digital camera. One thing Marc craves the most is a girl who isn’t vain and has a passion for taking photo’s.
Marc spends a lot of his time alone, taking photo’s of nature in the local park. Although Marc is good looking he just finds most girls have no real depth to them and longs to find someone who shares similar interests and appreciates the small, beautiful and often ignored things life has to offer.
Additional Information.
The first part of the script does have dialogue but it is all voiceover, so the people considered for the role will have to have the ability to convey emotions and thoughts without using the power of words.
The film will be shot on a Canon 7D DSLR camera, using a 24-70mm 2.8 lens and 50mm 1.4 lens. This will give the look of the film a natural, yet beautiful look without being too intrusive for the actors.
Preliminary shooting dates for the film will be Thursday March 29th and Friday March 30th (TBC depending on locations) If NOT THESE dates it will be Thursday 5th April and Friday 6th April.
As you will be able to see from the script there isn’t much description, this is because as it is predominantly a silent movie, I will be hands on with the direction with both acting and camera.
The script provides a basic synopsis/descriptor of what happens in each scene.
Filming will take place in a yet to be confirmed house in the Manchester area, the Bramhall area and Bramhall Park. Travel expenses will be paid upon receipt of bus/train/tram tickets as proof of purchase.
Please submit by forwarding your CV, a link to showreel (if possible) and a brief covering email to:
georginaasmith@hotmail.co.uk
Deadline for submissions is Friday 16th March at 8pm.
Provisional dates for this shoot are the 19th -21st March. No Fee, but a good crew and experienced director ( JP Mercer) who has a number of projects in the pipeline.
PETER: Mid 30’s/ open ethnicity / young professional.
Life has always come easy for Peter; he has the job (surgeon) the girl, kids and a secure lifestyle for them all. Peter has become complacent, bored and irritated at how good his life is. When he is involved in a traffic accident, on a whim, he decides to turn it into a hit and run incident. Call it a longing for excitement or gambling with fate but the truth is Peter was never a ‘nice’ man and his true colours are about to show.
GLORIA: Mid 30’s / open ethnicity / loving wife-Mother.
Gloria loves her life and her husband. She fell in love with Peter at medical school and has forgone her own career to raise a family. The joy she gets out of a loving comfortable lifestyle with her children negates any envy from Peter’s position. Gloria is oblivious to Peter’s real personality.
3 Nurses - Male/Female - 20s - 50s
2 Policemen - Male, 1 in his 20s, 1in his 50s
Surgeon - Male - 40s / 50s
Please submit your CV with the name of the character you are submiting for as the subject, to Dan via:
dan_cunningham@hotmail.co.uk
Auditions are on Monday 12th March so submissions must be made by 7pm on Saturday 10th March
DNA PR
0161 839 1429
We have been asked to help with finding candidates for the following role. At present we do not have details on the filming commitment, dates or if there are any fees attached sorry, but we would ask that you have a look at the character breakdown and if you are suited to it, submit your CV to us by email, with IRREVERSIBLE as the email subject.
A major UK broadcaster is developing a new observational documentary series based around a leading Manchester sexual health centre. We have gained access to the every day life of this amazing clinic: the doctors, nurses and patients who walk through its doors every day. Sexual health is an issue that affects all of us, and this clinic caters to a broad spectrum of people.
We are currently in Manchester looking for young people who would like to take part in a short taster tape (which would NOT be for broadcast), to show the channel’s commissioners. We’re looking for real people from all walks of life – from university students to young mothers; gay, straight or bisexual. Our contributors may have specific concerns or symptoms they’d like to address, or maybe they’d just like to visit for a general check-up?
There are also exciting opportunities for drama students or budding actors to take part, as we will also be devising drama reconstructions at the clinic based on the real-life scenarios of contributors. This would be a great way to gain valuable experience on a professional TV shoot and work for one of the UK’s leading production companies.
CRITERIA
• The ideal candidate will be aged 18-25 and have some previous acting experience
• You will need to email a photograph of yourself, including a couple of lines about you
• Deadline for applications is 6pm Friday 27th January 2012
· Please note this is unpaid and filming is taking place on Tuesday 31st January and Wednesday 1st February 2012.
Apply before 6pm TODAY (27th January 2012) to: natalie.mcardle@firecrackerfilms.com
The drama will tell the true story of Shakilus Townsend who was killed by a gang in the Croydon area in 2008 and will explore issues of knife crime and joint enterprise for a young audience.
We have cast two very talented actors for the male leads, but are still looking for a female lead. We are looking to cast a girl who is between 16-18 (actual age not playing age), mixed race, very beautiful and very confident.
It’s a tight brief I know but if you know anyone fitting this description then please ask them to get in touch and send over photos as soon as they’re able, today would be ideal as we would be looking as seeing anyone interested who looks right for the role early next week.
Anna Stephens | Assistant Producer | BBC 3 Current Affairs
Kestrel Films have contacted us to help find actors to audition this Thursday in Newcastle, for their upcoming production.
“I work for a film company called Kestrel fim works and we are currently casting for the pilot of a film series called Trylife. We are shooting in Newcastle and are really keen to involve as many actors from the north as we can! Primarily we need actors who are around 20 but can play younger as they will be playing 17 year olds. The characters we are particularly interested in are Theo, Georgia and Sophie I have attached the character backstories for you to have a look at. Although they do not necessarily need bags of experience the shoot will be fairly intense so we need people with some passion and drive. This is the last day in a week of auditions so if you can think of anybody suitable please let them get in contact with me. The audition will be with our director and writer as well as myself and we will just be reading through some short scenes with you. If they have a monologue to hand which you think shows your personality and acting strength then please let us know but do not worry if not it is not necessary.
Auditions will be at Barkollo 22-24 Leazes Park Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 4PG. we will be there from 1.30 PM until 5 on Thursday 8th September.”
Sophie Bickerstaff
Production Assistant
Kestrel Film Works
Character breakdowns:
Sophie Burton (Protagonist)
Sophie is a seventeen year old girl. She lives with her parents in a nice house,
in a generally friendly neighbourhood. Her bedroom is pink and cream,
reflecting Sophie’s youth as a girly-girl, though it is beginning to get an older feel
to it. Her desk holds a laptop, a lamp and a few discarded magazines. Her book
shelf contains a selection of A-level texts, DVD’s and ‘Harry Potter’. A poster of a
Hollister model and a collage of her friends hang on the wall.
At school, Sophie is quite a high achiever. She pays attention in class and always
completes her homework in time, but she has to apply herself to achieve what
she is capable of. She plays netball for the school team. Sophie is going to
university to become a teacher.
Sophie has two close friends, Emily and Georgia. Emily is clever but reserved, and
Sophie will turn to her for advice. Georgia is more of a wildcard, and Sophie is
one of the few who won’t follow her blindly.
Sophie likes a guy at her sixth called Theo. They have known each other for years,
but romantic feelings have only just started to blossom. The girls are positive he
feels the same, but Sophie is still unsure.
Theo Turner(The Love Interest)
Theo is a mixed race lad who lives in the same neighbourhood as Sophie. They
have been friends for years, but he has only just started to see Sophie as more
than a friend. He plays football for the school team. Hhhhhdw
He’s good at most sports and finds that he excels with minimal effort.
He’s a good looking, charming guy, but sometimes he doesn’t come across as cool
as he thinks he does. He messes around at school, but he is clever and is looking
to move away for university.
Theo can pretty much have any girl in his sixth form. He knows how to treat a gir
well, but at the same time there’s a possible streak within him that could end in
abrasive scenes. He wants to have sex with Sophie, but if she was to reject him, he
could end up with someone more willing.
Theo’s older brother is at the local university. He is a cool, laid back guy who
looks at Theo as trying too hard to impress. Theo tries to act like his brother,but
he has a nerdy edge to him.
EmilyDavidson(Sophie’s Friend)
Emily is an intelligent, hardworking girl. She is close to Sophie and Georgia who
understand her, but elsewhere she can be socially awkward, almost displaying
autistic qualities. She is less outgoing than the other girls, but will follow them
into situations that she wouldn’t choose herself.
Emily is often put into situations created by Georgia. When Georgia disappears,
Emily is left to cope with the situation. Her social awkwardness can make this
difficult, and often makes her look strange to others.
Sophie will always turn to Emily instead of Georgia for advice and help. Emily
will attempt to put forward an argument, but is often shot down by the quick
witted and passionate Georgia, leaving Emily to follow the others.
Emily is a lightweight and does not respond well to too much alcohol. When in
that kind of situation, although she would not have chosen it, in the company
of Sophie and Georgia she is willing to let go and enjoy herself. With Georgia’s
encouragement, but without her help, she can find herself in compromising
situations.
GeorgiaBlackwood(Sophie’s Friend)
Georgia is a loose-cannon. Undoubtedly clever, she refuses to make the most of
her potential by channelling it into her work. If she enjoys something, she will
excel at it, but anything she finds boring she won’t bother with.
Georgia is sharp, quick-witted, and funny. She is a popular party animal who
loves taking her camera everywhere. She updates her Facebook status at any
given opportunity.Georgia has a passionate and domineering personality, and
can lead the girls astray, convincing them that they’ll only go for a few ‘sociable’.
Georgia is a social smoker, who is open to sex and drugs. She’s also a very bad
flirt, which could be problematic at the party.
Georgia is a liability.Her potential remains unused, but glimpses of Georgia’s wit
are evident in the speed in which she knocks people down. With a little effort,
and perhaps a helping of motivation, Georgia could prove to be the ultimate
femme fatale. This potential remains in Georgia’s hands, but her lack of concern
could easily work against her in the long run, as she could be just as likely to
allow her reckless attitude lead her down a dark road.
Georgia has most people eating out of the palm of her hands; except Sophie, who
is strong-willed enough to resist Georgia’s domineering personality. Georgia
occasionally shows hints of jealousy towards Sophie, especially when Theo pays
more attention to her than herself.
CallumCravendale(The ‘Experienced’ Guy at the Party)
Callum is a twenty-two year old ‘second year’ student at Newcastle University.
He is a friend of Theo’s older brother. At first he seems like a good guy, bantering
on with the girls and generally coming over nice. But first impressions may not
be what they seem with Callum, as some of the variations available will have him
showing his possible nasty side.
Callum knows what he wants. He is a good looking, charming guy. Women like
him immediately, but men see through him. He has been privileged from birth
and is used to assuming the power position. Callum loves being in control, and
when taking up that position, he could go to any limits.
Jack Burton(Sophie’s Dad)
Sophie’s dad works as a manager at a supermarket. He’s a run-of-the-mill kind
of guy who just wants the best for his daughter. He’s always ensured that Sophie
takes her schooling seriously and always helped with homework or any other
problem Sophie may have faced.
He cares for the welfare of his daughter and can sometimes be a little bit too
protective. If Jack were to come home from work and find Theo in Sophie’s bed,
he’d certainly consider physically throwing him out. But if he was to turn up at
the party to find his daughter unconscious and being molested, there’s no saying
to how far he’d go.
Rick and James (Two Drug Guys at Party)
Rick Solomon and James Burke have been friends for years. They grew up beside
each other and have been close ever since. They don’t tend to bother with girls
too much, as they’re normally too stoned to give a shit. They always have some
sort of drug sorted for a party, but they refuse to go anyway near what they
call ‘dirty drugs’, like Ket and Crack and so forth.
Rick and James bounce off each other. They have good intentions and do drugs
for the love of it. They claim that ecstasy makes you happy, and weed makes you
even happier. They wake-and-bake just about every day.
They both study Sociology at Northumbria University, but they both couldn’t give
the slightest of shits as to whether they pass or not. They have many ideas how
to make a million, but because they’re wreck-heads, they won’t ever build the
impetus to succeed.
They play XBOX religiously and spend whole nights sitting in the dark and getting
shit-faced.
Tony Fitzpatrick(Theo’s Wing-man)
Theo’s friend Tony is always in the wrong place at the wrong time. Full of craic,
he is a very stereotypical Irish lad.
Born into a life of hardship, Fitzy has learned how to scrape through life. He’s
a good kid and is very much liked. He can chat the girls up, but the biggest gun
in his arsenal is his Irish accent. He isn’t particularly great looking, but he has a
wealth of charisma. This charm gets Tony into as much trouble as it gets him out
of.
Tony is from Limerick. If someone were to offend him there would be nothing
that could step in his way when creating some sort of impulsive vengeance. He
doesn’t hold grudges; he just reacts quickly when he feels he’s been hard done to.
He moved to Newcastle with his mother in 2004, leaving his drunk of a father
behind, and they haven’t looked back since. His mother is still single, and happily
so, as she was a victim of domestic abuse throughout her marriage to Tony’s dad.
Tony was brought up a gentleman by his mother. He believes in chivalry and he
believes that women should be cared for. Perhaps this is from learning to repel
everything which his father did.
Tony is a friendly guy who has a good relationship with everyone in his sixth
form, and he is very friend orientated.
Fergle (Character 8)
Fergle is the only character that will continuously flick in and out of each
Character’s episode. He’s the life and soul of the party and will be used to inject
a comedy element wherever he turns up. He’s outgoing and comes out with
random craic that the viewer can engage with. He is very grounded.
Fergle left school during his GCSE’s and went to work at a garage in Byker. He’s
streetwise and is constantly thinking of others. But Fergle’s spontaneous and
excitable personality will finally come into question when he struggles with a
hidden depression in Episode 8.
Mr Peacock & Mrs Waters(Naughty teachers)
Mr Peacock and Mrs Waters are middle aged teachers. Peacock is always telling
awful jokes and trying to ‘relate’ to the students. He can be funny, but most of the
time he is a bit of a laughing stock with the kids. He is passionate about teaching,
bringing history to life with his enthusiasm, but usually gets lost in his own world
and doesn’t realise that his students have tuned out.
Mrs Waters is a prim, conservative teacher on the outside, but still comes to work
with enough cleavage on show to get the attention of the boys. Underneath her
stern and serious persona, she is really a sexually repressed volcano ready to
Peacock and Waters are both married, though they have been having an affair for
eight months. They have quick, scheduled sex around the school and in the car
park after hours. At least 40% of the school are aware of these shenanigans.
Big Gay Rob
(Episode 1: Peripheral Character. Possible Storyline 3: Protagonist)
Rob Stilton claims to have been gay since the moment he fell out of his mother’s
vagina, as he explains here:
‘I just remember falling out of me mam’s fanny and looking back and thinking,
urgh… that’s disgusting. I’m telling you, if that umbilical cord wasn’t hanging out
of my belly button I would have ran a thousand miles at the sight of it. There
were flaps everywhere. Ew, not for me, I thought…’
Because of his sexuality, Rob had a hard upbringing. He was bullied through
school, and it wasn’t until sixth form when Rob felt he could really start opening
up. He found it hard to integrate into male social groups and found that the few
friends that he did have were female.
He studies Performing Arts at university. This has been a pinnacle time in
Rob’s life, as it’s given him the opportunity to expand his social group in an
environment where he is accepted.
Rob is loud, crude and immensely vulgar. He claims to have no gag reflex, so
naturally, as one would do if one had no gag reflex, he spends the majority of time
at parties gobbling any large, long objects that he can get his hands on. Bananas,
people’s fingers, miniature ornaments in the shape of the Eiffel Tower, etc.
NOTE: If Big Gay Rob is given a main storyline, we could go back in time to his childhood experience of coming out.
Louie Piltonne(Strange Guy in Clinic)
Lewis Pilton is seventeen years old. He has been to the sexual health clinic more
times than anyone else in his year at school and every test that he has taken
has come back negative. The reason for this; Lewis Pilton has never had sex.
He constantly tries to overcompensate for this, which makes him appear leery
and perverted to women, but also pathetic to men. Lewis acts like he is a sexual
conquistador. In reality, he is entirely clueless. He believes that hanging out at
the clinic will increase the opportunity for him to lose his virginity. His plan is
inherently flawed.
In the future, Lewis will eventually have sex with a middle aged mother of two
with a lactose intolerance and mild case of agoraphobia. It will be turgid affair
where neither Lewis nor his conquest will be satisfied.
Melissa(Slutty Fuck Fuck)
This bitch has been around the block more times than the local Ice Cream van.
Melissa is a rough looking lass, who has absolutely no chance academically. She’s
got to where she is by copying of everyone else in the class, but this is beginning
to fall apart, since she’s started losing friends due to her naughty habits of
sucking people’s boyfriends off on the sly. People have sly digs at her all of the
time and she’s become somewhat of a joke throughout the school for her sexy
escapades. Younger children berate her, older guys nail her in the bushes, kids
her own age have the option of either.
She’ll fail all of her exams and work in Poundstretcher for the rest of her life.
She’ll fall pregnant within a year, and within four years she’ll have seven kids
who all have shit chav names, and so the circle will continue.
Peter Davidson (Emily’s Dad)
Peter is a cringe-worthy northern dad. He is oblivious to other people and says
embarrassing, awkward things in social situations. He frequently embarrasses
his daughter whose own social awkwardness is a product of her father’s anti-
social sperm.
He is an organist in a local chapel. He had half a joint in the seventies, but he
claims that Jesus saw him do it, so he’s not going to do it again, just in case Jesus
is still watching.
Please send CV’s and any requests for information to Sophie via: sophiebickerstaff@yahoo.co.uk
Deadline for submissions is Wednesday 7th September at 8pm
I’m writing to you in regards to an up and coming music video shoot taking place on the 24th and 25th of September at the Printworks Manchester.
The video is for a band called ‘Daystar’ (quite big on the Manchester music scene). They have supported several big bands, including James.
We are currently looking for people to come down between 8am and 5pm on each day. The age group we are looking for are 16’s to 29’s male and female. everyone is welcome and anyone who turns up is guarenteed screentime.
If you would like to know more or submit your cv for consideration, please do email me:j.mcdonald@tunafishmedia.co.uk
This is an unpaid and no expenses posting
Deadline for submissions is 20th September 2011 5pm
Over the last 12 weeks DNA Performance Resource have been working with 5 Heads Tall Productions on the actor focused reality web series ‘Make Me a Film Star’ (We were going to call it ‘The Acting Class’ but it transpired that there was already an American production registered in that name).
Over that 12 weeks we took the opportunity to showcase the talents of a number of actors while exploring the reality show format.
The series finale featured a 36 hour live online vote in which over 30’000 votes were cast and a short film was made with the vote winners, directed by our own Darren R L Gordon.
Interesting note, the film was cast, shot, cut and delivered in 8 days!!
For more information about our experiment in reality TV and to see how you could get involved in the next series visit: http://makemeafilmstar.com/
We are proud to introduce episode one of our Vlog series, we aim to provide a knowledgable resource for actors, starting with the basics - how to write an Actor’s CV. The Vlog’s will cover a wide range of topics and will become steadily more advanced. All comments and suggestions are welcomed, if there is anything you would like for us to cover send us an email - act@actingclass.co.uk. We hope you enjoy the vlog and keep a look out for episode two.
