Casting director workshops- whats the score?

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	Topic: Casting director workshops- whats the score?
Posted : 03/02/11 / Views : 10042 / Replies : 68 /
BlakeJ 1437 posts last on: 07/02/12 send private reply	Question: Is it really right to PAY to be seen by a CD? In the states, such practices are illegal and actors are considered desperate and needy. Should one pay to be seen?

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	Reply #1
Posted : 15/04/10
Annie22 557 posts last on: 24/01/12 send private reply	But Blake, are we paying to be seen? Or are we paying to be informed? There are people out there who haven't had the benefit of training (for whatever reason - I do not wish to resurrect the training/no training argument), and so find these sessions with Casting Directors very useful, and a lot cheaper than regular training (although I'm a firm believer in 'proper' training on an accredited course). But if you're looking at these sessions as a chance to be 'seen' by the Casting Director, then you may well be disappointed. Then again, I'm sure some people have benefited and got a casting for paid work with the same Casting Director as a direct result of the workshop - but not everyone. And I have heard the argument that Casting Directors are taking money from desperate actors - I find this a tad cynical, perhaps? In these difficult times, Casting Directors have to make a living too, and why shouldn't they charge for passing on their knowledge? If you have never had a professional casting, but are looking to break into the industry, then these sessions can be very beneficial. If you are a professional actor looking to be noticed by a Casting Director, then I'm afraid you may be barking up the wrong tree. We spend so much time in the industry blaming everyone else for what is wrong with it, and yes, possibly there are some cynical Casting Directors out there who are using these workshops as a chance to make money out of desperate actors, but maybe we need to look at our own attitudes and try to look at a situation from every angle? I'm sure there will be plenty of discussion around this topic, and I do hope it doesn't get unpleasant - we are each entitled to an opinion, however right or wrong other people think that is. I look forward to seeing other people's points of view.

Reply #1

Posted : 15/04/10

Annie22
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last on: 24/01/12
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But Blake, are we paying to be seen?

Or are we paying to be informed?

There are people out there who haven't had the benefit of training (for whatever reason - I do not wish to resurrect the training/no training argument), and so find these sessions with Casting Directors very useful, and a lot cheaper than regular training (although I'm a firm believer in 'proper' training on an accredited course).

But if you're looking at these sessions as a chance to be 'seen' by the Casting Director, then you may well be disappointed. Then again, I'm sure some people have benefited and got a casting for paid work with the same Casting Director as a direct result of the workshop - but not everyone.

And I have heard the argument that Casting Directors are taking money from desperate actors - I find this a tad cynical, perhaps?

In these difficult times, Casting Directors have to make a living too, and why shouldn't they charge for passing on their knowledge?

If you have never had a professional casting, but are looking to break into the industry, then these sessions can be very beneficial.

If you are a professional actor looking to be noticed by a Casting Director, then I'm afraid you may be barking up the wrong tree.

We spend so much time in the industry blaming everyone else for what is wrong with it, and yes, possibly there are some cynical Casting Directors out there who are using these workshops as a chance to make money out of desperate actors, but maybe we need to look at our own attitudes and try to look at a situation from every angle?

I'm sure there will be plenty of discussion around this topic, and I do hope it doesn't get unpleasant - we are each entitled to an opinion, however right or wrong other people think that is. I look forward to seeing other people's points of view.

	Reply #2
Posted : 15/04/10
GUY5 395 posts last on: 07/02/12 send private reply	CD workshops are a waste of time in my humble opinion. They do spin money for a CD but as for worthwhile knowledge? That is questionable. I would tend to say that most of the workshop views expressed are general common sense with their own personal likes / dislikes and anecdotes thrown in. As For exposure it can't harm you, but I don't believe you should pay for this - you are helping them do their job! As a Producer / Director myself I no longer use CD's. I can do the job quicker and better myself. CD's may well be a dying breed as costs get cut!

Reply #2

Posted : 15/04/10

GUY5
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last on: 07/02/12
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CD workshops are a waste of time in my humble opinion. They do spin money for a CD but as for worthwhile knowledge? That is questionable. I would tend to say that most of the workshop views expressed are general common sense with their own personal likes / dislikes and anecdotes thrown in. As For exposure it can't harm you, but I don't believe you should pay for this - you are helping them do their job!

As a Producer / Director myself I no longer use CD's. I can do the job quicker and better myself. CD's may well be a dying breed as costs get cut!

	Reply #3
Posted : 15/04/10
Annie22 557 posts last on: 24/01/12 send private reply	Worthwhile knowledge? To you and I it may be the case, but what if you've no experience of the industry (playing devil's advocate here), surely what you see as 'common sense' may only be common sense if you've a grasp of the industry? And somehow, I don't think CDs are a dying breed - most regional theatres have gone from having their own casting department to using freelance CDs, and I think the big studios/production companies will always use the big, well-known CDs because they know the market. But interesting to hear your perspective (or should that be see? LOL!!).

Reply #3

Posted : 15/04/10

Annie22
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Worthwhile knowledge? To you and I it may be the case, but what if you've no experience of the industry (playing devil's advocate here), surely what you see as 'common sense' may only be common sense if you've a grasp of the industry?

And somehow, I don't think CDs are a dying breed - most regional theatres have gone from having their own casting department to using freelance CDs, and I think the big studios/production companies will always use the big, well-known CDs because they know the market.

But interesting to hear your perspective (or should that be see? LOL!!).

	Reply #4
Posted : 15/04/10
BlakeJ 1437 posts last on: 07/02/12 send private reply	Annie, I've done workshops and totally agree with you . I'm trained as are you- but I do feel casting directors sometimes exploit the neediness of actors. Then again- year after year drama schools take on a plethora of students- most who drop out two years after graduation. Also- the same could be said for the medical profession as well. Doctors train for seven years- and then can't get work.

	Reply #5
Posted : 15/04/10
Annie22 557 posts last on: 24/01/12 send private reply	I hear what you're saying Blake, but maybe the CDs are setting up the workshops for inexperienced people, but the places are being taken by desperate actors who want to be seen? The CDs have no control over who attends. PS I've just booked on the John Cannon workshop through Annelie Powell - it'll be my first one and I'm doing it because I have never yet been seen for TV, and I want to find out if there's something I'm doing wrong. I suspect, as no TV CD has ever seen me, that it must be one (or all) of the following: 1. my advanced age on entry into the business - someone told me (hearsay!) that a well-known CD said "if I haven't heard of you by the time you're 40, I assume you must be sh*t." 2. Wrong headshot 3. Inappropriate submission (i.e. I am not right for a part that my Agent (a Co-op) or I thought I was 4. Lack of TV exposure If it's no 4, then I don't have a cat in hell's chance, because how do you get no 4 without being seen? So, am I a desperate actor? To be honest, some days, yes I am. But as it's 6 years since I had any training on what a TV casting would be like, I think of this workshop as updating my skills. If it gets me seen for casting by the CD in question, then I would look upon that as an ADDED bonus - it's not my main reason for shelling out the hard-won lucre!

Reply #5

Posted : 15/04/10

Annie22
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last on: 24/01/12
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I hear what you're saying Blake, but maybe the CDs are setting up the workshops for inexperienced people, but the places are being taken by desperate actors who want to be seen? The CDs have no control over who attends.

PS I've just booked on the John Cannon workshop through Annelie Powell - it'll be my first one and I'm doing it because I have never yet been seen for TV, and I want to find out if there's something I'm doing wrong. I suspect, as no TV CD has ever seen me, that it must be one (or all) of the following:
1. my advanced age on entry into the business - someone told me (hearsay!) that a well-known CD said "if I haven't heard of you by the time you're 40, I assume you must be sh*t."

2. Wrong headshot

3. Inappropriate submission (i.e. I am not right for a part that my Agent (a Co-op) or I thought I was

4. Lack of TV exposure

If it's no 4, then I don't have a cat in hell's chance, because how do you get no 4 without being seen?

So, am I a desperate actor? To be honest, some days, yes I am. But as it's 6 years since I had any training on what a TV casting would be like, I think of this workshop as updating my skills. If it gets me seen for casting by the CD in question, then I would look upon that as an ADDED bonus - it's not my main reason for shelling out the hard-won lucre!

	Reply #6
Posted : 15/04/10
GUY5 395 posts last on: 07/02/12 send private reply	Hi Annie and Blake, Regional Theatres have used external Casting Directors for years because it's cheaper. However, the turnover of CD's now is huge - a lot are leaving the profession because of a lack of work. It was originally a secretarial job that was transferred into the realms of Director.It's now going back to being a a production job. Yes the big studios have big name Casting Directors but mostly in name only. Their job is slowly being taken out of their hands to make things cheaper. They're now more fixers. As a green Actor out of drama school back in the early 90's I went to a few CD workshops and really didn't learn anything new, apart from... a few anecdotes, a few huge fibs and of course the foibles of the various Casting agents. I look back and wish I'd saved my cash! ;-) Best to all!

Reply #6

Posted : 15/04/10

GUY5
395 posts
last on: 07/02/12
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Hi Annie and Blake,

Regional Theatres have used external Casting Directors for years because it's cheaper. However, the turnover of CD's now is huge - a lot are leaving the profession because of a lack of work. It was originally a secretarial job that was transferred into the realms of Director.It's now going back to being a a production job.
Yes the big studios have big name Casting Directors but mostly in name only. Their job is slowly being taken out of their hands to make things cheaper. They're now more fixers.

As a green Actor out of drama school back in the early 90's I went to a few CD workshops and really didn't learn anything new, apart from... a few anecdotes, a few huge fibs and of course the foibles of the various Casting agents.

I look back and wish I'd saved my cash! ;-)

Best to all!

	Reply #7
Posted : 15/04/10
BlakeJ 1437 posts last on: 07/02/12 send private reply	I tend to feel more drawn to your opinion Guy. I'm not saying they aren't worthwhile but just you have to question everything.

	Reply #8
Posted : 15/04/10
Annie22 557 posts last on: 24/01/12 send private reply	Hmmmmm... I'll report back after my workshop, and we'll see how I feel then! But no matter how you look at it, it's a sign that every single part of the industry is getting squeezed!

	Reply #9
Posted : 15/04/10
lukestevenson 135 posts last on: 6 hours send private reply	I havnt done an accredited course, so have no 'proper' training, however I find that I learn nothing new in these workshops. I learnt it all at the place I studied acting. I just see them as a way of meeting CD's, so they can put a name to a (living, breathing) face. You get given an opportunity to read in front of them. They may or may not like what you do and then may or may not call you in next time they are presented with your headshot. I personally never spend more than £30 on these workshops. That's within what I can manage. I consider it money better spent than on pastimes. I dont think you should go to these workshops hoping to be given a casting for something on the back of your reading. Just go to meet a CD and other actors. You are given a script and an opportunity to impress. That itself I think makes it worth it, whether the CD is making a profit or not.

Reply #9

Posted : 15/04/10

lukestevenson
135 posts
last on: 6 hours
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I havnt done an accredited course, so have no 'proper' training, however I find that I learn nothing new in these workshops. I learnt it all at the place I studied acting.

I just see them as a way of meeting CD's, so they can put a name to a (living, breathing) face.

You get given an opportunity to read in front of them. They may or may not like what you do and then may or may not call you in next time they are presented with your headshot.

I personally never spend more than £30 on these workshops. That's within what I can manage. I consider it money better spent than on pastimes.

I dont think you should go to these workshops hoping to be given a casting for something on the back of your reading.

Just go to meet a CD and other actors.

You are given a script and an opportunity to impress. That itself I think makes it worth it, whether the CD is making a profit or not.

	Reply #10
Posted : 15/04/10
Annie22 557 posts last on: 24/01/12 send private reply	Ooooh - and I agree about questioning, Blake - it should be what we do about anything that's asking for our hard-earned cash (or time for that matter)

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