Inside TVI Actors StudioThe Acting School in NYC and Los Angeles |
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Congratulations to TVI Student Andrew for booking an Under 5 role on 2 episodes of ‘General Hospital’. Andrew attended our ‘Soap Intensive’ with the Head of Casting for ‘General Hospital’, Mark Teschner. Way to go Andrew!
To learn more about our ‘Soap Intensive’ with Mark Teschner click here.
Congratulations to casting director and TVI teacher, Donna McKenna, who’s latest independent film, WEST END, screened in the Soho Film Festival last night. Many actors from the film were in attendance including some TVI members. The film was a home run largely due to the incredible actors (cast by Donna McKenna).
Tonight, watch General Hospital’s casting director Mark Teschner on
the special edition of 20/20 on ABC. The episode is “General Hospital -
The Real Soap Dish”. The show starts at 9:00pm. Details and the 20/20
preview can be found here. http://bit.ly/mark_teschner
Mark teaches one of LA’s most popular acting classes at TVI Actors Studio
in Los Angeles. His class schedule can be found here,
http://bit.ly/teschner .
Welcome another show under the MADE IN NY umbrella
http://www.deadline.com/2013/04/tonight-show-new-york-move-burbank-loss/
Congratulations to TVI Student Melissa Labbadia for booking a Samsung Commercial!
You can start booking commercials too! Click Here to learn more.
Check out this short interview with ‘Homeland‘ casting director Kimberly Graham.
‘Homeland’ NY Casting Director, Kimberly Graham coming to London from TVI Actors Studio on Vimeo.
Kimberly will be in London, 27th of April meeting and working with actors. This is part of the American Casting Director Series® sponsored by TVI Actors Studio. For details and to register with the early registration tuition, see bit.ly/HomelandUK.
Last night in Emily Gipson’s Business of Acting Class, she brought a guest: Christina Wright form Meredith Tucker Casting, currently working on Boardwalk Empire.
Emily stressed the importance of doing workshops with casting directors to start forming those relationships – Christina even told us that because she’s been so busy casting Boardwalk, coming to TVI is the first class she’s done all year!
If you’re working on your casting director relationships (like you should be), here’s a list of the great one night workshops we’ve got coming up at TVI Actor’s Studio:
4/4 Jodi Collins
4/8 Cindi Rush
4/15 Alison Shomer
4/23 Eliza Kahn, Amy Gossels Casting
5/9 Lauren Port, MelCap Casting
5/14 Kathleen Vissichelli, Adrienne Stern Casting
Call 212 302 1900 or click here to sign up!
Are you ready?
Slowly but surely, the snow is melting in NYC. Sure, we’re calling that groundhog everything but a child of God, but no matter how the weather protests otherwise, Spring is around the corner. All of the big, splashy, new shows on the Great White Way are celebrating what feels like their consecutive opening nights, and sooner than later, we’ll be toasting this year’s Tony Award nominees and winners. Then, it will happen.
Once all the reviews are in, the statues and gift bags are given out, the box office receipts are tallied and the next Season officially starts, contracts will end and those actors lucky enough to have opened a show will be on to greener pastures. On the other end, the productions that were fortunate enough to not become a casualty of the season and recoup their earnings will spawn into National Touring companies. The question begs: Are you ready for that replacement call?
The phrase “Your Best 16 Bars” is enough to strike fear into the hearts of every gypsy from here to Las Vegas. Yes, 16 Bar Anxiety Disorder is real. From an actor’s stand point it’s hard to tell a solid story and show off your range in 16 puny bars (and that old trick of trying to use a song with really long measures isn’t fooling anybody either). Ultimately, it comes down to making some very clear and concise decisions at the outset, and asking yourself some tough questions:
1. Is this the best key for me?
Sometimes just a half a step up or down and can make a world of difference in how the song lands for the people behind the table.
2. Does this cut have a beginning, middle, and end?
So the first instinct is “I only have 16 bars so…I just need to go in and belt my face off.” While I’m sure your whistle register is the best thing since 1993 Mariah Carey, that’s the wrong approach. You still have to deliver subtext, beats, and intention, even more so when you’re doing 16 bars of a rock/pop song where the story is a little more open to interpretation.
3. Are you stuttering?
Speaking of rock/pop, most of those songs are written around a “hook”, the one part of the song (usually in the chorus) that makes it completely memorable. Oftentimes the hook is repeated as a songwriting device. Great for radio, not so much for your 16 bar audition. If you find yourself repeating a phrase like “BABY. BABY. BABY! BABEEHHHHHH!” It may be the wrong cut. You’re wasting valuable time and bars!
4. Is the character right for you?
We all want to be different and sing those songs for roles that we would never be cast in, because frankly, they’re a whole heck of a lot more fun. The truth of the matter is, while it may be fun for you to perform, the casting director is going to be wondering if you have any actual scope of who you are and how the world sees you. Make sure that your song is age and type appropriate, as well as show appropriate. You would never go into an audition for “Crazy For You” singing Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar On Me” (would you?). Do your homework, and give them specifically what they ask for. Nail that first 16 bars and you’ll have more than enough time to sing through the rest of your book.
Casting Directors can tell with in the first four bars (two if they’re really listening) whether or not you’re right for a role, or if you even really know who you are. Why take the risk of giving the wrong impression? While these were just a few tips to get you ready for replacement season, if you really want the hands on, gold plated experience, you should join us here at TVI New York for our master class “Your Best 16 Bars” with Tony Award Winner Randy Graff (Les Miserables, City of Angels) and Celebrated musical director Michael Larson. Randy and Michael will go through your book, adjust your keys, work your acting beats and spin your 16 Bars into a production contract! Call us at 212.302.1900 for more details.
Despite the snow throughout the UK, casting director, Donna McKenna, teaches a SOLD OUT workshop in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Even though the workshop started at 10am, the actors were crowding the lobby at 9am, hungry to learn about Acting in America.
The inspiration for this was Emily Gipson’s Acting Like a Business Class. 
At some point, we’re all faced with a little bit of desperation. You think “I’ve been taking all these classes, meeting all these people, doing my mailings to agents and casting directors… So WHY haven’t they called me in? WHY don’t I have an agent yet? WHEN is this gonna happen for me?”
The longer we continue to think this way, the more underlying frustration and desperation exists every time you meet a new person. Then that person begins to walk away thinking “hmm.. I really liked them, but I felt like they were kind of needy” or “they were a great actor, but they were trying a little too hard.”
So, let’s STOP that kind of thinking right now and remind ourselves of a few important things:
This is a business about relationships and connections. That takes TIME.
Think about it this way: You meet someone in your personal life. You have a great first date. You don’t expect to launch into a serious relationship the day after, do you? (If you do, call me at TVI Actor Studios because we have some things to straighten out about you).
When you meet a casting director, you’re starting a relationship. You’ve met them once and now the door is open to send them a postcard and keep in touch. The more you keep in touch, the more they believe that you’re really working towards your career, the more they remember you. Then, when a role comes up that you’re REALLY right for, you’ll pop into their brain and they’ll call you in.
Let me take a second to clarify that when I mean “keep in touch” I mean years. A long time. Forever. So many people come in and out of this industry that if they stop hearing from you they will assume you’ve left the business. I was reminded of this point in Emily Gipson’s Acting Like a Business Class.
Today marks my 1 week countdown to accompanying Independent Film Casting Director, Donna McKenna to London where TVI Actors Studio has paired up with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art to host her All Day Intensive Workshop on Saturday, March 23rd . Donna will be scouting talent for 2 European films she is currently casting, “Senorita Rosa” starring Christopher Lloyd and “Just In Time”. London here I come!
Congratulations to TVI Student Paul Taylor! After attending the 5 Day Intensive in LA, Paul signed with an agent and booked a role on General Hospital! Way to Go Paul!
Interested in booking a role on General Hospital? Call us today for a chance to participate in a Soap Intensive taught by Emmy Award-Winner Mark Tescher, the Head of General Hospital Casting!
For More Info, Click Here
“I am LOVING TVI. I can not thank you enough. I’m so happy that things are happening for me. I have been telling every actor I know about TVI.” -Paul Taylor