Expectations and Tips
Audition & Filming Workbag to keep in your car at all times with the following contents:
- Folder with 6 headshots with updated resumes attached
- Change of general audition clothes in case you spill something on the way to the audition
- Pen, paper, comb, mints and water
What we expect from our talent:
- We expect you to take at least 2 classes each year.
- Headshots should be updated every 2 years.
- Resumes should be in our company style; see the sample resume on last page of this section.
- Talent is required to have email and cell phone with voice mail, and keep it on.
- You must be able to return our call within two hours and go on an audition with only one day’s notice.
- You are expected to always know the script and be in character at auditions.
- If you have to cancel an audition or job, never use email, call no matter what time it is. After hours, we don’t usually answer the phone, but we do check voice mail regularly.
- When leaving a phone message, always leave your first and last name and the number you are calling from so we can return your call more easily.
- You must “book out” via email when going out of town and/or not available to go on auditions.
- Use email to ask routine questions.
- If Coastal Talent sends you on an audition or job, you cannot do another job for that client without going through Coastal Talent as long as you are represented by us.
Our duties towards you:
- It is our job to negotiate contracts for you and make sure you are paid properly.
- The paychecks come to Coastal Talent, not to you.
- Always put Coastal Talent's address down on any forms you sign.
- You will be mailed your check the day after it clears the bank.
- Each project will pay at different times, some in a few days, and some in 30 days.
- SAG Union jobs will take out taxes.
- A 1099 form is mailed to you each tax year from Coastal Talent for all non-union jobs totaling over $600.
- Do not sign any contracts on set if it does not say what we told you. Call us immediately from set to discuss.
- Do not leave set and then call us and ask about the pay, overtime, per diem, etc. If you sign it and leave, it is much harder to get you what you were due.
- If they want to change what you were being paid to do on set, or add print to it, or anything different from what you were told, tell them you have to call your agent.
- If they try to tell you that you don’t need to call your agent, that is a big clue that you most certainly need to call your agent.
- Call us and hand them the phone and we’ll negotiate it for you.
- It’s your agent’s job to negotiate and your job to be the congenial actor on set.
Audition Protocol
- If you get the script the night before, we expect you to know it and not use the sides.
- Allow yourself an extra hour of driving time to get to the city where the audition is being held. There is always the chance of traffic, construction, wrecks, weather, etc.
- Arrive in parking lot 20 minutes before your call time and walk in 15 minutes before call time and sign in.
- Do not take family or friends with you into your audition.
- Once you sign in you must not leave the holding area.
- The person signing you in can answer most of the questions you have. If not, ask director when you go in.
- Turn your cell phone off before you go into the audition.
- Walk in smiling and shake hands firmly, look them in the eye and smile.
- Don’t have sweaty palms, dry your hands before you go in.
- Move to the spot where they want you to stand. Leave your bag just inside the door..
- Ask all your questions before you do the first take.
- You may ask for one retake, after that it is obnoxious. Doesn’t mean you’ll get it either.
- Cheat actions like walking.
- Know what your intention is and your moment before.
- The key in comedy is reacting, timing, and playing the relationship.
- Everyone wants you to be right for this part — trust you own instincts and sense of truth.
- You must stay in character until the director says cut. They often wait about 3 seconds after you finish to say cut to make sure they did not cut you off — stay in character.
Commercial auditions:
- Ask how to pronounce the product name if you are not 100% sure of it.
- Framing of the shot — ask how much space you have to move around in.
- When you slate your name at the beginning they will usually film you in full body.
- Once you get into the audition they will shoot you in a close up, usually from the shoulders up, so be aware of that and the fact that you can’t move around much.
Non-speaking commercial audition:
- You’ll be asked to slate and then be prepared to answer questions, or do an improv.
- Possible questions: "Tell me something about yourself, or what do you like to do?" Directors have probably heard 200 people that day talk about themselves.
- Don't tell them your age, marital status, children, or hobbies. Instead, tell a brief interesting story about yourself, preferably funny. They want to see some personality. Be prepared with 2 stories about 15 seconds.
- At improv auditions you will be given a scenario. Don’t stop doing it until they say cut.
Your physical appearance:
- You are expected to stay in shape, this is a strenuous job and you must be prepared for it physically. This requires routine exercise, not just the day before.
- White teeth — can’t say it enough: stained teeth can loose an audition for you.
- If you change your hair, you have to get new headshots.
- Actors should not be too tanned, red, sun burnt or peeling. Sunscreen is a must.
Audition Wardrobe:
- You will not have proper lighting at auditions, so you must compensate with what you wear and how you do your make-up and hair. When you get the job, you will have a full crew making you look great.
- We will let you know what you should wear if they have requested something specific.
- If no request has been made, dress the part following these guidelines:
- Red, black and white tops generally don’t film well
- No logos
- Solid colors only
- Shirts should be tucked in if they hang way below the waist. They want to see your shape. Trying to hide it only makes you look bigger on camera.
- Don’t wear a shirt the same color of your hair if your hair touches your shirt.
- No jewelry except small stud earrings, no glass or diamond earrings that reflect light.
- Necklaces and watches are distracting and reflect light. We are selling you, not jewelry.
Audition Make-up & Hair:
- Males — take something to wipe your face off before you go in so you want be shiny.
- Females — you should wear base make-up and/or powder and powder again before you go in.
- Red lipstick is the only color that will show up on camera. You may think it is too much, but on camera in an audition it barely shows because the lighting is poor in auditions.
- Do not wear brown, burgundy, pastels, or frosted lipstick — only red please — and not orange — red.
- Vincent Longo's lip & cheek stain in Cupid's Blush is recommended by several actresses.
- Eyes — no frosted eye shadow, only skin tones and do not wear eyeliner on your bottom lids. This will add darkness where you don't want it.
- Eyeliner on the top lid is up to you, it is not necessary.
- They need to see the length of your hair, do not wear it up.
- For long hair, keep a rubber band on your wrist, in case they would like to see your hair up, you are ready and don't have to move off your mark and go thru your bag looking for one.
Set Protocol
- Take your work bag with you. Contents are described at top of this section. You never know when you are going to need to give someone a headshot.
- Friends and family cannot go to set with you.
- Always have Coastal Talent’s phone number and address with you.
- When you fill out your forms on set, always indicate that checks come to Coastal Talent, not to you. So you need our mailing address.
- At the end of a shoot, don’t leave set without signing all your paperwork and signing out. Signing out is how you are guaranteed payment.
- It is your responsibility to get all the info you need to update your resume while you are on set. We are not given that info.
- Make sure you have the correct spelling of the following: title of project, your role, director’s name, production company, etc.
- If you want a copy of the shoot (for commercials and industrials, not always on a film set) take a VHS or DVD with you that is labeled with your name and address and the project name.
- It must be in a self addressed stamped mailing envelope. Ask to whom you should give it to and do it at an appropriate time. This increases your chances of getting a copy.
- If you want a copy of a print job, you should negotiate that with them on set. Often times they can send you a copy via email in a jpg form.
- If it is a catalogue shoot, always ask to have the catalogue sent to you as well.
- Forward copies to Coastal Talent for us to use in promoting you.
On Set Tips
- Always learn your lines cold. If you don’t get a final script to the last minute or there are re-writes on the set, do whatever you can to have your lines COLD.
- Always have a good attitude on the set — be courteous and flexible, don’t ever argue with a director. The director is in charge, no one else.
- Always be thinking about what your character should be thinking about. Always be feeling what your character should be feeling. The camera can always tell what’s going on in your eyes. Make the camera your friend, relax and be glad the camera is there.
- If possible, unless told to do otherwise, connect with the eyes of the person or people you are relating to in the scene and stay focused on them, "feed" off what they might be giving you. It keeps the relationship alive and urgent.
- There is a frame that you’re working in. Unless asked specifically for large movements, keep your movements clean, economical and to a minimum.
- You will be required to repeat shots and will perhaps do a number of takes. The editor will need to match all your movements from shot to shot. If the editor can’t match your different takes, the director will take the shot of a different actor and keep your shots to a minimum.
- Film and video are very technical and you need to respect and embrace these realities, just don’t lose your passion and relationships with the other characters.
- Whenever you can, watch other actors doing their scenes and learn whatever you can. Especially helpful is learning from the mistakes of others.
- There’s always a huge amount of activity around you when you are shooting your scenes, hair adjustments, make-up adjustments, director’s notes, lighting changes, YOU MUST stay focused on the relationship in the scene, what you’re feeling and thinking.
- Enjoy the experience!
Sample Resume
Categories are in order of importance. List your character and it's description. If not a big role – saying you were Jane doesn’t mean anything unless it is a big role where your character name is used a lot. Do not include extra or featured roles.
Film
Lead or Starring: worked throughout film
Co-Star: worked throughout film. Important character, however not lead
Supporting: 1-3 good scenes
Television
Series Regular or Starring: series regular
Recurring: same character in at least 2 episodes
Guest Star: large role in one episode
Co-Star: 1-2 scenes in one episode
Commercials
Principal (can be speaking or non speaking, paid principal rate)
Industrials
Principal (can be speaking or non speaking, paid principal rate)
Theater
Character name goes in middle column, and if you were lead – no other descriptions.
Training
List the company, type of class, instructor and city.
Skills
Only list skills you can actually do, not interest.
