Film Specific
How Game of Thrones has been great for British theatre
Game of Thrones has had a great impact on British theatre scene. Those actors that have been featured in the show, have also been seen on the stage. Thus, drawing larger crowds to the theatre. Not only are these fine actors featured on the big stages, but many can also be found on fringe stages throughout Britain. The clout of GoT has touched the lives of actors and audiences alike, both on screen and off. READ ARTICLE via www.thestage.co.uk
8 Must-Haves for a Self-Tape Home Studio
Whether it’s a last minute on-camera audition, or a recording needed for an audio book submission, it is very helpful for actors to have the tools to create a home studio. Self-submissions are a common way to be seen for castings, especially if you are submitting to projects outside of the area in which you live. It may take time to accumulate the appropriate gear, but once you do, it’ll allow you to shine on film and for producers to focus on YOU and not the print of the wallpaper behind you! READ ARTICLE via www.backstage.com
Meet the Cinematographers Behind Some of the Biggest Movies — Who Happen to Be Women
“A cinematographer is someone who works in collaboration with the director first and foremost to decide what shots they want, creating the overall visual aesthetic of the film” For the 2019 Oscars, no women were nominated in this category. This lack of representation inspired the team at Teen Vogue to highlight the cinematography of those films who had a woman behind the camera. READ ARTICLE via www.teenvogue.com
J.K. Simmons on ‘Counterpart’ Season 2 and the ‘Crushing’ Moment That Changed His Life
The Oscar-winning actor opens up about the twists and turns of ‘Counterpart’ season two, how he pulls off dual leading roles, and the ‘divergence’ point that changed his life. by: Nick Schager The only thing better than one J.K. Simmons is two, which is a significant reason Counterpart is a top contender for best new show on television. After completing a sterling initial season earlier this year, Justin Marks’ twisty-turny sci-fi saga begins its excellent sophomore run on Starz this Sunday (Dec. 9). As before, its focus is squarely on Howard Silk (Simmons), a Berlin-situated government employee entangled in a Cold War-esque spy game—the catch being that the two sides at war are not East and West, but our world and an identical parallel dimension we discovered thirty years ago that’s popul...
What to Know About Being on Set for the First Time
BY CASEY MINK via www.backstage.com As an actor trying to break into the film or television world, you spend endless days and nights dreaming of the moment you can finally step onto a set. But what happens when you actually get there? Do you know how to conduct yourself professionally on camera and off? Do you know the faux pas to avoid so you don’t give away your status as a newbie? Do you know when to pipe up and, conversely, when to zip it? Do you know how the actor’s role relates to the director and producer? It’s OK if you weren’t able to answer “yes” to every one of these questions—even Meryl Streep once walked onto a set for the first time. (Though she was probably brilliant on that day, too.) We’re all allowed to start somewhere, and Backstage wants to make sure you are starting wi...
How to Become a Showrunner
BY CORI HUNDT via www.backstage.com We are indeed in a golden age of television. Just think of all the TV series that have been recommended but are still on your to-watch list because there just is not enough time in the day to get through them all. It’s almost impossible to see everything you’ve been told is amazing! But what if you don’t just love watching wonderful TV series? What if you want to run your own one day? If you love screenwriting and the idea of producing and overseeing the day-to-day operations of a television show, you might just have a future as a showrunner. What is a showrunner? What does a showrunner do? As you might gather from the name, a showrunner quite literally “runs the show” to make sure all of the writing and producing on a TV series is punctual, on budget, a...
Miriam Shor: From Acting On-Stage…To Directing On-Screen
BY RUTHIE FIERBERG via www.playbill.com The actor and director reveals the step-by-step process of directing the July 10 episode of the hit series starring Sutton Foster. Miriam Shor has a habit of stealing scenes. She’s not trying to, but her magnetism, her nuance, her timing in the small moments, and her delivery in the big ones make it so you can’t look away, whether that’s as Yitzhak in the original Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Madelaine True in The Wild Party, Jessie in Off-Broadway’s Sweat, guest-starring on television’s The Americans, or her gig as series regular Diana Trout on TVLand’s Younger. But now, she directs her first episode of television: Episode 5 of Younger’s current season. Miriam Shor Courtesy of TVLand “I always was one of those annoying people hanging out at video vill...
SNL Hair and Makeup Heads Reveal How They Create Their Weekly Transformations
BY CASEY MINK via www.backstage.com If you’ve ever marveled at a “Saturday Night Live” cast member’s transformation from parrot to politician in one commercial break, you should know the names Jodi Mancuso and Louie Zakarian, the sketch show’s longtime hair and makeup department heads. Just ahead of the television institution’s 43rd season finale, Mancuso and Zakarian—who have 12 Emmys between them—spoke with Backstage to break down what a show week typically looks like, how their work helps actors find and get into their many characters, and the one look creator Lorne Michaels deemed too shocking. How do you typically prepare for a show week? Louie Zakarian (makeup): It starts on Tuesdays, when the host comes in and we do promos. We do the table read on Wednesday; we go through something ...
How to Become a TV Director
BY BENJAMIN LINDSAY via www.backstage.com Making it onto the small screen as an actor is one thing, but doing it as a director is another thing entirely. With this Backstage Guide, we give you the tips and tricks you need to build the experience, reel, and relationships that will one day lead to you sitting in the director’s chair while helming television’s next big thing. What is the responsibility of the director? At the end of the day, a director’s responsibility is to organize, facilitate, and capture the desired footage that will ultimately make up a film or television program. While their day-to-day responsibilities may differ based on the medium in which they’re working, they are always one of the top above-the-liners and authority figures on set, and more often than not, they have...
11 Great Film Markets Outside of NYC and L.A.
BY KC WRIGHT via www.backstage.com It’s no secret that rising costs, tax incentives, and the growth of new media have been moving film and television productions out of Hollywood and New York. As the work expands to other regions across the continent, so do opportunities for actors in these small (but powerful) markets. Not feeling the “big pond” of New York or Los Angeles? Here are 11 other cities where you can make your on-camera dreams come true. Albuquerque With 64 major film, television, and commercial projects produced in fiscal year 2014, according to the New Mexico Film Office, New Mexico is an excellent market for on-camera talent. Albuquerque-based actors receive tons of local support from the NM Film Office and other organizations, and schools like the ABQ Actors Studio train th...
Montana-based Feature Film Seeking Extras
Casting call in Missoula this weekend for Montana-based feature film Seeking Extras Late this summer there is scheduled to be a Montana-based feature film shot in and around the Missoula/Hamilton areas. The executive producer, Michael David McGuire, has titled the film “Montana Six Pack” which will be a boy/girl love story. If this peeks your interest, go down to the Missoula Food Bank this Saturday and Sunday (4/28 & 4/29) from 9AM to 4PM. This is a great opportunity to gain experience! The following is a quote from the Missoulian about Michael David McGuire, “He has clients worldwide as a media, marketing, public relations and media development consultant.” Read the link below for the full description and more information. http://missoulian.com/news/local/cast...
Steven Spielberg’s New WEST SIDE STORY Film Announces Open Casting Call
Here’s your chance to star in the highly anticipated new West Side Story film remake. Cindy Tolan Casting has put out an open call for the roles of Tony, Maria, Anita and Bernardo in the new take on the iconic movie musical. The previously announced project will feature a new adaptation by Angels in America Tony and Pulitzer winner Tony Kushner and direction by Oscar-winning film icon Steven Spielberg. Billed as a modern-day Romeo & Juliet, West Side Story follows two gangs who battle to control their turf on New York’s Upper West Side. The situation gets complicated when one gang member falls for a rival’s sister. West Side Story first opened on Broadway in 1957, going on to play 732 performances. Co-created by Arthur Laurents, Jerome Robbins, Leonard Bernstein and S...
