Acting in Columbus Newsletter | October 2010: BOOK OF THE MONTH

BOOK OF THE MONTH

The Book: An Actor's Guide to Chicago is the Chicago actor's one stop source for information. From where to live to how to get around the city to extensive information about theatre companies to advice on auditioning, The Book is truly the Actor's Bible. Need to know how to where a theatre is? What the registration policy is for an agent? Where to find the class on Meisner?

The Book can help.

Looking for a headshot photographer? Trying to find a chiropracter? Want to find a cool neighborhood to move to?The Book can answer all those questions as well. The Book contains detailed listings of every sort of service a Chicago actor might need. Temp agencies, acting coaches, health clubs and more can be found between its covers. In addition to acting as a "Yellow Pages" for the actor, The Book brims over with helpful essays and checklists.

But it's not just checklists! The Book also contains essays on all aspects of the Business. Directors talk about their processes. The mysteries of ear prompters are revealed. We give advice on how to have a successful relationship with your agent - or just how to get an agent. And actors don't go into photo sessions without looking through our Headshot Checklist.

If there's anything you wanted to know about Chicago, theatre or theatre in Chicago, chances are you can find it in...The Book.

I have taken three classes with Richard Mason, and I cannot say enough about how great they have been and how much I have learned. Richard’s classes have helped me feel more comfortable in front of the camera and also more confident in my acting abilities. He teaches you the essential parts of an audition and how to “wow” your audience. Richard’s classes have given me the tools that I need to be successful in the acting industry. I have signed on with CAM Talent Agency in Columbus, Ohio and about to sign a modeling contract with an agency in Miami, Fl.

-Brent Shearer

Sunday November 14, 2010 1:00pm -8:00pm $175

Learn how to audition for and break into the local commercial and industrial industry. You will learn how to make the first contact with the agents. By taking this class you have the opportunity to show the agents that you are serious about pursuing this type of work. This workshop will give you experience with the actual audition process:

You'll work on-camera all day doing both prepared and cold readings, and receive plenty of feedback from instructor Richard Mason.

Script analysis skills: We have written our own textbook that breaks this process down and makes it simple.

Comfort in front of the camera: How do you stand? How do you hold the script? How do you deal with your partner and the camera at the same time? What is a slate? What do you do with your hands?

Practice at doing all types of commercials: Scene work, improv, one-liners, bite and smiles, handling products, etc You'll also learn how to market to the casting directors, all about pictures and resumes, how the unions work, etc.

A.D. - The Assistant Director.

AEA - Actors’ Equity Association; also called “Equity”. SAG’s sister union which represents stage actors.

AFTRA - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Represents radio artists and news broadcasters, and, in earlier times, television performers.

ART DIRECTOR - Person who conceives and designs the sets.

BLUE SCREEN - Shooting in a studio against a large blue or green backdrop, which allows a background to be superimposed later on the final image. The actors must imagine the set they are on and be aware of the limitations of their movements. Casting Workbook’s Audition studio in their Vancouver location is a Blue Screen.

BOOM - An overhead microphone, usually on an extended pole. The Boom Operator is the member of the sound department responsible for holding the boom pole, with mic attached, over and sometimes under the actors. Also usually responsible for placing radio mics on actors.

BREAKDOWN - A summary description of a script prepared by or for the casting director often including the names of the director, producer, network or studio, together with audition location and times, storyline and roles available for casting in a production. These are, and have traditionally been, provided only to qualified talent agents.

CALL SHEET - A sheet containing the cast and crew call times for a specific day’s shooting. Scene numbers, the expected day’s total pages, locations, and production needs are also included.

CALL TIME - The actual time an actor is due on the set.

DAY PLAYER (DAY PERFORMER) - A principal performer hired on a daily basis, rather than on a longer - term contract.

D.P. - Director of Photography or Cinematographer.

HERO (BOY, GIRL, MAN, WOMAN) - Unassumed Lead in a commercial where the lead isn’t prominent, but most important.

INDUSTRIAL - Non-broadcast film or video, usually of an educational nature.

MASTER SHOT - A camera shot that includes the principal actors and relevant background activity; generally used as a reference shot to record the scene from beginning to end before shooting close-ups, over-the-shoulders, etc.

P.A. - Production Assistant.

PAYMASTER - An independent talent payment service acting as the employer of record.

RESIDUAL - The fee paid to a performers for rebroadcast of a commercial, film or TV program

ASHLEY TALENT
10948 Reading Road
Cincinnati OH 45241
(513) 554-4836
www.ashleytalent.net

CAM TALENT - COLUMBUS
1350 West 5th Ave., Suite 25
Columbus, OH 43212
(614) 488-1122

www.camtalent.com

HEYMAN TALENT, INC
3308 Brotherton
Cincinnati, OH 45209
(513) 533-3113
(317) 255-5702 Indianapolis
(614) 444-4494 Columbus

www.heymantalent.com

PC GOENNER TALENT AGENCY
4700 Reed Road, Suite M
Columbus, OH 43220
(614) 459-3582

PC GOENNER TALENT AGENCY
347 Stanley
Cincinnati, OH 45212
(513) 262-0404

PC GOENNER TALENT AGENCY
1000 East Second Street
Dayton, OH 45402
(937) 586-0799

CLEVELAND

DOCHERTY, INC.
2044 Euclid Avenue, Suite 500
Cleveland, OH 44115
(216) 522-1300

TALENT GROUP, INC., THE
2530 Superior Avenue, Suite 6C
Cleveland, OH 44114
www.talentgroup.com
(216) 622-8011