SIDES-TO-SCREEN

This @Pepsi #SideToScreen episode is an excellent reminder that creativity has the ability to make anything work!

When Nate Holston got the callback notice, his agent gave us a heads-up that he would be on set and unable to bring the requested props. We managed to fit him to the schedule throughout the day.

On the day of callback, he handled the situation professionally, staying adaptable and calm. On set, he improvised with a banana as a hotdog and goldbears as relish - and he made it work at the moment.

It's important to communicate and inform your agent/casting director if you're running late OR on set. Be flexible and open to working with your environment. And remember, have fun! Stay tuned for our conversation with Nate about his callback day!

The Osteo BiFlex casting had a unique request during callbacks. The spot features someone playing fetch with a dog in a park. We asked actors if they were willing to audition outside of their home to show the range of actions as seen in the boards.

Dawayne Brashear and Monica Poitier found a remote area at the park. He was comfortable taking off his mask for the callback, while his wife was holding the camera and helped relay feedback & redirection.

Due to Covid restrictions, we always check with talent on their comfort level to perform certain actions/scenes for self-tape/callback while staying creative. We make it clear to our clients that talent’s preference should never affect decisions on bookings.

Auditioning outside is not usually recommended, unless you have a very strong WiFi connection or it is requested by the CD.

We are featuring Christopher Gerson in this episode of ‘Sides-To-Screen’. Fascinated by his initial self-tape! His video looked spot-on, almost a spitting image of the final commercial itself.

We’re not saying that every actor should match this quality. However, your performance can be highlighted at its best with the proper setup. See a few tips below:

• Find a well-lit area & minimize any and all background noise

• Make sure you are in focus

• Editing can create a seamless transition from slate to scene. You call your own cuts 🎬

Glad to see actors are improving the virtual casting process; it would not be this seamless without your effort! Well done! 👏🏼

This episode of “Sides-To-Screen” highlights three talent we cast who went above and beyond in their self-tapes / virtual callbacks for the Preparation H commercial.

Since the spot relied on physical movement with no dialogue, Tony Demil (@tonydmafia), Kristina Bermudez (@kristinabertha) and Michael Hannon fully utilized their own environment and concentrated on bringing the scene to us.

The final decision to book Michael was based on his original self-tape due to his skillset and preparation. Tony and Kristina attended the remote callback where we tested their chemistries side-by-side on the screen. During the callback, they were directed multiple times so we can see them interact together as they would on set. Their adjustments were spot-on, capturing exactly what the directors were looking for.

Thank you actors for adding your creativity to your audition & self-tapes. We miss interacting/directing with you. Keep up the great work!

The casting call for the De’Longhi Dinamica commercial asked for a real mother with her child specifically, due to COVID safety precautions. With safety in mind, instead of finding 2 separate actors to pair up, a lot of people from the same household are being cast together.

The close connection between friends/family members we see during the remote callback provides a great visual reference on how talent would interact with each other during the actual filming. @imjacinth and her daughter Jenesis stood out because of the natural chemistry between them.

Casting during quarantine provides an opportunity for both learning and exploring. Many professional actors have taken this opportunity to involve their children in their scenes, potentially inspiring them to start acting themselves!

In our 7th episode of “Sides-To-Screen”, we are highlighting multiple families from a recent commercial we cast.

Besides saving time from commuting, another benefit of remote casting is that talent/families are able to be creative in interpreting the script at home, allowing them to leave a stronger impression from their audition.

Take the bathtub scene as an example. @scottstangland is performing this scene in his own bathtub, which would not be the case for an in-person callback. This helps create a closer visual connection from sides to screen.

We are glad to see everyone enjoying and having fun with this process. Stay positive and let’s keep the good energy going for 2021! ✨

We are featuring four awesome ladies in this new episode of “Sides to Screen” who are having a virtual “night-in” to talk about their quarantine days.

This was the first virtual callback where we had multiple actors interacting with each other in a scene at the same time. Since this was both cast and filmed remotely, this callback session was crucial in helping determine which potential ensemble group had the best chemistry.

The transition was seamless for our clients to navigate the different pairings they wanted to see together. Their top selects did not have to wait outside an audition room or rush back from their commute. All they needed was to log back in from their home.

We are closely communicating with actors to streamline the virtual casting process as efficiently as possible. Glad to see everyone is stepping up their game with home setups for casting, self-tapes and callbacks. We appreciate you being flexible and creative during this time.

Keep up the good work! 💫

Despite being on lockdown earlier this year, the show still continued on. We cast this @bacardi spot back in May while in quarantine - where everything from casting to the actual filming was done virtually. As summer comes to a close, the message still rings clear today: "you can't take the party out of the people."

After reviewing their initial self-tape and scheduling them to a virtual callback, Alina, Raisa and Kiara were exactly what we were all looking for - their chemistry, personality, and positivity jumped through the screen from the moment we met them.

Talent are more involved in the creative process now more than ever. As in-person productions are slowly resuming, at home shoots will still be happening and actors should be ready for it all! Our advice is to follow these ladies' examples to take on these new challenges with patience and joy!

Watch how @paulspriggsactor is able to dial up his performance is our newest #SidesToScreen.⁠⠀
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These casting sessions were super fun. Inspired by those old Richard Simmons workout tapes, the creative called for a magical fitness instructor that would suddenly appear to teach people heart-healthy habits.⁠⠀
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In all of these setups, Paul did a great job slowly raising up the energy with each take. He showed his range by not going from zero to sixty in the blink of an eye. He hit different levels and kept his control along the way, which was exactly what we were looking for.⁠⠀

In our third episode of #SidesToScreen—where we match up moments from our favorite projects with the auditions of the actors that booked it—we are looking at Rachel Niu’s (@niugirl) work in a spot for Disney Springs.⁠⠀
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A lot of times in an audition with no dialogue, we will run actors through different emotions to get a sense of their range. Rachel does an incredible job hitting each of the reactions we called out in the room. She’s expressive, but not over the top, which was a perfect fit for the ad's fresh spin on ‘Alice in Wonderland.’⁠⠀
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Rachel’s performance is proof that the old saying is true: less is more. I would rather redirect someone to give more than try and reel someone in once they’ve gone too big.

Our second episode of #SidesToScreen—where we match up moments from our favorite projects with the auditions of the actors that booked it—stars William Douglas Turner (@willdouglas3) in a spot for Sabra.

Our casting reference was “the Billy Mays salesperson of hummus”—a fun, over the top pitchman who is totally in love with his product—and Will delivered right away. Even without the set or Amanda Finch’s (@finchy4life) perfectly distressed lettuce chopping, Will made us feel like we were watching an “As Seen On TV” ad. (Side-note for all actors: this is an example of when the “references” on your sides can be your best friend. And if you’re not familiar with a reference, please ask us!)

Oddly enough, Will’s callback was nothing like his first audition. Since he had nailed his Billy Mays so hard, we wanted to see his range and how well he would react to new direction. Of course, he knocked that out of the park, too. But when it came time to shoot, the director went with the energy that Will gave us the second he walked in the door.

First up, we’ve got Kieron Anthony (@kiezzybreez) in a cinematic spot for Etihad Airways about a father rushing home to see his daughter walk on the field at an NYCFC game.

Because the project relied on so much visual storytelling, the director—who was actually Skype-ing in for this callback—leads Kieron through the emotional arc of the piece, calling out different feelings and reactions for him to embody.⁠⠀
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We know that these kinds of exercises might feel a little strange in the audition room, but hopefully when you compare it to the finished project, you can see why Kieron’s emotional flexibility was so, so crucial to the success of the project.