homeCommercials Many people think of stage as legitimate theater, while others think of TV, movies and commercials as acting. If live theater is not your thing, maybe you should try to get commercial work instead. If you're going to get into commercials, the first thing you should do is take an on-camera class. It will teach you the basics of acting in front of a camera. You should also think about taking audition classes as well. You can take the classes from a variety of different places. In Delaware you might want to think about Danny Peak. He has ties to all the local theaters, and lots of Delaware actors take lessons from him. If you would like to go to Philly and take classes, you can try a lot of different venues. The Actors Center in Philadelphia is a good place to go for commercial work. Here is its mission statement:
We are committed to providing you with the highest quality training with credible professionals in a relaxed, no pressure environment to enhance your skills and, if you so desire, lead you to discovering opportunities in this wonderful business.
You can take classes in Commercials, Voice-over, Voice Acting, Acting for Theater, Film and Television, Specialty courses, Seminars, Musical Theater, Dance, Stage Movement, Tap and Jazz.
You can also take lessons from two of the casting agencies in Philadelphia. Some people think that this will improve their chances of being seen for auditions. This is something you have to decide for yourself. You can take classes at Mike Lemon Casting or Wickline Casting. After you have taken classes you will need headshots and a resume. Headshots can be expensive, so you should shop around. Avoid anyone who has never done them before; there is a certain style that all headshots should follow. Your headshot should be an 8x10 black and white glossy photograph. It can have your name on the border but it doesn't have to. Photography by Greg Drew (302) 529-9043 does a good job on headshots. The base price is $150. This gets you one headshot. It may seem like a lot of money for one picture but Greg lets you have the copyright. That means you can get copies made anywhere you want to without paying for the right to make them. One place you can get copies made is thru DPI in Philly. There are a lot of other companies who do it, so look around.In Philly you can go to Paul Sirochman Photography. $250.00-$300.00 (215) 629-1119 or and if anyone in the tri-state area is in need of headshots, contact Dan Oleski Call (215) 887-3336 Your resume should be neat and to the point. Make sure you list all of the classes and workshops you've taken.
Do not buy your headshots thru a talent agency. This is an old trick.
When you have your headshots, resume and a couple of classes under your belt, it's time to make the rounds in Philly. You need to go to the open call at the three Philadelphia casting agencies. They are: Mike Lemon Casting, Philadelphia Casting and Wickline Casting.Mike Lemon Casting New Open Call Procedure: In an effort to streamline their procedure, and ensure a more pleasant environment for meeting new talent, effective May 1, 2002, Mike Lemon Casting will be changing their open call procedure. The open call will remain the first Wednesday of each month from 2-4 PM. But, you must first call in to reserve an audition spot. Talent will be seen in the order of arrival between 2-4 PM. Open call is now limited to the first 150 actors who call in to reserve. Contact Information Phone 215-627-8927, ext. 120 Website www.mikelemoncasting.com Their mission statement is: We commit to provide our clients with the best talent in the most effective way, to pursue ever-higher standards of performance for the talent and ourselves, to promote true synergy and to create the best possible process and product.
Wickline Casting
Wickline Casting holds her open call Wednesdays; call (215) 739-9952 to make sure they are holding it.
Whether you specialize in film, industrials, commercials, voice-overs or live functions, you need your message to stand out. When it comes to casting, you need talent who bring your message to life, who deliver it with believability and who make it lasting and memorable. As the leading casting company in Philadelphia, we cast everything - local/national/regional commercials, major motion pictures, independent films, training/industrial films, voice-overs, speakers for corporate events, and more.Philadelphia Casting holds its Open Calls on Friday afternoons from 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM for professional, working actors. This is an opportunity for us to meet new talent. We do expect you to be a trained actor, familiar with the process of reading commercial copy in front of a camera. Please bring 3 to 5 copies of your picture with resume attached. If you are not familiar with the audition process and are not a trained actor or if you do not have a picture and resume, please do not see us at this time. Call our Actor's Hotline, 215-592-7577, on Thursdays to make sure we are having Open Call on a particular Friday. Philadelphia Casting
Pro Models is a casting agency in Allentown, PA. It wouldn't hurt to send a headshot and resume to them because they do the casting for 2 cable TV shows shot in Allentown; Forensic Files and Medical Detectives, and are always loking for people who look like the people from actual events. The pay for the TV shows is not bad. It's a good chance for you to get a priciple role in a national TV program.
Pro Model & Casting Agency
1244 Hamilton Street
Allentown, PA 18102
610.820.5359 - P
610.434.0900 - F
[email protected]
When you go to audition, you will be asked to read some commercial copy. Here is an example:
MORE BAD NEWS FOR THE COMPETITION. ITS TRUCK MONTH AT YOUR QUALITY PLUS FORD DEALER. DURING TRUCK MONTH, LEASE A FULLY LOADED RANGER XLT FOR THE UNBELIEVABLE PRICE OF $199 A MONTH FOR 24 MONTHS. OR SAVE OVER $1700 ON FORD F150 WITH AN OPTION PACKAGE THAT INCLUDES AIR CONDITIONING AT NO EXTRA CHARGE. ALSO SAVE ON WINDSTAR, EVEN FORD EXPLORER. SEE YOUR QUALITY PLUS FORD DEALER TODAY DURING TRUCK MONTH. BUT HURRY 'CAUSE IT ENDS SOON.After you have been listed with all three casting agencies, you have to decide on a talent agency or a manager. Agents
There's some "agents" in the industry that take 20% commission for non-union and some that take 10% which is considered more reputable. As a matter of fact, SAG dictates that union franchised agents are only allowed to take 10% union OR non-union. Unfortunately not all union franchised agents abide by this rule as the union dictates. Some advice from Todd Holtsberry:
What actors, or aspiring actors, can do is call the SAG office in Philly (215-227-8464) and request a list of union franchised agents in Philly, they will mail this to you at no charge. Then you call the agents and tell them you are an actor seeking representation and would like to schedule an appointment to meet with them. Some will schedule that appointment and others will say send in a headshot and resume and they will call you if they need your type.
I've found that the best agent is one that you are comfortable with & who you feel represents you as you would like them to.
Bottom line is...does the agent satisfy your needs as an actor seeking representation.
They hold an open audition on Friday afternoons. call first to make sure they are seeing people. Contact Rodney Robb or Dale Carey @ 257 N Third St. Philadelphia PA 19106 (215) 925-7060. Friends of mine use Reinhard here is the info for them:
REINHARD REINHARD is a full service agency representing models and actors for fashion and commercial print, runway and informal work, commercial, film and television. We represent children through senior adults. In addition to
models and actors, we also represent hair and makeup artists and stylists.Female Fashion Models (Runway/Print divisions) have a height requirement of 5'8" to 5'11". Clothing size is normally 4/6 or 6/8. Plus size models may be 14/16 or 16/18.
Male Fashion Models should be 6' to 6'2" and normally wear a 40R/L to 42R blazer.
If you meet these requirements, we do have an Open Call (i.e. no appointment necessary) every Wednesday morning from 10:00am until 10:45am.
Women should wear a skirt and high heeled shoes. Men and women should bring non-returnable photographs to the office with them. A headshot and full body shot are preferred. These photographs do not need to be of professional
quality. Please write your name and phone number, height/weight, bust-waist-hip measurements and hair and eye color on the reverse side of all photographs.If you are unable to attend our Open Call, please feel free to send us your photographs, statistics and contact information. We will contact you if there is an opening in your category.
Open Call is for Fashion Models only, we do not see children or actors on Wednesday mornings.
Children: We generally represent children ages 5 and older. Please send us a non-returnable photograph. Please write child and guardian names, a contact phone number, the child's date of birth and nationality on the reverse of
all photographs. We will contact you if there is an opening in your child's category.Actors: please send an 8x10 headshot and resume. We will contact you if there is an opening in your category.
Our address is: REINHARD, Inc
2021 Arch Street Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19103website: reinhardagency,com
Tel. 215-567-2000 Fax 215-567-6322
(IF ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO RECOMMEND ANOTHER ONE I WILL GLADLY LIST IT HERE.)
Mike Lemon Casting offered the following advice: (sic) Best advice for actors - be sure that the agency has their license with the state to practice as an employment agency, even better, check to see if it is "franchised" by the unions.
As for managers, that's trickier. Nobody regulates them- anyone can be a manager. Check with other actors, see if the manager truly has the connections they say they have.
I don't know, I could go on for hours about this issue. Actors really gotta do their research, before committing someplace.
