| No More Soaps Bars, Please! (What The Soap Operas Are Really Looking For) |
| Written by Jill Sherwin |
| Thursday, 19 October 1995 09:22 |
 Newton advise on extra work, use it to see how the set is run… not to see the casting director. Bothe women strongly discourage the use of such gimmicks. “It’s not necessary,” Dooley emphasizes. “We look at every photo that crosses our desk.” Some other definite no-no’s would be complaining that you are not being given enough attention. Newton does not appreciate calls asking, “What does it take get into your office?” As well, she warns, don’t call saying that you’re friend of the casting director. “Work is work. Friends are people that socialize that confusion begins. Talking with the actors, loosening them up and getting to know them is Newton’s favorite part of the job, she’s had for eight years. Ironically, she recalls watching TV and movies as a child and thinking, “I would hat to be the person casting all those roles!” Tempting the fates. Eh? Dooley’s background was in acting. She earned a college degree with an emphasis in directing, then joined a repertory company. Since she “liked to eat and pay the bills”, though, she decided to go into the production end of the industry, joining the then-fledgling crew of The Bold and The Beautiful. When the producer mentioned that casting needs help, Dooley raised her hand. She hasn’t looked back since joining the show eight and a half years ago. Newton and Dooley, leave the hiring extras up to their assistants and have mixed responses to the value of starting out as an extra on a daytime soap. They agree to the danger of being categorized as a “career extra”, although some people make a living at just that; and they preach the rarity of an extra becoming a contractor player (only one performer on each of their shows achieved the coveted contractor player status). Yet for the novice actor, Newton points out the definite benefits of extra work as a learning situation. “Don’t use it as an opportunity to see the casting director.” That is more irritating than helpful. Dooley adds, “Don’t call ‘just to check in’.” What distinguishes being pushy from being persistent? The best course Dooley advises is to send in 8x10 headshots once a year or when you update your photo or change agents. Headshots are kept on file in their offices for three years, then they are recycled. According to Newton, “Picture postcard are extremely valuable to me. They’re like a telephone call with your face.” Generally, these postcard-size photos are sent out to advise a casting director that an actor is currently performing in a new role and when that will be out in the theaters or on TV. Dooley claims she does keep these postcard accessible and tries to tune in to see the performer’s work. They both appreciate the cost to an actor of mass mailings of head shots, which is why they encourage keeping such mailings to a minimum. Unfortunately, headshots, while valuable for ‘under-fives’ and ‘day players’, are the last consideration for a contract role. A ‘break down service’ is thought to be fastest easiest way to invite people to audition. This wire service would be subscribed to by casting directors and agents alike. Thus when a role is open for 5’4”-5’6”female Moroccan, the agents can immediately submit qualified candidates for consideration, rather than have the casting directors take the time to sort trough thousands of photos and resumes for those characteristics. But if you’re determined to work in daytime as an actor, Dooley jokes, “First see if there’s anything else you can do.” But seriously, she states, “Talent is not enough. You have to sell yourself.” Newton counsels, “Be your own motivator. Continually train. If you think modeling is acting, it’s not.” Dooley, who is currently teaching classes in audition techniques, provides, “Acting for camera is not scene study.” Bothe are looking for a strong theater background as training for the grueling 12 hour average days. Knowledge of film and television is, of course, a plus as well. Finally, they reiterate, keep your practical information, such as phone numbers and agent addresses current and updated when sending out mailings. And please, no more photos on soap bars! |