Nancy Bishop Casting - Casting Master Class

On-Camera Master Class:

Focus on Casting

This full day workshop will focus on strategies and methods for the film casting. Actors accepted into this hands-on master class will watch and critique actual video-taped castings, and participate in a mock casting process from actual film scripts.

Each participant will have an opportunity to work one-on-one in front of the camera with Nancy.

Part I. Seminar: Actors are provided with a fact and information sheet about the casting process, which includes a list of “Do’s and Don’ts” and a breakdown of steps and strategies for the actor. Nancy gives a short talk covering topics such as:

Casting as a performance
How to present yourself at a casting
What to wear at a casting
How to prepare for a casting
How to avoid the most commonly made mistakes at castings
How to make positive choices that will get you cast

Actors participate in a discussion, and Q&A session.

Part II. Observation: Students watch actual footage of actors at casting sessions. The selected footage includes castings for Hellboy, Hitler the Rise of Evil, Alien Vs. Predator, and Blade II, and it features actors who got the roles. The class critiques the footage, discussing what makes a successful casting.

Part III. Preparation Exercise: Actors rehearse and present short scenes that focus on making choices.

Part IV. Mock Casting: Actors prepare scenes from actual film and TV scripts, which Nancy provides. Each participant gets one on one coaching with Nancy in front of the camera.

Part V. Final Feedback Session: Actors have the opportunity to see and critique their own work. Nancy and the class give constructive feedback. Although this part of the class seems to make actors the most nervous, it also offers the greatest opportunity for learning. Actors shouldn’t be anxious about their performance since this is the time and the place to make mistakes and learn from them.