How did you decide to become an actor?

It was kind of by accident. I was at a party and I stepped outside to get some fresh air. Then I noticed people coming off [these] huge Megabuses or Greyhound buses, and they were all dressed in 60s, 50s attire. I asked one of them, “What are you guys dressed up for?” He told me [it was] background acting for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. I was asking him [questions] like, “Hey, how do you get started?” He told me about a few websites, and from then on I was like, “Oh, this is something I could really see myself doing.”

How did you first discover Casting Networks?

I think that was the first website that [the background actor] told me about. He told me, “Casting Networks is really good. They have a variety [of acting jobs] from commercials to student projects to film.” I was like, “Wow, this sounds like it’s a real official big-time thing. Let me sign up for this.”

Tell me about your experience booking Life & Beth on Casting Networks.

I signed up for the emails from Casting Networks for when new opportunities came up, and I noticed Life & Beth. I see advertising for the show everywhere in NYC. The role was something I was already doing at that time which was “kitchen staff.” They did ask to see if we had the uniform already (black pants and shoes) while they provided the chef shirt and apron. I was just getting off a shift looking at the reference picture knowing that’s exactly what I had on that day.

I submitted [on Monday] and got an email from production with call time on Thursday, so it didn’t take long at all.

Photo courtesy of Ansley Moncoeur.

What was the on-set experience like? How did you end up getting upgraded and getting a SAG voucher out of it?

It was interesting. The role was a restaurant worker. I’ve always been in restaurants doing serving, catering, stuff like that, so it didn’t seem like anything out of the ordinary. I was surprised because only three of us got cast for it.

When they were about to place us on-set, they came to all three of us like we were in a huddle or something and they said, “Okay guys, I need to know who knows how to pour water.” I’m like, “Wait, is this a joke?” All three of us looked so confused and for some reason no one would say, “Yeah, I know how to pour water,” so I did. They said, “All right, cool. You’re going to be the one that pours water for Michael Cera.” So I’m like, “All right, cool. I’m going to get some face time.” That’s all I cared about.

While everything is going on, I’m with the pitcher. I pour the water and then Michael Cera says, “Hi” to me. Naturally, as a human being, I say, “Hi” back. They cut and it was like, “Okay, background, we don’t want you to talk. Sorry about that, it’s just a silent role.” Then here goes Michael like, “Oh, no, I actually want to have a conversation with him. I want to talk to him while he’s pouring the water. I want to make it seem like I knew him from before.” The director was like, “All right, let’s get him a mic. Let’s mic him up.” I’m like, “Oh my goodness. I actually have a speaking line in this.” You get humbled by the smallest things.

Amy Schumer, who also stars on [Life & Beth], was also like, “Yeah, I feel like it should be mutual. It should be like a thing that he just comes [to the restaurant]. And he comes here often, so he should know the waiters that are here.”

Amy Schumer and Michael Cera both agreed, and then all these people [came] with microphones and paperwork that I had to fill out. It’s so much paperwork when you get upgraded.

The whole upgrading itself is going from just sitting in a regular holding [area] and now they have you sitting with the stars. I’m sitting right next to Michael Cera. I’m sitting right next to Amy Schumer and we’re having a regular conversation talking about how [Michael] should try Audible for the first time.

The whole process was like the earth just cracked open. At a certain point, I didn’t know how big of a moment this was until everybody started congratulating me. This is the thing that people actually strive for and luckily enough, through Casting Networks, I was able to get it. I owe the biggest thanks to Casting Networks for this.

Photo courtesy of Ansley Moncoeur.

What would you say can help somebody succeed on Casting Networks?

Persistence, and making sure that you give [casting directors] exactly what they ask for. Casting Networks makes it so easy to upload anything. It’s pretty basic stuff that directors look for, and as long as you can give it to them, you’ll be set. As long as you can fit the requirements that’s asked of you, you’re going to get there.

What are some audition tips that you might be able to share?

Get something with lighting. If you don’t have good natural light, then I would suggest you buy one of those ring lights or go to a well-lit area. Be confident in what you’re doing, because I feel like [casting directors] could pick up on that. And take it seriously. There [are] certain things you can do off-camera to practice, but when you’re sending in something, make sure that you give it all you can. I feel like the [casting] directors would understand that, they will see it, they’ll understand and they’ll definitely take it into consideration.

What are some other successes and high-profile jobs you’ve booked off of Casting Networks?

I did a photo shoot. It was a commercial shoot for Coca-Cola. That was pretty dope, because I didn’t expect it. I mean, first they don’t tell you exactly what you’re going in for. They told me to bring different clothes, and that shoot was amazing. It was a billboard shoot. To have that opportunity to work with so many good people knowing that it just comes from a click of a button…[I wonder] how many opportunities are actually there waiting for people.

Coca-Cola’s one. I got a few more good background acting roles from Casting Networks, and a few commercials. I got some modeling opportunities from there. Casting Networks actually has staffing agencies, so if you want to do catering or serving, they have that as well. That surprised me.

They look for model servers, or model staff. They want to see that you can model or have the look of a model, but are still able to serve cocktails and stuff like that, so that definitely does help. I’ve gotten a few [jobs] from there too, thanks [to] Casting Networks.

Casting directors use Casting Networks every day to discover people like you. Sign up or log in today to get one step closer to your next role.

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The post Success Story: How Ansley Moncoeur’s Interaction With Michael Cera Led to an Upgrade and SAG Voucher on the Set of ‘Life & Beth’ first appeared on Casting Networks.

The post Success Story: How Ansley Moncoeur’s Interaction With Michael Cera Led to an Upgrade and SAG Voucher on the Set of ‘Life & Beth’ appeared first on Casting Networks.

He uses Casting Networks regularly, and is taking full advantage of our Role Tracker feature, which lets Premium members know exactly where their submissions stand in the process while helping performers gain insights to help shape and refine their submission strategies.

Pollak took time to share submission strategies for Casting Networks while giving us nuggets of wisdom for how he’s been able to sustain a 20-year acting career.

How did you decide to become an actor?

I liked attention, I guess. I know that sounds crazy, but I remember going back to the kindergarten graduation recital. Some kids were the A, the B, the C, the D, and I was the Z. I remember hearing the “Awwww” from the kindergarten graduation audience when I said “Z is for…ZHAT’S ALL!”

It was definitely the beginning of me knowing how to get a laugh, which of course was further cultivated and reinforced with seeing Joan Rivers at the makeup counter with Miss Piggy in The Muppets Take Manhattan. I never stopped talking in class, and was oftentimes in trouble, because I was usually trying to amuse and entertain my classmates rather than paying attention.

How did you first discover Casting Networks?

Oh, gosh, when I first got to LA in 2006. I was living at my parents in the New York City suburbs a couple of years after college, and then moved to California. Of course, I was very lucky. I got a very strong commercial agent and manager very quickly. They were like, “Oh, [sign up with] Casting Networks.” So, I just set it up.

What successes have you found on Casting Networks?

This is a good one. It was over the holidays several years ago, maybe five years ago. I submitted myself for Honda. It was one of the worst auditions I think I’d ever had in my life. They were seeing 17 roles in four different spots. You had to be there at a certain time and they kept you waiting anyway. I walked out of there thinking, “That was awful.” I got the callback and I had it sent to my agent. He said, “If you get this, I’m not taking a commission, because I didn’t submit you.”

I got the job and it was cut into, I think, four spots. Scale-and-a-half because it was English and Spanish. It only aired for maybe a month. The conflict was one 13-week cycle, but that was pretty honorable of him [my agent].

Photo courtesy of Stephen Pollak.

What do you find about Casting Networks to be the most helpful?

It used to be a little dicier to try to change pictures. If you wanted to update, you’d have to go down to 200 South La Brea and bring the disk or the hard copy. I don’t remember exactly when it shifted, but just the ability to upload photos, willy nilly, so to speak, whenever you feel like it or delete some, add some [is great]. Now, of course, you could take a selfie. You can send that and submit that and it’s amazing. It eliminates a lot of the legwork. I love that.

My other favorite feature about Casting Networks is the ability to upload auditions anytime from anywhere. While I still really do miss many aspects of the in-person casting experience, the ease of being able to self-produce at home is incalculably beneficial.

I also love Role Tracker because you really are able to track which pictures might be working for certain roles. I love this new feature where when you submit, it’s gray. If it’s been selected, it’s yellow. Then if you’ve been under consideration, you’re green. You can see, “Oh, that picture isn’t really getting selected. Let me try this one,” and then it gets selected. That doesn’t mean you got the job or even got the audition, but somebody clicked it because it popped. I know that’s fairly new, but I think it’s a great feature.

Do you have any tips or advice for other members on how they can get the most out of Role Tracker?

Experiment. I would also say take one extra step and write down which picture you may have submitted for which role, and then go back at a later date. I’m not saying every day in real time or throughout the day in real time, but just keep tabs on what may or may not be working.

What’s the benefit of submitting yourself to projects when you also have a talent rep submitting you for projects as well?

For me, it makes me feel proactive. I like to feel I’m in control of my own destiny [without] leaving it to someone else to take care of it, when you may be competing within the agency for the slots. Your agent may not have as strong of a relationship with that casting director as you do.

Because I’ve been here so long, I have some casting directors that I can reach out to directly that will send me the appointment without even having my agent submit me. It just creates relationships. I mean, there’s many talent reps, agents and managers, there’s many casting directors and everybody can’t be best friends with everybody and not everybody can get called in for everything.

Whatever you can do as an actor to be proactive, which A: is going to make you feel like you’re doing something for yourself each and every day, sometimes multiple times throughout the day, depending on your category and what’s going on casting-wise. And B: it’s going to fill in the gaps where you might fall through the cracks.

Photo courtesy of Stephen Pollak.

What would you say helps somebody succeed on Casting Networks?

I lifted this from an acting teacher I had once upon a time: “Guys, it’s not brain surgery. It’s just acting. Nobody is gonna die.” So have fun and don’t take anything too seriously. Easier said than done, I know. But it works.

As long as it’s on the up-and-up, say yes. Submit to everything. You decide if you’re willing to do paying or non-paying work and what your goal is. [For example,] if your goal is to get tape to build up your theatrical reel, you can focus more on the non-paying, short films, webisodes, etc. If your focus is to get into the union, you might focus on becoming a stand-in on something where they might give you a voucher.

I would say you want to get on-set as much as possible, because nobody learns how to head a mark, in my opinion, in any other place than being on a set. You’ve got to think about what it is you want and you probably want to be on a set.

Once you have all the materials ready, the headshots or the selfies that look like headshots and you’ve filled out your resume, make sure you have Talent Scout® filled out. Whatever you’re looking for, make sure that’s reflected in Talent Scout because [talent agents and managers] are looking.

Realize that this takes time. I’ve been at this for 20 years. You move out here and you think, “Oh, I’m going to be this and this.” Careers have ebbs and flows. Maybe one day you’re the principal on some big campaign, and then six months later or the following year, you’re trying to get a day of background just to make your insurance or your pension credit. It’s okay.

You’re not more of a success because of one, or less of a success because of another. We’re here. We’re living the dream. Be grateful for every opportunity you have. Create as many opportunities as you can. Make sure the photos are updated. Track your submissions with a little log, diary kind of thing. See what’s working, see what isn’t and submit away.

And never, ever give up your day job/side hustle—even if and when you have a great year financially as an actor! I’ve been a lifeguard and swim instructor forever, and I don’t ever plan on stopping. It affords me a sense of self-reliance, enriches my life as it is a “service” profession and gives me something to do during off/down/slow times.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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The post Success Story: How Stephen Pollak Uses Role Tracker to A/B Test His Casting Networks Wins first appeared on Casting Networks.

The post Success Story: How Stephen Pollak Uses Role Tracker to A/B Test His Casting Networks Wins appeared first on Casting Networks.

How did you decide to become an actor?

I started acting at the age of nine and got my first commercial. I’m originally from Virginia. The commercial I had booked was an Oscar Mayer commercial, and I was like, “All I got to do is make a sandwich, sing a song and get paid? Mom, this is the job I want for the rest of my life.”

[My Mom] put me in dance, took me out of acting and said, “Nope, you’re going to dance first and then we’ll work our way to it.” I moved to New York as a dancer and injured my knee, and I was like, “What else do I have to fall back on in entertainment?” I said, “Wait a minute, I have acting and print modeling.”

Tell me the story of how you booked Past Lives off of Casting Networks.

[In 2019] I went in, sat down and had an interview with [my agent]. She’s like, “Where do you see yourself in your career? How far are you thinking of going?” I told her, “I want to win a SAG Award, or I want to win an Emmy or an Oscar.” And she’s like, “Okay, let’s just get your face out there now and then we’ll see about getting these other accolades that you’re trying to reach.”

Fast forward to Past Lives. I submitted on Casting Networks online. Me not thinking much of it, I’m just like, “It’s just another gig. Let me submit to it and see what happens.” It was for a featured background role.

I quickly heard back and I was like, “Oh.” They said, “Can you submit a video of you just reacting without saying any words? We just want to see your body language and your facial expressions.” I was like, “Okay, I can do this. I got this in the bag. That’s me.” I submitted that and they’re like, “Great, can you work three days in upstate New York?” I was like, “Oh, this is really happening fast now.” I mean, it was all within a week’s time that everything was happening.

It was all because of Casting Networks putting up that post. I was able to get all this stuff in to get there, and this casting company reached out to me. They were the ones who were like, “Yes, we love your look. We think you’re great for this part.”

They sent it to the director. [The] director wrote back to them [and] said, “Yes, he’s what we’re looking for.” Within two weeks, I was packed up and I drove myself to upstate New York. We filmed for three days. I didn’t think anything of it. They broke it down to me, “This is just a background role, but it’s more of a featured role/principal.”

I said, “Oh, the principal role.” They said, “Well, it’s a background role, but you have a name and you’re in with the principal.” I was like, “Okay.” Again, I think to myself, “It’s just background work. That’s what I’m doing.” I was assigned an assistant. I had hair, makeup, wardrobe. They had everything lined up for me. I just had to just show up and be ready.

Photo courtesy of John-Deric Mitchell.

You mentioned via email that this changed your life. How so?

After we wrapped, everyone from the hair [and makeup] department, they’re like, “Come, come, come. We want to take pictures of you.” I’m like, “I’m just the background.” They’re like, “No, no, no. We remember you from POSE. You were in POSE, but now you’re doing big things.” “Like, I am? I mean, I know I’m doing a feature gig, but okay, I’ll take the picture.” I took the picture and thought nothing of it.

A few days later they’re like, “Oh, the movie’s going to Sundance.” I was like, “Okay, great. That’s wonderful.” Again, not thinking anything of it. Maybe about four months after everything, I heard, “Oh, the movie’s going to Korea and it’s doing great over in Korea. Now the movie’s coming back to the States. It’s going to be in theaters in July.”

I didn’t even get a chance to go see it. It went into theaters [and] the next thing I know it was out of the theaters. I said, “Well, it’s got to stream online somewhere,” and then sure enough it’s going to be on Amazon. Then fans of the film Googled the cast. I started getting all these random people asking to friend request me. I was like, “Who are these people? What’s going on?” And then someone sent me a picture and said, “This is you from Past Lives. You’re in Past Lives. We saw you.”

And I was like, “What? What’s going on?” Then my friends reach out. “John, oh my God, we saw you. We saw you in Past Lives. You’re doing it!” I said, “Okay, let me get this Amazon Prime. Let me look it up.” And I saw the movie and I was just like, “Wow.” It was a beautiful, touching movie.

Next thing I know, the same friends that saw me, they were like, “Are you watching the news right now? The film that you’re in? It’s up for an Oscar.” I was like, “Are you serious?” I looked it up, I said, “That is me. I am there [as a credited feature role]. They actually put me in there.” Fast-forward to where we are now, I am trying to book any and everything that will get me to an Oscar or an Emmy or that SAG Award that’s out there.

What would you say helps somebody succeed on Casting Networks?

Stay consistent. I know it may be a bit tedious. You see the emails come in, you submit, you may not hear back [or] you may not hear back right away. It may take a week, it may take a few days, but you will hear back. You will hear something. Even if they released you, or you’re not the fit that they’re looking for or the director didn’t pick you, continue to keep going and to not give up.

Photo courtesy of John-Deric Mitchell.

Do you have any audition advice that you can share?

Well, yes, I have an audition today. Commit to the role. Read over everything. They tell you in casting to read full details of what they’re looking for. They may give extra, [but] if they don’t ask for extra, do not give extra. Give exactly what’s on that page for them to see. Only give extra when it’s your time to speak about you, to speak about your part of who you are, where you’re from and what you like to do. Other than that, keep it straight to the point.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Did you book a role through Casting Networks? Tell us about it for a chance to be featured in an upcoming article.

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The post Success Story: How John-Deric Mitchell Booked the Oscar-Nominated Film ‘Past Lives’ first appeared on Casting Networks.

The post Success Story: How John-Deric Mitchell Booked the Oscar-Nominated Film ‘Past Lives’ appeared first on Casting Networks.

She took time to share her Casting Networks successes, which include booking an Allergan Botox commercial, as well as an early gig that took her on an unexpected and unforgettable trip.

How did you decide to become an actor?

It was by chance. Years ago, I was in a Jay-Z video. This was like 20, 23 years ago. I was in the Anything video, and I went to the audition for my son. They needed a baby. I showed him and then the people said, “Well, do you want to audition for the mother role?” And I’m like, “No, it’s okay. I’m not prepared, I’m not ready.“ I had a hat on. It looked crazy, and they’re like, “Just do it.” I did, and I got the role.

It was like, “Oh, this is cool. I like this,” but I had kids. I didn’t really get an opportunity to pursue it. Fast-forward years later, I was like, “You know what? Maybe I’ll try my hand at this.” And I went from there.

Tell me about your experience booking the lead in the Allergan Botox commercial. What was the process like between booking and actually getting onto the set?

I saw the casting [call] on Casting Networks and they were asking for someone in their 40s who would like to try Botox, or has tried Botox. I tried Botox for the first time maybe a couple of months before. I was like, “Oh…it’s a story about me.”

It was during the pandemic, so everything was taking long. They would ask me for an audition, I’d submit, then I didn’t hear anything for a while, then we’d communicate through email. It went on for a few months before I was finally officially cast.

Then I went to the fitting [and then on-set]. When I was filming, I didn’t know that for that particular commercial, it was just going to be me. I had my own trailer, hair and makeup. I thought it was going to be all of the different people that I met at the fitting, but it was just me. I was blown away that I was a principal [role] and getting that experience.

What would you say to help someone succeed on Casting Networks?

You have to submit all the time. Don’t take [rejection] personally. Be consistent, be diligent. Update your profile with any skills or anything that you’ve done, and then make your real life shine through because you are a person.

Some people think that they shouldn’t talk about their own personal experience, but those things have gotten me my roles. In my everyday life, I am an investigator, so that was portrayed when I did the Botox commercial. Just recently I was booked for a secret service feature in a Netflix series, so I was able to use my real-life experience to come through and portray this role.

What other success stories do you have, and what other high-profile jobs have you booked from Casting Networks?

I also booked a job in Alaska. I was a brand ambassador selling jewelry, and had I not gotten it through Casting Networks, I’m pretty sure I never would’ve gone to Alaska, let alone [gotten the chance] to work there for a whole month. It was beautiful.

I was in Skagway right by the water and the mountains, and I felt comforted knowing that this is a reputable company hiring people. That’s one of the things that I really like about Casting Networks is that they do submit for a lot of jobs even overseas, but you can feel comfortable and confident knowing that whatever you are submitting to, that’s the actual work that you would be getting.

Photo courtesy of Monique Mack.

Do you have any audition tips and advice that you can share?

Just be yourself. Be authentic. Don’t be what it is you think the casting directors are looking for. They want you. If they call you back, you did something right. Don’t second-guess yourself. Don’t get in your head. Try to just be as natural as possible.

Sometimes it’s about networking. You get on-set and you’re going to meet people, you’re going to go to places. It’s about being in the right place, the right time. Just believe in yourself because if you don’t, who will? Every day [put] one foot in front of the other and continuously give yourself pep talks.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Did you book a role through Casting Networks? Tell us about it for a chance to be featured in an upcoming article.

Casting directors use Casting Networks every day to discover people like you. Sign up or log in today to get one step closer to your next role.

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The post Success Story: How Jay-Z and Casting Networks Ignited and Kept Monique Mack’s Acting Flame Lit for Decades first appeared on Casting Networks.

The post Success Story: How Jay-Z and Casting Networks Ignited and Kept Monique Mack’s Acting Flame Lit for Decades appeared first on Casting Networks.

Cowles took time to share her stories on getting booked in Andy Grammer’s Damn It Feels Good To Be Me music video and working with Lady Gaga in Joker: Folie à Deux—where she got upgraded to a principal role and had a moment with the pop icon.

How did you decide to become an actor?

I did community theater for about four years here in Pasadena, California. One of the directors at the theater said, “You should start doing background.” So I did that right out of high school.

How did you first discover Casting Networks?

That’s actually a great question. I’m guessing it was because of the first agent I had back in 2010. I’m sure they’re the ones that said, “You should get on it.”

Tell me about your experiences booking the Andy Grammer video, Damn It Feels Good To Be Me, as well as going from background to principal in Joker: Folie à Deux. What was the process for each?

I would say for the music video … my agent sent me the audition through Casting Networks and the audition was [for] us to sing to one of his songs, but mouth it. They sent it off to casting, and I think it was like three or four days later [when] I heard back from them.

On the day of set, it was the song we danced to, and it was really fun because there were like 20 of us on-set. Andy Grammer and his wife were on-set in the same video, so they hung out with us and it was like one big happy family.

For the Joker sequel, we got a call from casting, and I think they found us on Casting Networks. They didn’t tell us that half. We got an email that says, “Hey, we have this movie called…” It was under the name Juliet instead of Joker to start with. They’re like, “We have a nine-day filming thing if you guys want to submit. You guys would be playing mental patients in music therapy class, and I think you guys would be great at it and it’s going to be smoke and all that fun stuff.” I wrote back and said, “Yeah, I’m in, but just not a lot of smoke.”

We started out as backgrounds in music therapy class, then the ADs came out on the first day we worked and said, “Change of plans, they’re actually going to record you guys with the earpieces in your ears.” We [got upgraded and] became principals the first day we worked on it. They had us record three different songs—all Judy Garland songs—and Lady Gaga is with us in the same class.

That was awesome. She hung around us the entire time. Then the best part—I think it was the fourth day out of nine days of being principal—I don’t think the director told her to do any of this, but I’m sitting here and she’s sitting there and she gets up, sings her song and we’re all standing and she comes over and hugs and kisses me while she’s singing her song.

She went by the name Stefani instead of Gaga. How she worded it was, “If it was Gaga, no one would pay attention to me and no one would talk to me.” Once she said “My name is Stefani,” everyone was talking to her. She participated in everything. It was just herself.

That’s awesome. What would you say helps someone succeed on Casting Networks?

I would say to be truthful in what you actually look like, and if you have any special abilities, be very truthful about those so you don’t get booked on something that you don’t know how to do. And always be on time to the auditions, even if it’s a self tape, or an in-person.

Photo courtesy of Heather Cowles.

What are some other high-profile jobs that you’ve booked off of Casting Networks?

One was for HomeAway.com. It was a print job back in 2015. That was in-person. I think I was booked the day after the audition—I played Waving Girl. It was those three things on Casting Networks, and two commercials [both for Skittles] on Casting Frontier.

What’s some audition advice you can share?

Show up on time. Don’t be playing on your cell phone if you’re that person. Always listen when you’re in the room when they’re telling you directions, and don’t be scared if you don’t get the script right away. You’re looking at one of the boards they write all the lines on, so don’t be scared at first if you can’t figure all that out.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Did you book a role through Casting Networks? Tell us about it for a chance to be featured in an upcoming article.

Casting directors use Casting Networks every day to discover people like you. Sign up or log in today to get one step closer to your next role.

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The post Success Story: How Heather Cowles Booked an Andy Grammer Music Video and Got Upgraded to a Principal Role on ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ first appeared on Casting Networks.

The post Success Story: How Heather Cowles Booked an Andy Grammer Music Video and Got Upgraded to a Principal Role on ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ appeared first on Casting Networks.

The actor shares stories of getting started as an actor and how he uses Casting Networks to book high-profile gigs.

How did you decide to become an actor?

I’ve been a photographer since I was 18 years old. I was curious to be in front of and behind the camera, but it didn’t happen until 10 years ago when one of the models that I photographed was filming a movie. Back then I had an interesting look—a blue mohawk and tattoos and piercings. He told me, “The director is looking for an extra actor and you have an edgy look.”

So I went to try and the director loved me and he ended up putting me as one of the secondary actors. It was the first movie I did and I fell in love with it. After that, I was hooked. [The film] is called The Endless Possibility of Sky. I was a punk who was homeless and a thief. I was a bad boy.

Photo courtesy of Roberto Ordonez.

How did you first discover Casting Networks?

I’m from Mexico City and became legal when I got married. That’s when I said, “Okay, now I’m done doing freebies, let me do it seriously.” I started Googling and I ran into Casting Networks and I love it. I’ve been doing it for six or seven years.

Tell me about your experience booking Law & Order. What was the process like and what happened when you got on-set?

They were looking for stand-ins and I guess I kind of looked like the guy. It’s funny because when I got there he was a little taller than me and much older. The other stand-ins looked very similar to the actors and I didn’t really look like that actor, but I didn’t care because when I got there it was the very first time I did stand-in.

They said, “We’re going to do the scene with the main actors, so you pay attention. Team One come here.” They did the scene and then we did our scene. As the second team, we had to stand up where the main actor was. I didn’t have to say his lines, but I had to stand up exactly where he was, turn toward the way he was looking and interact with the other actor.

After that, I got [to be a stand-in] a couple more times. You just have to be very alert when they call the second team and be there on time.

What would you say helps someone succeed on Casting Networks?

On every little thing they contact you for, say yes. … If you start doing whatever they send you, they see that you’re reliable. Be committed, never cancel and just be professional. If they want you with short hair and shaved or to bring a couple of looks, bring everything they ask for. They like that.

Photo courtesy of Roberto Ordonez.

What are some other successes and high-profile jobs that you’ve booked on Casting Networks?

I worked many times on Law & Order and they have shown me on TV, especially in SVU. I always get lucky with Law & Order—all of them. Whenever I go do Law & Order, most of the time I get featured. I also worked on Gotham. I love that show.

Since I’ve been doing background for seven years, I have seen actors that I never dreamed of [sharing the same space with]. We cannot speak to them, but to be in the same room with them, I feel honored and I feel that I can learn a lot from them.

A very good job that I got through Casting Networks was a commercial for [news channel] NY1 that I got right before the pandemic with [host] Errol Louis. That was before I was SAG, and they still show the commercial. People come up to me and say “Oh, I saw you on NY1.” That’s pretty cool that I get that.

What was that like?

For those kinds of things, they don’t say much until you get there. It was in the summertime and I wore these shorts. I didn’t even have a change [of clothes] that day. They said, “Oh no, we like that look.” They ended up putting me right next to Errol Louis talking with him while crossing the street, so they show me all the time.

What’s your advice on how to approach an audition?

You know what’s funny? When I’m doing stand-ins near the big stars, I hear them saying, “Just go to that audition like you don’t care.” Go prepare and everything, but don’t try too hard. Just go there like you don’t care.

If you get the part, just be yourself and be relaxed. They like it when you’re yourself. I tend to get very tense and that shows. [When that happens] I say, “Okay, I’m just going to be myself” and that kind of works.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Did you book a role through Casting Networks? Tell us about it for a chance to be featured in an upcoming article.

Casting directors use Casting Networks every day to discover people like you. Sign up or log in today to get one step closer to your next role.

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The post Success Story: How Roberto Ordonez Went From Working Behind the Camera to Booking ‘Law & Order’ on Casting Networks first appeared on Casting Networks.

The post Success Story: How Roberto Ordonez Went From Working Behind the Camera to Booking ‘Law & Order’ on Casting Networks appeared first on Casting Networks.

Brock has relied on Casting Networks for years as her primary casting platform, securing numerous acting opportunities along the way, including collaborations with with major brands such as Snapchat and Disney. Brock kindly offered her time to share her success stories, experiences and valuable audition advice.

How did you decide to become an actor?

I’ve always been the performer of my family. I was the kind of person that was rounding up my cousins to choreograph a dance or perform a skit, and then show our parents at the end when we’re done. The love of creating and of performing followed me into adulthood, too.

How did you first discover Casting Networks?

I discovered Casting Networks because it was the first site that people told me about when I moved to Los Angeles. They said, “Get on Casting Networks and start submitting yourself. You’ll start getting auditions and then you’ll book that way. A lot of agents also use Casting Networks.” This last part is especially true — I’ve had two agents and they both emphasized using Casting Networks.

What were some of your favorite jobs that you’ve ended up booking off of Casting Networks?

That’s really hard to answer because every job I booked was impactful in some way. The first job I booked on Casting Networks was what made me continue with the service. It was a Snapchat campaign.

It was a two-day shoot, [and] I met amazing people that I’m still friends with today. They ended up using one of the pictures on the Bitmoji app store, so I’m the face of Bitmoji because of that gig. Then I was able to get representation from booking that by myself.

Photo courtesy of Mandysa Brock.

The most impactful one was when I was able to bring my mom on. It was for Royal Bank of Canada. I had to speak in English, Parisian french, and Canadian French. They needed a French translator and my mother [who helps me with speaking French and is my dialect coach] was available, so she was able to help out and be on-set. That was really awesome and I got to dance too, which was the first time I did TikTok dancing. Yes, count me in!

Tell me about your experiences with the Volvo commercial and working with Disney. What were the processes like for each?

The experience of being on Volvo was also amazing. I self taped [for the first time] and had never had a callback over Zoom either, so that was interesting to stay in the realm of the computer. When we were brought on-set, they brought us to a beach and told us that we’re just going to be relaxing. We just have to have fun and have a lot of smiles. It’s a commercial, you’re trying to sell a Volvo.

I think the best part about that was that I got to drive the Volvo with a bunch of cameras and gear around me. That was really scary because they told me five minutes before I had to do that. I’m like, “how do you know I can drive, first of all?” That was really fun.

For Disney, that was a group audition. I love group auditions because you get to use your real friends sometimes. Most of the time I use my real friends or some actor friends I met in class. You just vibe with each other during the self tape. Then when we went on-set for Disney, [and] basically it’s the same thing. You’re just friends enjoying time together and they’re just going to shoot pictures around you. It’s pretty fun. It’s really … I don’t want to say simple, because it’s complicated to get there, but it’s really fulfilling to work with your friends and be able to follow your dreams as well.

What would you say helps someone succeed on Casting Networks?

I would definitely say fill out the notes section with a lot of details every time you submit for every job and make it specific to each job, of course. I also uploaded clips for pretty much every skill that I could film, even if I’m a novice, because there’s different levels on Casting Networks sometimes. For a lot of commercials, they don’t need someone to be a pro at something, they just want you to smile and be good at it to some extent.

Have clips on your Casting Networks, fill out the notes section every time you submit and update your profile regularly—and self-submit even if you have representation, because they can miss some things.

Photo courtesy of Mandysa Brock.

What’s the best way to approach an audition, and do you have any audition tips and advice you can share?

When it comes to, for example, a commercial audition, I like to research the company that I’m auditioning for, seeing the past work that they’ve released on YouTube. You can look up Volvo’s previous commercials and you can kind of see the vibes that they are going for. Same thing with film auditions.

I basically do research on the project before I look at what I need to do. I’m kind of a perfectionist, and this might not work for most people, but I like making sure that everything’s pretty much on par and perfect. Especially for commercials—they’re really picky sometimes. With film auditions, I try not to do more than two or three takes because then I get in my head.

I would say as an audition technique, be yourself. I know that’s so cliche, but it is really true. The auditions that I’ve landed where I was literally like, “I didn’t care about my nuances, the little lip twitch that I had, that [thing] I wanted to redo because it’s so embarrassing.” They don’t notice that, they actually like that. It’s a quirk and it’s interesting, because it stands out over the hundreds of auditions they see.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Did you book a role through Casting Networks? Tell us about it for a chance to be featured in an upcoming article.

Casting directors use Casting Networks every day to discover people like you. Sign up or log in today to get one step closer to your next role.

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The post Success Story: How Mandysa Brock’s Casting Networks Discovery Led to Booking Gigs With Volvo, Disney and Snapchat first appeared on Casting Networks.

The post Success Story: How Mandysa Brock’s Casting Networks Discovery Led to Booking Gigs With Volvo, Disney and Snapchat appeared first on Casting Networks.

How did you become a producer?

Well, that starts way back. I’m passionate, and a dedicated filmmaker with a deep commitment [to] bringing inspirational stories to life. I like to do a little bit of everything. That’s carved out a profound journey of personal growth and exploration, and I never thought [it was] possible in my life.

When you look at my book of life, it has many chapters. I developed a love of the movie industry when I saw Star Wars. Who could ever forget that first scene with the Star Destroyer flying over your head? It changed my life and it was so much fun. I wanted to be a part of it.

I moved to LA and I wanted to work in production, specifically as a camera operator, but talent agents encouraged me to work in front of the camera. My journey has always been anchored in production, especially behind the scenes. But for those early years, I was mostly in front of the camera.

Since you’re an actor as well, would you say that experience helps you as a producer?

Oh, extremely. When you’re working as a producer, you work with so much talent, and if you see talent struggling in front of the camera, you’ve been there. We’ve all been there, we’ve all struggled. It’s nice to be able to relate to your talent and maybe put them at ease or say, “Hey, I’ve been there. I know what it’s like. This is what I’ve done.” So having that experience in front of the camera really helps in production.

It’s also easier because as an actor, you know what to look for and you can guide the actors on-set.

Exactly. That happened with one of my very first films that I produced many years ago. It was a short film and we were going through a casting session, and I could really see talent in this one young man. The director didn’t see it at all. He kept reading from his sides and I was encouraging him not to, but he was using it as an anchor.

After the casting session was over, the director gave me the list of those who he wanted to call back and I suggested this one particular actor. He said, “Well, I didn’t like him.” I said, “Just for me, do it for me. I’m going to work with him. Would you please just call him back?” He said, “Yes, absolutely.” So I called this actor and told him, “You’re going to be called back. We would like for you to be totally off-script. You memorize all those lines, you’re going to be awesome.”

During callbacks, he came in, nailed it and he actually landed the lead in this particular film. I think it’s just coming from experience, from working in front of the camera that I’ve been able to help guide that process.


Photo courtesy of Kelli Lessie.

When did you start using Casting Networks?

Let me just start by saying my faith has kept me grounded on what I wanted to do. When you watch uplifting films that motivate you and inspire you and encourage you, that has led me to an inspirational sports film project that I’m working on now. I’m a producer that does everything, and that includes casting. I have produced commercials and films and video content for corporations. Casting Networks has been so beneficial in helping me find talent.

About six years ago, an award-winning direct response marketing company named Waldorf Crawford reached out and offered me some projects. They produced high-resolution before-and-after photos, video testimonials for beauty, health and wellness websites, commercials and major home shopping network presentations.

[For] these projects, I had to immediately turn to Casting Networks where casting large groups of talent was essential. That’s how I started using Casting Networks quite frequently. To this day, these projects have grown, and it’s not unusual for us to cast anywhere from 20 to 30 talent a month from Casting Networks.

What do you enjoy most about the platform?

I love how easy it is. First of all, if you’re talent, you’ve got to start off with a profile. It’s easy to post a job. If I have a project and I need talent, it’s very easy for me to land on Casting Networks and get a posting up within five or 10 minutes. I also appreciate that there is a pass-or-fail process, if I want to call it that. That somebody behind the scenes is checking my content to make sure that everything is how it’s supposed to be. Then they get the casting up. They get the posting up right away. And I have to tell you, within an hour, I have plenty of talent to choose from.

The ease of the process is being able to access your talent, being able to see what they’ve done, their resume, their video content. There’s tons of video content on there. If you’re talent, when you are creating your profile on Casting Networks, you are allowed to put up reels, and you can put up multiple reels so we can see a wide variety of what [you] can do.

When I’m ready to book talent, I use Casting Networks to reach out to them. It’s been a very easy process to use Casting Networks. I enjoy it because of the results and the quality of talent that I get.

Photo courtesy of Kelli Lessie.

Tell me about some of the bigger projects that you’ve produced that you’ve used Casting Networks for.

I did a feature film a few years ago where I did access Casting Networks for talent. It was specific talent because this was a Persian film, and you’re able to really specify and categorize what kind of talent you need. I was very successful in finding the talent that I needed using Casting Networks with the variety of filters that Casting Networks provides for us to use.

There was one day where we needed 50 extras. Not only did we need 50 background [actors], but we also needed [them] to look Persian. So, add a triple challenge to that one. It worked quite well. I’m telling you, Casting Networks always comes through for me. They really do.

What advice would you give to an actor to succeed on Casting Networks?

Casting Networks has created a huge innovative online platform for talent, casting directors and industry professionals. It’s so easy to submit your profile to include self tapes and selfies, which eliminates in many cases the need for in-person auditions, which has happened. We’ll book right off Casting Networks without even having auditions, so that’s how the talent platform has worked so well.

Now, so much of the casting is based on profiles, and having a compelling online presence can make a huge difference in getting you noticed and bringing in more auditions, or in our case, booking more jobs. Number one is your profile photo. The first thing we see is your profile photo. I suggest getting professional headshots, but I’ll also suggest having a selfie in your media—having a no-makeup face selfie. I feel it’s important to have both of those on your profile.

Another thing is the section where you can have your profile summary or the “About You” section. You have this short little paragraph. That’s really important because that’s where you can show who you are. I read those. I wish everybody would put something about [themselves] that would really show me who they are. I love that. You can [also] upload reels, and can have more than one reel, which we take advantage of.

Also, you need to create a website with your URL and make sure that your name is on that, and make sure that you look for emails or messages from Casting Networks. There is a small percentage of talent who have lost a booking because they haven’t looked at their emails.

There’s [also] a section in there [called Talent Scout] where you can opt to have agents find you. That is amazing. If you’re a brand-new talent and you’re seeking to get started in this industry, Casting Networks provides this option for agents to take a look at your profile if they’re looking for new talent.

Photo courtesy of Kelli Lessie.

What advice do you have for someone interested in casting or creating a project through Casting Networks? What should they do if they want their project to succeed?

Be as detailed and clear as possible. Make sure you fill out every little box that’s there in Casting Networks when you’re creating a posting. You don’t want to book a talent, and then [the] talent comes back and says, “Well, I didn’t know that you were including A, B and C.” [You] just have to be very clear on your projects.

Casting Networks provides amazing training tools for those who are posting content. I highly advise people to go in and use these training videos to learn the best way to get the most out of your casting.

Honestly, Casting Networks has been the best online source for talent. The tools and services that Casting Networks offers have made our job easier.

Requesting media is also a game changer for us. Asking actors for a video clip helps showcase their talent, acting abilities and on-screen presence.

Casting Networks has played a huge role when searching for the right actor that fits the criteria of our project. Filtering by location, gender, union status and age helps us find those talent who best fit the role.

Have you created or been booked on an awesome project on Casting Networks? Share your success story with us today! Your response could become featured in a future article.

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The post How Producer Kelli Lessie Uses Casting Networks to Fuel Her Projects first appeared on Casting Networks.

The post How Producer Kelli Lessie Uses Casting Networks to Fuel Her Projects appeared first on Casting Networks.

]]> https://www.castingnetworks.com/news/how-producer-kelli-lessie-uses-casting-networks-to-fuel-her-projects/feed/ 0 https://www.castingnetworks.com/news/success-story-how-mark-willis-turned-vivid-visions-into-reality-by-booking-black-panther-on-casting-networks/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=success-story-how-mark-willis-turned-vivid-visions-into-reality-by-booking-black-panther-on-casting-networks Tue, 16 Jan 2024 15:08:01 +0000 https://www.castingnetworks.com/?post_type=news&p=130679 In Arnold Schwarzenegger’s book Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life, he talks about visualizing your goals clearly to manifest… Read More

The post Success Story: How Mark Willis Turned Vivid Visions into Reality By Booking ‘Black Panther’ On Casting Networks first appeared on Casting Networks.

The post Success Story: How Mark Willis Turned Vivid Visions into Reality By Booking ‘Black Panther’ On Casting Networks appeared first on Casting Networks.

]]> In Arnold Schwarzenegger’s book Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life, he talks about visualizing your goals clearly to manifest them into reality. Whether intentional or on purpose, Mark Willis did just that, landing a role as a Jabari warrior in Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther.

After hearing about the film from his fellow actors, Willis began researching the Marvel character and never stopped thinking about reaching Wakanda. Eventually, the SAG Award-winning Jabari tribe found him on Casting Networks under the guise of a project codenamed Motherland.

Here, Willis shares the uncanny story about how he booked Black Panther, becoming a man on the move in the process.

You played D-1 football at University of Wyoming, how did you fall into acting?

It’s funny, because I just never thought about acting before college or anything. Really, the only thing that was semi-acting was I used to make little Facebook videos for my friends in college and high school and have them laughing. And they’d always be like, “You should go do standup or be an actor or something.” I just never really thought about it because everything before that [it] was just straight sports and that was it.

I went to the University of Wyoming and played ball. Two knee surgeries later, I fell out of love with football and decided this is the end. I didn’t even try to go to the NFL or anything. I just decided to graduate and started a new journey.

When I got home, there was this time where I’m like, “I don’t know what I want to do next. All I know now is that I have two bad knees and a communications degree.” I didn’t know what was the next step.

My aunt was reading a newspaper and she sees this ad about Star Wars going to different major cities and they would audition people at an open casting call situation. She was like, “You know what? You’re kind of weird, you’re kind of a character. You should go and try this.”

I’m like, “I’ve never thought about acting before, ever. But you know what? I’m going to go and give this a shot.” I go to downtown Chicago, and when I get down there, there’s a line that’s wrapped around several blocks. When I get close to the entrance, I see people starting to come out from the building and they’re handing out pieces of paper to everyone in line. When it gets to where I am, I hear what they’re saying and they’re like, “I’m sorry, guys, but the line is now cut off.”

I’m freaking out because I’m like, “I just stood out here for hours and got rained on for no reason.” And they’re like, “It’s okay because if you go on these websites here, any one of these, we have a way for you to submit an online audition. It’s pretty much the same thing as if you were to have gone in there and done the audition in person. You can just do an online version of it.”

Which, besides actually just going in there and nailing the role, was probably the best thing that could have happened, because that was actually the first time that I saw Casting Networks. Now, many, many years later, we’re still here. We’re still doing this. So, it’s been a journey for sure.

Photo courtesy of Mark Willis.

Tell me the story of how you booked Black Panther. What was that process like?

That was definitely my best story. Long story.

Back in 2016 or so was when the movie got announced, and all my Black actor friends were like, “Oh, my God. I have to be in this movie.” At the time, I didn’t know that much about the character minus the few [Marvel] movies that had been put out at that point.

I go and look up the character and look up the backstory and everything. They started to announce more and more cast members, and I’m like, “I definitely have to be in this movie.” Shortly after that, I started having a lot of dreams and visions about being on set, and I’m like, “Okay, this must be going to happen. These visions are just so vivid, it has to happen.”

Then a full year goes by and I’m on Casting Networks. It gets to one project there, it’s called Motherland. For this casting, it says that they want someone who was Black, tall, muscular, handsome and athletic. I figured that I was at least one of those things. So, I submit to it.

The next day I go to Dallas because I have booked another project from Casting Networks, a Pepsi commercial. It was at the Cowboys Stadium, it was to play a Dallas Cowboy. It was a national commercial, it had Dak Prescott in it, Jerry Jones was there, Dion Sanders was there, Rob Corddry from Hot Tub Time Machine.

It was such a big deal that we couldn’t bring our phones out with us on set because they didn’t want any leaks or anything like that. We were out there until 2:00 AM the next day.

When I get back to my phone, I see that I have a text from some Georgia number, and the text said, “This is the casting director from Motherland. We saw your submission. We like you, but we need more information on you and we need this information in the next 30 minutes.”

That text was sent at 5:00 PM the previous day while I was working [on set], and it’s now 2:00 AM the next day.

The next day I fly back to Chicago, [and] I get a text from a totally different Georgia number. This time it says, “This is the casting director again from Motherland, AKA Black Panther.” I’m like, “What? No way.” I totally don’t believe it. I’m thinking “How? They were casting a year ago. They had to be done filming by now.”

They texted me back and they’re like, “You are confirmed for the audition tomorrow. It’s at 10:00 AM. Please bring your athletic gear. Please be on time. And this is the address right here.” I’m so excited. I’m like, “Yes, I get to go audition for Black Panther.”

Then, I look at the address and I notice that it’s in Atlanta. It’s now probably 6:00 PM, I’m in Chicago, and I’m like, “Crap, I got to get to Atlanta as soon as possible.” The only thing that worked was a 9:00 AM flight and it had one seat left. I’m like, “Okay, this must be it.”

I get into the building, and now they’ve already started doing auditions and everything. They’re teaching everybody the first fight sequence from the film. They’re like, “Somebody else is here.” One of the stunt coordinators comes over and he’s teaching me some of the things that I had missed because I was kind of late.

I rejoined the rest of the group and we learned the whole sequence. At the end, we had to pair up and do it in front of everybody. That was the judging, grading, audition part of it. After that, we’re done. That was probably about maybe 30 minutes in total.

[Later,] I get a call from some number I don’t recognize, and I’m like, “I’ll just let that go to voicemail.” And the voicemail pops up and it said, “This is the casting director from Black Panther. Call me back as soon as possible.” I’ve never hit redial faster in my life.

He’s like, “We loved your audition. We loved everything about you. We’d love to hire you.” And I’m like, “Yes, when am I needed?” And he said, “Tomorrow at 9:00 AM.” I’m just like, “No, I’m in New York right now [for an Apple commercial].”

This time there’s no flights that work. Everything the next day would take me past where I needed to be there.

I call one of my aunts who I talked to about everything and tell her my situation. And she’s like, “Boy, if you don’t get off this phone and get to Atlanta right now… Try it again. It’s going to work,” and hangs up on me. Now, there’s one flight, one seat that night that worked at 9:00 PM. I’m like, “This must be it.”

Then, I take off running because I have to go. It’s like 5 PM. I’ve got to go.

While I was on the flight there, my mom had contacted one of my cousins and told her my situation. She’s like, “Oh, yeah. He can stay here.” So I go to my cousin’s house. I go to the bedroom where I’m going to be staying in, and I’m just thinking like, “I made it. I’m here after all of that.”

It was perfect because with the Apple job, they told me to bring wardrobe options, so I brought a ton of my clothes. It just worked out perfectly.

That’s amazing. What was it like being on set and what did they have you doing?

It was so amazing being on set. First, when I got there, we had to go through a fitting for everything. I got to put on the Jabari warrior outfit for the first time and try that on. I was playing a Jabari warrior.

We had to go and get haircuts. I was one of the few people who actually had a bunch of hair at the time.

They give me a normal kind of fade cut to begin with, then they send me off to set. Set was like, 30 minutes away in the middle of the woods.

I get there and one of the stunt coordinators looks at me and he’s like, “You look so much like Winston Duke [who plays M’Baku] with that haircut. People might get confused, so we need you to go and change it.” So, I had to drive 30 minutes back to get a new haircut. This time they had this zigzag design in my hair on both sides.

I do that and then go back to the set. By then, they’ve already started learning all the stunts for the movie. I’m behind in everything. There were five fight sequences in total that we had to learn. That first day, they taught us everything. Since I was behind, I had to hurry up and try to learn everything that I missed.

Each fight sequence has about five different parts to it. Some of them are similar, so it’s very easy to do number one — and it’s similar to number three — and you get confused. At the end of the day, they did this contest to help us learn, and they were like, “If you make it through all five parts, then you can make everybody else do pushups. But if you mess up, then you have to do 50 pushups.”

We did a lot of pushups because none of us were getting it right.

So they were like, “All right. That first day was kind of terrible, you guys, but you can take the karate sticks home with you and practice at your house.” I take the karate stick home with me and go to my cousin’s house. I wait until it’s in the middle of the night and I’m out there in my cousin’s front yard, and I’m just training all night, just doing so many stick workouts.

The next day, we come back and learn everything else. They’re like, “Okay. We’re going to do that same contest again.” Me and my partner get through it and we make everyone else do pushups. It was so much fun learning all the fight sequences and being a part of the Jabari warrior tribe. It was an amazing experience for sure.

Photo courtesy of Mark Willis.

You basically went from Casting Networks to a SAG Award. How did you feel in that moment of knowing you had just won the SAG Award for Best Stunt Ensemble and what’s it like to reflect on that moment?

It was just so wild. I had no idea what I was submitting for on Casting Networks to begin with. And then, that turns into me eventually being a part of one of the biggest, highest-grossing movies ever. A movie that is so impactful for many people, especially minorities. I’m just like, “I’m part of something that’s huge, massive and has so much importance.”

Later on we find out that we won the SAG Award, and everything was so perfect. This is definitely a testimony that I can inspire others with. I realized that this story wasn’t just for me, it’s for others to be inspired by. I can’t believe it even to this day.

I remember going to the theater to see Black Panther on opening night in New York City. This was more than a movie. You went to an event.

It was an amazing experience. I had no idea it was going to be like that. I’m just so happy to be a part of something that meant so much to so many people.

Photo courtesy of Mark Willis.

What would you say helps someone succeed on Casting Networks?

I would say what helps them succeed is, of course, having a complete profile. List your special skills. If you could play basketball, if you were a former football player, if you have some musical skill, put that on there too.

Then, I would say get on the emails. When they come in, be sure to jump on those as soon as possible because you don’t realize how many people are submitting to that same role. Be consistent with submitting to roles.

Don’t be afraid to branch out to other markets and get your name out there. They’ll keep you in mind for something else, and you’ll definitely be successful that way.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Casting directors use Casting Networks every day to discover people like you. Sign up or log in today to get one step closer to your next role.

Did you book a role through Casting Networks? Tell us about it for a chance to be featured in an upcoming article.

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The post Success Story: How Mark Willis Turned Vivid Visions into Reality By Booking ‘Black Panther’ On Casting Networks first appeared on Casting Networks.

The post Success Story: How Mark Willis Turned Vivid Visions into Reality By Booking ‘Black Panther’ On Casting Networks appeared first on Casting Networks.

]]> https://www.castingnetworks.com/news/success-story-how-lori-young-blended-fitness-and-modeling-to-create-the-picture-perfect-career/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=success-story-how-lori-young-blended-fitness-and-modeling-to-create-the-picture-perfect-career Wed, 15 Nov 2023 17:24:47 +0000 https://www.castingnetworks.com/?post_type=news&p=129662 Lori Young has always been drawn to acting, modeling and fitness—three things that she’s managed to combine when building… Read More

The post Success Story: How Lori Young Blended Fitness and Modeling to Create the ‘Picture Perfect’ Acting Career first appeared on Casting Networks.

The post Success Story: How Lori Young Blended Fitness and Modeling to Create the ‘Picture Perfect’ Acting Career appeared first on Casting Networks.

]]> Lori Young has always been drawn to acting, modeling and fitness—three things that she’s managed to combine when building her dream career. Always keeping a positive attitude, the Iowa native-turned Arizonian opened up about her journey, including an incredible commercial where she got on the driving range with several golf pros.

How did you first discover Casting Networks?

Well, as soon as I signed with Signature Models & Talent [about two years now], we were told to get on Casting Networks right away. I was so nervous because I didn’t know what I was doing, and so I set up my profile. I’m like, “Wait a second. They made this pretty easy.” So for a new actress, I felt like it was really pretty user-friendly.

What are some of the jobs that you’ve booked from Casting Networks?

I think the Grant Thornton [commercial] was through Casting Networks. And that was when I was on-set with Nelly Korda and Tony Finau, and even Rickie Fowler. I’m a golfer, so I loved to be golfing outside with athletes. That was so fun for me.

I was a background [actor], so I was on the driving range the whole time. And it was funny because there were many people that couldn’t really golf. That’s not something that they did all the time, but they were cast as golfers. And I would hit every time and [one of the golfers was] like, “Okay, we’re going to be using you. You are consistent. You know what you’re doing.”

So, it was nice to be out there and it was a two- or three-day shoot. It was just so fun to be out there in golf clothes at a beautiful driving range and getting paid.

How did you decide to become an actor?

It’s been a long time coming, actually. When I graduated from high school, my dad took me to a modeling and acting school because I always wanted to do that, but I just love that my parents were willing to do that for me. Some would be like, “No, we’re not going to entertain that idea.” But they did.

I was in Minneapolis at John Casablancas, a modeling and acting school, and I really got out of my shell there. I built confidence, I did improv and I felt more comfortable. I learned to push myself out of my comfort zone there.

Then, I went to college [in Arizona]. I came out there to golf every year since I was a freshman in high school, and I [decided I] wanted to live in Arizona. I always came out at the perfect time of year—spring break. It was gorgeous.

In college I was in two plays, plus I focused on softball. I continued to do promotional modeling, and was always trying to network with photographers, do time for print.

I had done [modeling] for a long time, but I’d never had an agent. Then I got married [and] got divorced. I had to work on healing first and foremost. And I think a huge, huge part of it is I did some fitness modeling, like competitions.

So I don’t know if you’re familiar with bikini competitions, but you have to eat a certain way. You have to exercise with a personal trainer who knows the competition prep, and I did that. I got on stage and I was in this teeny tiny blinged-out bikini, and I just was so proud of myself for getting back there, doing something like that.

And then from there, I was more confident modeling and I was finally ready to say, “I want to act again.” It just feels so good to have gotten back to this point where I can say I’m an actress.

And eventually, you ended up leaving the corporate world to just pursue your goals, and it looks like you’re just totally succeeding on this end.

I’d been in admissions for an online college, and I had helped people to enroll online. I felt that I was making a difference, and maybe if they didn’t talk to me, then they wouldn’t have gone to school to better their lives.

So for me, it was about helping people. That’s what kept me in my position for so long. And I’m talking 11 years. I grew with the company and it was okay going to work, but then when COVID happened, we were told that we could work from home. While inside, I was like, “Okay, well, I’ll be home. I can fold the clothes, I can do some dishes. I can make eggs for breakfast.” I pictured vacuuming, having lines in the carpet. I pictured it all, and I just thought in between calls or something, I would be able to contribute more at home.

But I was so tied to that computer, it was like ding, ding, ding. And I didn’t realize it until I was home. And then, yes, it was awful. I felt like a prisoner, honestly. And I felt like, “I cannot do this.”

So then I’m like, “Well, what do I do?” I can’t just quit work. And so I was like, “You know what? I’m going to get an agent.” And I had been modeling. I had been in print publications, I had a cover, I’d been doing the work, but I didn’t have an agent ever. So I was just like, “Okay, I’m ready. I’m confident enough, I’m doing it. I know I could work in this environment.”

I got an agent and I met Angie Seger of Signature Models & Talent, and I feel like I struck gold with her. The team has been nothing short of amazing. They are quick to respond, they’re quick to answer questions. They’ve just been there from day one supporting me.

You had a role in the short student film Picture Perfect, which is about the nerves and second-guessing that actors and models sometimes go through during auditions. I wanted to know if you could speak to that. How can actors manage their nerves when in that situation?

Oh, 100%. So I’ve learned that you cannot take things personally. You just have to give your best and then let it go. That’s it.

If you show up and you did your best or you submitted a self tape that you’re proud of, that’s it. And it’s easier said than done, because in acting you don’t get a lot of validation. You don’t at all. It’s like, “I submitted for this. I’ve heard nothing, but I guess I just didn’t get it.” That’s how it goes.

I think that you have to just stay in your own lane and be like, “This is what I can control right here,” and kind of put blinders on and let everyone else fade to the background. That’s the best thing you can do.

And let it go. I think so many people try to hold on to their auditions and let it carry into the next one. And I don’t. [With each one], I’m like, “Oh, a new audition!” I’m so lucky to be doing this. I’m so lucky to get these auditions and get the chance to do that for my job. It’s so cool. It’s awesome.

The other part of Picture Perfect that I noticed was that the lead, Piper, even though she’s super nervous and a little klutzy, she’s very authentic. How important is authenticity?

I’m not an overthinker, so I guess I’m not looking for perfection in my auditions. I record it maybe two times and I’m like, “Oh, well that’s that.” And it just feels good to send it off.

Don’t overthink it [and] don’t redo it until it’s perfect. I don’t think that’s what people are looking for.

I have to agree with you there, too, because it’s those little human quirks that do it, even if it’s something that maybe wasn’t even a conscious choice.

That makes you stand out. So, you just never know what they’re looking for and it’s okay. We don’t have to dissect what they’re looking for. We just have to be like, “Okay, I completed that.” Look at the breakdown because it is all there for you. A lot of times it is so crystal clear what they’re looking [for].

[For example], the one I’m supposed to do today [is] full body, walk toward a camera, walk away and there’s a jump. You just have to make sure you get that all in and you submit it as they ask, and that’s half of it. They’re like, “Okay, she can follow directions. She listens. She’s trying to do exactly what we said.”

Then I’m a contender as long as I can act and be what they want, or they could see me fulfilling that vision. That’s really what it is. It’s their vision coming to life and I get to be a part of it, and that is so freaking exciting.

What’s the best way to approach an audition?

I came in when self tapes were just coming out. I quit my job in quarantine, so self tapes were not appreciated by a lot of people, but man, I like it. I appreciate it very much because you can literally set up anywhere, and as long as you have good lighting next to a window.

But in person, it is a lot of fun. I love to be on-set. So if you’re ever in person, sometimes they give you [part of the] script to practice. At least I’ve had that in auditions. And take your time, take a step outside. Give yourself that minute to just absorb what you’re supposed to do, kind of breathe, get your breathing, relax.

Another thing I do on my way to auditions, especially in person, is I listen to a meditation. It’s on receiving. It’s called, It’s Your Time. It puts me in such a good head space to go into that audition. That’s another thing I do. Maybe run in the morning. Something where you just are in a routine and you’re going to just go do this and do it well.

What would you say helps someone succeed on Casting Networks?

Well, first of all, I’ll start by keeping it up to date. You get a booking—that needs to be one of the first things you do, is go in and update your resume. You learn a new skill, you go in and update your resume. That needs to be so up to date. It should be you on paper.

I learned that you can actually make clips. You can make clips of you doing something and add it to your skills. Or have it at the top of your Casting Networks profile above the fold. That’s the verbiage of it. So it’s right on top.

And that’s something I’m going to do for sure. I added a demo, a demo reel, which I’m very proud of. Well, I’m working on adding it. But I’ve got it. Another thing is the skill set. I could do a clip of paddleboarding. I could do a clip of golfing. I could do a clip of softball, throwing the ball, batting. I mean, whatever it may be. That’s your place to show how valuable and versatile you are.

So I think if you use it right, Casting Networks really, really helps. Plus, they’re constantly sending, if you keep that up to date, they’re constantly sending things. Like, “Did you see this? You might be right for this role.” Well, that’s awesome, right? I might be right for this role. I’ll go check it out and see if I’m right for it or if it’s a good fit for me.

But to have someone go, “Okay, based on everything that you’re telling us here, we feel like this is right for you.” That’s wonderful. So I think it’s like how well you use it. It can be just a tool that you let lay there or you can actually let it help your whole career.

This interview has been edited for clarity and condensed.

Casting directors use Casting Networks every day to discover people like you. Sign up or log in today to get one step closer to your next role.

Did you book a role through Casting Networks? Tell us about it for a chance to be featured in an upcoming article.

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The post Success Story: How Lori Young Blended Fitness and Modeling to Create the ‘Picture Perfect’ Acting Career first appeared on Casting Networks.

The post Success Story: How Lori Young Blended Fitness and Modeling to Create the ‘Picture Perfect’ Acting Career appeared first on Casting Networks.

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