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Archive for category: Casting Jargon

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What is a First, Second or Third AD – Top Casting Jargon

November 23, 2016/in Acting and Extras Work in Sydney, Casting Jargon /by MCTV

first-ad

First, Second, Third AD, Oh My where will it all end. Knowing who is who is pretty important when you are on set as an actor or background extra.

The first Assistant Director (First AD) reports to the director of the production and is there to “keep the production on schedule throughout the day, communicate to the entire crew, and to maintain the safety and security of the staff and shot itself”

Depending upon the size of the production, there may be a Second AD and /or a Third AD. The Second AD will report to the First AD and “serves as the backstage manager, liaising with actors, putting cast through make-up and wardrobe, which relieves the first of these duties”

If there is a Third AD, they are normally responsible for crowd scenes, getting extras to and from set at the correct time.

So, depending upon your role in the production (Actor or Extra) and the size of the production your main point of contact could be any one of these people. That’s the person who will let you know when you can go on set and leave set. That’s the person who will usually arrange for sign in and sign out sheets.

More details on Wikipedia

If you like the TV Shirt.

What is a call time? – Top Casting Jargon

November 9, 2016/in Acting and Extras Work in Sydney, Casting Jargon /by MCTV

on-time

Your call time is the time that you need to be on set or at the audition. Being on time (Which really means being a little bit early) is essential. If you turn up sweaty and running on to set right when they need you then obviously you are too late.

What is the difference between a Body Double and a Stand-In?

November 2, 2016/in Acting and Extras Work in Sydney, Casting Jargon /by Sudsy

stand-in

What is the difference between a Body Double and a Stand-In?

A body double takes the place of a main performer for certain shots in a scene where the main performer is not able to. It might be for a stunt or for a scene involving nudity. Sometimes, it is for a closeup on a hand or foot.

A stand-in is quite different. Stand-ins rarely make t into the final production. Stand-ins are usually similar height and complexion to the main performer. They are used in scene rehearsals to get the lighting and sound right before the main performer does their scene. Increasingly, stand-ins are being used for reality productions where the crew need time to calibrate their cameras and sound equipment prior to the action taking place.

What does it mean to be On-Hold? – Top Casting Cargon

October 26, 2016/in Acting and Extras Work in Sydney, Casting Jargon /by Sudsy

on-hold

On-hold is much more exciting than it sounds. So, you were asked to go for a casting and now they want to put you “on-hold”. If you accept, it means that you must reserve the days for the shoot in your calendar. This is usually only done in the final stages where you might be one of two or three people they are looking at for the role. There might be a final decision yet to be made around dates or someone else who needs to approve the choice, but it is really good news if you are on hold.

What is a Submission? – Top Casting Jargon

October 19, 2016/in Acting and Extras Work in Sydney, Casting Jargon /by Sudsy

what-is-asubmission

When a Casting Consultant Sends a Brief to a talent agent like MCTV, we will respond by submitting talent suggestions for the particular role. We will select talent who match the brief and send them to the Casting Consultant.

In the early days of MCTV this involved sending an urgent courier with a package of photographs and talent profiles, but these days we send our Submissions by email or through the various casting databases we use. Our internal MCTV database will send each talent an email whenever their profile is submitted keeping them informed about the jobs they have been submitted for.

What is a Background Actor? – Top Casting Jargon

October 13, 2016/in Acting and Extras Work in Sydney, Casting Jargon /by Sudsy

casting-jargon

A background actor or extra is someone who appears in a non-speaking role usually in the background of a crowd scene or a busy street scene. Background actors require little or no acting experience though a certain level of imagination is usually required. The main criteria for an extra is that they need to able to take direction on set. Of course they need to be punctual too. Sometimes the casting brief will call for extras that fit a particular age group or other demographic profile.

What is a Casting Consultant? – Top Casting Jargon

October 6, 2016/in Acting and Extras Work in Sydney, Casting Jargon /by Sudsy

casting-jargon

A casting consultant or casting director works with the director of a production to identify the actors that are needed for each scene of a movie or TV Series. The casting consultant will perform a script breakdown which involves separating the script into the different roles. Once they have identified the roles they will then create the briefs to send to the talent agents like MCTV.

The casting consultant may be given authority to select talent directly or work with the director to select talent for the roles. Usually, the casting consultant receives a large number of suggestions from the talent agents and it is up to the casting consultant to narrow those suggestions down to the ones that will work best for the production.

What is a Go-See? – Top Casting Jargon

September 29, 2016/in Acting and Extras Work in Sydney, Casting Jargon /by Sudsy

casting-jargon

A Go-See is an opportunity for a talent agency like MCTV to show off their new talent to a client. A Go-See differs from a casting or audition because it is not for any particular role. Sometimes, it is for an upcoming film, but often it is simply a meet and greet between talent and the casting consultant. It gives the casting consultant a chance to see the different looks and personalities of the latest talent. Performing well at the Go-See can lead straight to a role or it may lead to a further casting or audition.

What is a Brief? – Film and TV Jargon

September 22, 2016/in Acting and Extras Work in Sydney, Casting Jargon /by Sudsy

casting-jargon

A Brief (or Casting Brief) is a description of the kind of person that is required for a particular role. It’s almost like a job description. Some of the requirements that might be included are:

  • Height
  • Age
  • Ethnicity
  • Hair or Eye Colour
  • Look / Subculture
  • Special Skills
  • Acting Experience
  • Pay Rates
  • Expected Dates – Length of Shoot

For a large film or TV series, there is a casting consultant who reviews the script to work out what roles are needed for each scene. They will then create a brief for each of those roles and send those briefs to a talent agency like MCTV.

 

Productions

A Current Affair Alien Alien Covenant Allianz ANZ A Place To Call Home A single rider Bleeding Steel Bond Cleverman Commonwealth Bank Dance Academy Deadly Women Deep Water Disney Doctor Doctor feature films 2016 Fox Sports Hacksaw Ridge Here Come the Habib's Hide and Seek Huggies hungry jacks IGA Indigo Lake Janet King KFC Mad Max McDonalds Peter Brock Telemovie Pokemon Qantas Rake soul mates Telstra The Bachelor The Great Australian Bake Off The Secret City The Secret Daughter Top of the Lake Toyota Transport NSW uber Weetbix Woolworths

Categories

Acting and Extras Work in Sydney Casting Jargon Corporate Video Feature Films Music Videos Online Video Opera Paid Audience Photograhic Shoot Telemovies TV Commercials TV Series

I signed up with MCTV yesterday and they applied me for 5 jobs already, one of which was successful. So excited to be back in business after long break. Looking forward working with you guys!

Dragana Gambiroza-Lazic

I’ve been with MCTV for a few years now and found them wonderful. I’ve had a much better experience than with my last agency and am particularly impressed by their management of my daughter through Joey’s

Elizabeth Bouris

Within my first month, I’ve been considered 3 times, got an audition for a TVC, and then a call back. And even a job offer with a leading Bank.
I signed my children with the agency & while I was at the office, Paul gave us a casting for the kids the same afternoon.

See Myshell

M.C.T.V has been very good to me for over three years now! I do appreciate their efforts in finding me work in four major motion pictures and other jobs

Jeremy Costello
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We have a simple package that includes everything you need to get started.

  • A great head-shot and body-shot that captures your personality.
  • Photo editing and touchup to combine your head-shot and body-shot into a single composite image
  • Online profiles with the major industry casting networks.
  • Updates to your photos, composite and profiles if your look changes.

We are determined to do the best job we can for each and every person who joins our agency. That’s why we include free updates to your photographs and online profiles. If for some reason, your initial photographs aren’t working for you, you can come in for a reshoot.

You can choose to pay by the month or you can pay 12 months in advance. (More Info Below)

  • Pay by the month – $29 per month (pay the first 3 months in advance – total cost over 12 months $348) credit card required
  • Pay 12 months in advance – $240 pay by cash, debit or credit

If you are not satisfied at the end of 12 months with the amount of work you received, you can apply for a free extension of our services.

There is far less work available for Children than there is for Adults in this industry. To even the playing field a little we have reduced the price for photographs and extended the time from 1 year to 2 years. Over that time, there is no additional charge for updating the photographs as the child’s look changes. Our simple package comes with everything you need to get started.

  • A great head-shot and body-shot that captures your personality.
  • Photo editing and touchup to combine your head-shot and body-shot into a single composite image
  • Online profiles with the major industry casting networks.
  • Updates to your photos, composite and profiles if your look changes.

We are determined to do the best job we can for each and every person who joins our agency. That’s why we include free updates to your photographs and online profiles. If for some reason, your initial photographs aren’t working for you, you can come in for a reshoot.

You can choose to pay by the month or you can pay 12 months in advance. (More Info Below)

  • Pay by the month – $15 per month (pay the first 3 months in advance) credit card required
  • Pay 12 months in advance – $180 for 12 months pay by cash, debit or credit

If you are not satisfied at the end of 24 months with the amount of work you received, you can apply for a free extension of our services.