From Broadway to Hollywood to Beijing, a growing list of productions are turning their casting calls into a talent show. Stunt casting used to mean well-known actors shoehorned into unlikely roles (think Marlon Brando playing Jor-El in the original “Superman”). But increasingly, the term is being applied to reality show competitions used to cast actors for stage and screen. This innovation isn’t about to put casting directors out of business. But the process is growing in popularity—mainly because of the publicity it generates. “You can get work from it,” said Cathy Reinking, a longtime casting director and author of “How to Book Acting Jobs in TV and Film.” “I don’t think there’s such a negative connotation anymore” with unscripted competition programs. Broadway turned to stunt casting in 2007 when it sought to fill the leads in a revival of “Grease” through NBC’s unscripted competition “Grease: You...
- 6/13/2013
- backstage.com
The SAG Foundation wants you to know that there is the possibility of not arriving late to an audition because of traffic. Just go carless. Don’t panic. Lots of people do not own cars, and doesn’t L.A. have a public transportation system? Is that just an urban myth? (It’s not.) Among the speakers at the 7 p.m., April 3 panel who will try to convince you that your money and time could be spent in better ways that sitting in traffic are Ed Begley Jr., Enci Box, Cindy Marie Jenkins, Cathy Reinking, and Alissa Walker. Stephen Box will moderate. The topics up for discussion include the living areas in the greater L.A. region and what makes them special, the speakers’ experiences going car-free, and how to integrate alternative transportation methods into your routine. The event (which coincides with National Walk Day) will also be live streamed...
- 4/2/2013
- backstage.com
In an attempt to avoid the crush of next year’s pilot season, four pilots in the early stages of production now have casting directors attached. These high-profile pilots are all likely to get the green light from network executives, but the decision to bring on casting personnel before they’ve been formally greenlit is just further evidence that pilot season is creeping back a couple months from its traditional mid-January kickoff. "There is no traditional pilot season anymore," said Cathy Reinking, a former manager of casting at NBC who oversaw the pilot casting on "The Office" and "Medium" among others. "The cable networks are doing pilots all-year round now so there's no traditional pilot season from January through March." Backstage has learned that the CBS pilot “Hostages,” producer Jerry Bruckheimer’s show about a family wrapped up in a political conspiracy, has Ronna Kress attached as a casting director.
- 12/13/2012
- backstage.com
Tired of yellow tape, chalk outlines, and witness lineups? There could be a new outlet for actors trying to escape the glut of roles available on increasingly horrific crime procedurals: the Hallmark Channel. The channel, which bills itself as the "nation’s leading destination for quality family programming," announced that it will make its first foray into original scripted series with “Cedar Cove,” starring Andie MacDowell and now heading into production in Vancouver. Casting directors who have worked with Hallmark in the past on its TV movies say they've yet to be contacted about casting the series, which also stars veteran TV actor Dylan Neal. But Cathy Reinking, a casting director with an extensive TV résumé, said the series could be a breath of fresh air for actors looking for guest or co-starring roles. "With Hallmark, you get a nice, wholesome family drama," she told Backstage. "It's a good thing.
- 10/19/2012
- backstage.com
The cynics are wrong -- actors have plenty of opportunities to take to the stage in Los Angeles, and theater roles aren't just dead-end summer jobs for performers needing to make rent. Casting directors for film and television series routinely attend theater performances to expand their talent pools."You're always trying to get fresh talent," says Cathy Reinking, a former NBC casting manager now working with L.A. Theatre Works.Moreover, actors can use the theater opportunities available in the Southland to round out their résumés -- or just satisfy their need to perform. For instance, Reinking is in the process of casting plays for L.A. Theatre Works' 2012-2013 season, which begins in September. The company records its plays for a nationally syndicated radio theater series and routinely features prominent actors such as Jon Hamm ("Three Sisters") and Calista Flockhart ("A Doll House") in the lead roles.The performances,...
- 7/11/2012
- by help@backstage.com (Sean J. Miller)
- backstage.com
"I wish the stage were as narrow as the wire of a tightrope dancer, so that no incompetent would dare step upon it." —GoetheThat's a little harsh, don't ya think? We hear this all the time: Be willing to suffer for your art. It's a brutal business, and you should pursue it only if you are compelled by a deep love for the craft. But hold on there. How do you know if you even want to make the necessary sacrifices to be an actor? It's not the suffering that draws us to acting in the beginning. (If it is, that's something to bring to your therapist, not your acting teacher.)We're first attracted to acting for everything we see on the surface: the attention, the socializing, playing dress-up, pretending to be someone else, even the potential fame and money. These are all really appealing—in dating terms, they're the...
- 11/5/2010
- backstage.com
Great casting directors know great acting. So, while CDs may not be Emmy voters, Back Stage asked several of them who they think should be recognized this year. "How about Julianna Margulies, remarkable week after week in 'The Good Wife,' with kudos to Josh Charles as well? Or Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic, who took 'Castle' to a whole new level with their work this year, maintaining their comedic chemistry while bringing the season to a close on a perfectly executed and truly touching note. For both shows, I can't wait to see what happens next season!"—Mike Lemon ("Philadelphia," "The Sixth Sense")"The scintillating Christina Hendricks of 'Mad Men' should not be neglected in this year's Emmy lineup." —Nancy Bishop ("Wanted," "Prince Caspian," author of "Secrets From the Casting Couch")"[In the guest star category,] Lynn Redgrave gave a beautiful, understated performance in the Season 4 premiere of 'Ugly Betty.
- 6/9/2010
- backstage.com
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