Targeting Films This, of course, is not the first time Ive written about targeting. Youve seen my how-to info on targeting TV projects, targeting the casting directors who populate those shows, targeting commercials, and targeting reps at the ninja level. Targeting, targeting, targeting. Its the second pillar of Self-Management for Actors and its always a fundamental shortcut to the next tier. This week, for actors who are targeting films, specifically, Im gonna get specific about the targeting process for this gargantuan task, so its not just do-able, its fun! Well, okay, itll be fun if you love research like I do. ;) And if youre not a research junkie, thats okay; Ill still try to make this look a little more pleasant and of course worth the time. Lets be clear: This will take time. Youre going to start majoring in the storytellers with whom you most want to jam. And why wouldnt you want to put a ton of time and energy into learning about these people youre hoping to share screen time with? This is your future peer group. Invest in understanding them. Because, in the end, youre hoping theyll invest in YOU by giving you a shot on their set, right? Why not start the process with an investment of time, energy, and attention to detail, right now? As we all know, IMDb-Pro is a fantastic resource for information about projects in production and even in pre-production sometimes. But often, the details that make a big difference for actors (like, oh, this project is now casting, for example) isnt available til after the cast is announced and calltimes are being given out. Dang! Too late! Luckily, our favorite go-to CastingAbout lists projects before theyre casting, and thatll get you the scoop thatll help when it comes to being aware of the timing for getting into the room. You can keep an eye on Showfax for sides going up, you can self-tape, you can hustle to get in front of the casting team in non-traditional ways, of course. And if you have a hell yes agent, youre in great shape for being pitched to get into the room. All of this is great! But lets talk about laying the groundwork for getting your shot way before its like sorority rush up in the casting office. Its easy to decide to push in front of a casting director when casting is announced. Thats when EVERYONE is doing it. The ninja move is to already be in the world of the casting director whom you know is likely to cast a film youll want to be a part of someday, and already being atop her list when shes thinking about best ingredients to use. Where TV casting is a breeze (we know the tone of the show just from watching a previous episode, we the look and vibe of co-stars and guest-stars week to week, we know whos on the casting team by checking CastingAbout, we know which members of that team may do networking events or workshops, and we can set up Google Alerts to learn about even more ways to connect), film casting is a little tougher to do. Unless its a franchise or an adaptation from a book, we may not have a clue what a film is about, what its tone is, what types of actors will be needed, not to mention who will be hired to cast it and how we may intersect with them before casting begins. Ah, not so fast on that last bit! People in this business are loyal. If you have a specific director with whom you know you want to work, a quick check of IMDb-Pro and CastingAbout will give you an overview of the people with whom this director likes to jam. Obviously, sometimes studios or exec producers may override a directors preference, but by and large, irrespective of tier, you can track patterns within a directors history and learn whose casting eye he respects the most. So, lets say you know you want to be a part of a JJ Abrams film. You dont know what his next film will be (heck, hes got 27 projects listed as in development at IMDb-Pro today), but by taking a look at his history (opening each project in its own tab in your web browser), you can map out the likelihood that April Webster will be casting for him, whether its a feature film or a television series). Has he employed other casting directors? Can you track patterns on which types of projects go with whom? Once you know whom a director trusts to do the prescreening of actors that will populate his or her films, it gets easier. Now youre not waiting to see a breakdown come out for the next feature film youre dying to be a part of, but instead working to get in front of the current team in that casting office (information you get from CastingAbout), to build relationships that will pay off when the right project with a role for you gets greenlit. This is a long-haul process. Youre not just attempting to get seen for ONE project at a CERTAIN time so that you can do A role; youre building a relationships with buyers who regularly prescreen for a storyteller with whom you know you want to jam someday (and probably more than once). Just like with all the other targeting work I recommend, youre going to set up Google Alerts on your target buyers so that this relationship-building process begins in earnest way before that magical breakdown is released. When you read in the trades, in a production newsletter, on another markets film commissions website, that a new project helmed by your dream director has been greenlit or is coming to town, you already know whose casting office needs to be nudged to remember you exist. Of course, you dont ONLY reach out at that time, but by being on their radar in general, regularly, and especially before the breakdown goes out, youre more likely better-received when your goods come across the proverbial desk when the breakdown goes live. Further, with all the homework youre doing in targeting these folks, youre also going back and watching old films directed by your dream director, paying attention to the function of actors in minor roles. Youre watching how those actors booking their first roles with this team are being directed and youre using this information to help you work out with the sides you can download for not only the next project from the team but using full scripts out there. (Weve got a great list of resources for film scripts at the Self-Management for Actors Facebook group.) If you can find audition footage from previous films your target teams have put together, binge-watch them! Youre not trying to parrot anyone elses work; youre learning what it is your target buyers respond to, naturally. Youre building your muscle for being so good at interpreting the WORLD of the characters and scenarios that your target director brings to life that you cant possibly be ignored when you get your shot in the room, thanks to all the targeting work youve done. Make it count. As always, this is a long-haul process and the work you do today could make it far more likely that youre perceived as a bullseye booker when you get your shot in the room for the first time with these prime targets. Sure, you could get in the room without doing all this work, but wouldnt you like to be sure youve controlled everything that you can and truly prepared yourself for success when you do get that first shot? Treat these folks like pro athletes and become a super fan. Not so you can speak authoritatively about their work and gush like a wannabe, but so that you can master the game, build relationships, and then get in there to show them youre meant to live in their world. Its a longer process for films, but its just as delicious. Have fun! Bonnie Gillespie is living her dreams by helping others figure out how to live theirs. Got a question, some feedback, or a great tip to share with the world? Email showfaxbon@gmail.
Posted on: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 03:23:28 +0000
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