Casting Director in the Spotlight: Danielle Eskinazi Casting by Jesse Daily After taking a workshop recently with casting director Danielle Eskinazi, I knew that she truly loves actors, and she loves her job! She’s one of the most personable casting directors I’ve had the pleasure of meeting in Hollywood, and it was an honor to interview her for my page. She has a plethora of knowledge about the entertainment industry, and she has some tips for all of us actors! Background Danielle’s path to becoming a casting director has been quite a journey! She’s lived all over the world. She explains, “I was actually born in Egypt. My father was studying to be a doctor, and my mothers family had a furniture business there. My dad’s Turkish and my mother is Italian. They met in Egypt, fell in love, and out popped me and my sister! Then we moved and lived in Paris for about five years, then the Bronx, then L.A. The culture shock just went on and on!” Speaking of culture shock, living in Hollywood (or as I love to call it, “The Intense City,” allows you to be exposed to all sorts of amazing people and cultures, all blending together! This is part of what makes our industry so incredible and diverse! And there’s room for everyone in this business. Finding where you “fit in” can take some time, which is why it’s important to enjoy your journey every day! Danielle found her passion in casting after working in retail. “I was at a point in my life when I honestly wanted a change. I was working in retail, and I told a friend of mine (who worked at Triad at the time - a huge talent agency) that I needed a change from retail. She directed me into the arms of my mentors: Billy Hopkins and Risa Garcia. I worked as their west coast assistant on a movie called At Close Range with Christopher Walken, Sean Penn, Mary Stuart Masterson and Kiefer Sutherland amongst others. I ended up loving it and went on to work for Lara Kennedy, Ronnie Yeskel, Vickie Tomas and Amanda Mackey - all great casting directors. Soon directors started contacting me to cast their projects, and later I went on to casting commercials, which I love best.” Casting and Auditions Danielle Eskinazi has cast many projects in numerous areas of the entertainment industry. She’s constantly casting commercials, and I asked Danielle if she could explain if there is any difference between “commercial acting” and “acting for tv and film.” She replied, “Acting is acting, but in commercial acting, you dont have a long time to develop a character. The audition process in commercial work is quite fast, and usually there are not many second chances. So you have to be on your game the minute you walk in. In commercial auditions we see tons of people in one day. As Danielle points out, being “on our game the minute that we walk in” to an audition is extremely important for us actors. Acting coach Christinna Chauncey also stresses the importance of this. In an article for my page, Christinna explained, “Leave your drama at home. Sometimes you can channel your personal drama if it matches up to, or is similar in nature to, what the character is going through. Otherwise, all other personal drama should be left at home, so that you can focus on the work and be effective and appealing in the room.” During your audition, always do the best job that you can do, and try not to question yourself or your choices! And after your audition is over, Danielle advises that we let it go. (This is hard to do for many of us!) Danielle explains, “If actors feel they did a bad job in an audition – they should not draw attention to it. What’s done is done; just walk away and chalk it up as an experience. Apologizing about your performance after an audition is a no-no. Just let it go.” This is a Business Acting is an incredible form of art and creative work! And although it’s a lot of fun, if you’re pursuing acting as a career, Danielle reminds us that actors must learn the business side of our industry in addition to the creative, artistic side. “This is a business; its not just about being creative. Learn the business as well. Thats really important.” It’s also crucial to grasp the concept that you are running your own business as an actor. It is your job to “sell” your product (i.e., yourself), and you’re the only one who can truly make your success happen! Hiring a good agent and keeping good people around you is very helpful, but you must be motivated to put in a lot of hard work on your own. As Danielle simply puts it, “Be on the ball. Network. See whats out there. Dont leave it solely up to your agent to send you out.” It certainly is possible to obtain auditions and book work, even when you’re not represented. Click here for some tips! Final Thoughts from Danielle Danielle’s advice about acting is invaluable, and what makes her truly amazing is her excitement about her job and the kindness that she shares with everyone around her! She shares the most rewarding aspect about her job: “Calling the agent and telling them that their actor booked the part!. Nothing’s more rewarding than that. I love giving good news.” I’ll leave you with Danielle’s advice for anyone out there who is considering a career in entertainment and acting: “Have a thick skin. If this is what you want, never give up. Be prepared to leave your ego at the door. Listen to the director when he makes adjustments, and always give it your best shot. The rest is out of your control. Move on quickly with bad news. If this is what you want to do, then open your ears and your heart. Study hard; and with time and patience, you will get there.” Thank you for all of your advice and your kindness, Danielle! - Be sure to check out Danielles app for actors, Daniellecasting app, available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod!
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 23:38:11 +0000
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