Greetings ALL... Heidi Eklund here owner of Hudson Valley Casting

It is always my intention to blog as a CD.  I almost never have time to do so.  There is so much to do and there is so much that actors need to know.  Many know lots about acting, and the business side of acting, and other's have just begun.  I am going to try to blog regularly from now on, so that those who are just getting started can have a reference to check on while they are growing in this career.

This blog post is focused on a brief pep talk about getting inspired to practice the art of acting ON YOUR OWN and eventually creating useful clips to show what you are able to do as an actor.

WHY?   Here's WHY!!! There are so many actors...some who are doing a lot of theater (almost NO theater clip is useful to see if someone can act on camera), some who finally decides that they are going to pursue their dream, others  who start off doing background work and then realize that they want to do speaking roles.  No matter what your path it all leads to the same place ... WHERE/HOW do I get to the place where I can compete for, book and sucessfully act in a speaking role  in a film or commercial?  

Sometimes it occurs easily and naturally for actors... others have to practice... yes PRACTICE...   The best way to practice is by DOING.  HOW DO WE DO?  Get out there and DO... grab your smart phone and some text or dialogue and WORK on it... do it... memorize those lines and work on it until you believe yourself, until the words seem like you are saying them for the first time.... try  it , and work on it over and over... just like you would a song on the ukulele or piano or driving a stick shift or typing ... you practice... once again PRACTICE!

 THERE IS SO MUCH COMPETITION FOR SPEAKING ROLES.  We as casting directors receive THOUSANDS of submissions and we as CDs are looking for a way to winnow down the masses of people who submit.  So... we look at clips and reels to see if this actor could fit into our project... We can't really tell that from a photo, so we have to dig deeper, see the person actually acting... so... getting at least one clip you can confidently share with others to show what you can do can really help you get more speaking roles.

Doing your own mini movies  or scenes  is so helpful  because it can be focused on you, and it gives you the opportunity to star in something and shine in that starring role created just for you. AND you WILL learn even if you fail in getting it accomplished. And if you do end up failing, like with anything else, if you stick with it, you will eventually get it and accomplish it if you want it badly enough.

So with all that said here are a few things I personally learned when creating our own scenes with family and friends:

THE BASICS, You need:

1. A GOOD SCRIPT  with at least  YOU and one other person.  For the first one... keep it short, be sure there is conflict.  WRITE your own script with a character YOU can play. A character that challenges you and inspires you... write it and then share it with others ... read it aloud so you can make it better and better.  BE HONEST with yourself... is it good? does it work? you can do a little research about writing a good scene ... with the internet you can find lots of resources to help you.

2. A person who knows how to work a video camera well. HINT... your smart phone is a video camera and it has become easier than ever before for you to video yourself with some simple tools.

3.  A single location that can be dedicated to your filming without interruption.

4. TIME:  with the right team, a single scene can be filmed in one day if you stay focused and keep it simple.

5. Lighting: hint... outdoor lighting is easiest and free... the sun, some shade on a sunny day... play with it and figure it out
***remember... you have a smart phone and you can test everything right then and there... if it doesn't work... adjust and try again... benefit is that you LEARN about making film by doing it... and therefore become better at the WHOLE process.  There are also very inexpensive lighting kits you can get online if you do some research.

6. A DIRECTOR 
So... this can be ... you... or someone with experience, or your camera operator... an audience of one who helps you make adjustments so the whole project has what it needs to tell the story.
If you are just starting out I recommend finding someone to help you who has experience.   Here in the Hudson Valley we have several colleges where students are studying filmmaking... SUNY NEW PALTZ, SUNY DUTCHESS, ALL THE SUNY's, VASSAR, MARIST and there are programs for high schoolers like THE ART EFFECT https://feelthearteffect.org that show these kids how to make film and video... find them... they are eager to help you and they are good at what they do.  It is a win win for both sides.

7. A way of cutting the material together ... this is a decent computer with some kind of editing software.  That filmmaker student will likely have access to this... and be able to do it.  I have edited on an IPAD or even my iPhone... with IMOVIE  though I don't recommend working on a small device.


We do a lot of research before doing the work so we can learn more and more...and get better at the whole  filmmaking process... 

Menja and Bjorn in the Wylde Woods
https://youtu.be/GNh8srOlkRc


This is an experiment with two child actors we did with friends early Summer 2019 with no budget and a bunch of eager participants.  The goal was to gain clips for the young actors and give them the equivalent of an on set experience in leading roles.

ON THE RUN           
youtu.be/is7q84aThTg

This was a family effort that was completed from concept, to script, to production and launching on YouTube all in ONE DAY.  Less than 12 hours was spent on this and the kids had a huge input to the process. It was a blast and we all learned a lot!

Rob Figueroa and his two daughters did this one... 

​ALONE

https://youtu.be/hW-3ZGm4abE



"So, I showed my girls the movie Paranormal Activity. They were scared and thought it was real. The three of us made this movie 4 yrs ago. Still good today. Only iPhone and iPhone headsets used. Check it out. It’s short."  -Rob Figueroa

​***If you have a scene that you filmed on our own or produced with friends or family that  you would like to have considered to be an addition to this blog, please send  a public link  along with a still photo from the scene to hudsonvalleyfilmcasting@gmail.com subject: self produced scene... please note that not every scene that is sent in  will be featured.***

​
This is a SAG-AFTRA short
Shooting in: Eldred, NY
Day Rates: Speaking is $125 per day 
Writer, Director: Matt Sukkar
Producers:  Miranda Kahn, Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman
Dates Aug 5th and 7th, 2019
Casting: Samantha Basso 

LOCAL HIRE AND SELF-REPORT

SPEAKING $125 for 8 hours (SAG-AFTRA Please)
LILA (middle aged, Curvy or Plump, Caucasian, smoker's voice, lots of makeup, 80s hair) 
SIMON (any race, late 20s, early 30s, Church-goer, sweet but creepy vibes, think young Crispin Glover)
DOCTOR (all genders and ethnicities, interesting look with an authoritative vibe)

Non-Speaking $75 for 6 hours
BG WAITRESS (middle aged, Caucasian) 
BG BURLY MAN    
BG FAMILY (3) (Woman, Daughter, Dad) ALL MUST BE OVER 18 years
daughter preferred to be over 18 to play 12-17years
BG STRANGE/UNIQUE (Doctor’s office) (very unique or strange looking! Male or female)


TO HAVE YOUR SUBMISSION CONSIDERED
IMMEDIATELY send to Samantha Basso  hudsonvalleyextrascasting@gmail.com
INCLUDE IN THE BODY OF YOUR EMAIL:
Name
Phone #
Email
Height 
Sizes/ Measurements
UNION STATUS  
ROLE YOU ARE INTERESTED IN:
Location where you reside and receive mail
Attach the following: full length and close up photos (labeled with your name) and
Resume and Reel (we need a clip or reel for the speaking roles)

​We are casting a Lifestyle photo shoot.  This can be UNION or NON-Union models.

Pay is $200 per day.  The photos will be used on a website.  The shoot location is a private residence in Rhinebeck, NY

If you meet the following requirements and are interested in being considered, please follow submission instructions below:

IF YOU HAVE ALREADY SENT IN FOR THIS THEN NO NEED TO RESEND 
​WE ARE LOOKING FOR NEW FACES

• Age 18-25
• Must be fully available for July 27th
• Fit, athletic
• Not overly muscular/no CrossFit looking physiques
• No unnatural colored hair (blue, pink, purple etc.)
• No excessive facial piercings or body tattoos

TO BE CONSIDERED:

SEND TO Heidi   HudsonValleyFilmCasting@Gmail.com   SUBJECT: JULY27

Send your cell phone photos of you taken TODAY... one close from shoulders up and another full length (don't forget to change the filename to your name). 

 ALSO send two other shots of you... professional would be great.
In your email include your name, phone and email address, your height, weight, sizes... for men shirt, pants shoes chest, waist, pants length ... for women  pants/dress/skirt, blouse, bust, waist, hip, pants length

**PLEASE LABEL YOUR PHOTOS WITH YOUR NAME AND CHANGE THE FILENAMES OF YOUR PHOTOS TO YOUR NAME** 

Thank you so much.

​
This is a NON-UNION BFA senior thesis short, Emerson College
Shooting in: Franklin, Sidney, Gilbertsville, and Masonville, NY.
Day Rates: Supporting $75/day, Featured $50/day – meals provided
Writer, Director: William Schwartz
Story: When a junior high student in 1963 suspects his teacher of being a communist, he investigates the truth to gain approval from his father.

Ted Langely, 12,   (SEEKING OLDER TO PLAY YOUNGER) is a gloomy young man who craves the approval of his unsympathetic father. Despite being intimidated by his father, he doesn’t wear his emotions on his sleeve. When he’s hanging out with his best friend, Cliff, he tends to be more open and excited than at home. Being friends with Cliff gives him real comfort and Cliff is the only person Ted feels as though he can trust.  LEAD

Cliff Conrad, 12,  (SEEKING OLDER TO PLAY YOUNGER) is an adventurous, funny instigating kid who always seems care free. He’s best friends with Ted not only because they get along, but because Ted’s more rational head sometimes cools down Cliff’s worst impulses. He trusts Ted immensely and also feels somewhat protective of him. LEAD

PETE LANGELY
(man, late 30s-50s, Caucasian) A buttoned up, impatient businessman who never says more than he needs to. As a patriarch, he always expects to have the final word. His sharp tongue is his greatest asset in disciplining his son. As a public figure, his collected demeanor is constantly being tested by a union that is uprooting his business.
FILMING: 3 days – 7/13, 7/14, 7/15 (SUPPORTING) Filming: Franklin, Sidney
 
MR. RUSNAK
(man, late 20s-30s, any ethnicity) Ted and Cliff’s junior high history teacher, and an enigma to his students. He is a husband and father of two who is attempting to adjust to the responsibilities of being a dad in a new, growing family. In school, he is passionate about teaching, but he struggles to expand his students’ perspectives and help their interest. He takes his job seriously and feels as though he has to establish his authority to a group that resists him.
FILMING: 2 days - Thurs. 7/11, Fri. 7/12 (SUPPORTING) Filming in Sidney & Gilbertsville
 
MYRA LANGELY
(woman, mid-30s to 40s, Caucasian) Ted’s mother has given up the dream of a functioning household for a few years now. Her husband and son’s constant disagreements have worn her down, but she still attempts to be the peacemaker in the household. She is protective of her son, while not wanting to anger her husband.
FILMING: 1 day - Sat. 7/13 OR Sun. 7/14 (SUPPORTING) Filming in Franklin


TERRENCE CONRAD
(man, 30s- 40s, any ethnicity) Cliff’s dad is an optimistic unionizer with a kind, lively spirit. His efforts to unionize Pete Langely’s shipping company have made him a person of controversy not only in the Langely household, but around town as well. Terrence wants a happy life for his family, but will continue to stand up for what he believes in.
FILMING: 1 day – Sat. 7/13 (FEATURED) Filming in Franklin


MS. ESTABROOKE
(woman, 30s to 50s, any ethnicity) A substitute teacher at Ted and Cliff’s junior high school; a businesslike instructor who brings a standard teaching experience to her students.
FILMING: 1 day - Fri. 7/12 (FEATURED) Filming in Sidney
Actors will be asked to submit a self-tape from sides once we receive your submissions

TO HAVE YOUR SUBMISSION CONSIDERED
By June 28: send to lessonsinredbfa@gmail.com
INCLUDE IN THE BODY OF YOUR EMAIL:
Name
Phone #
Email
Height 
Sizes/ Measurements
UNION STATUS  this is NON UNION
Location where you reside and receive mail
Attach the following: full length and close up photos (labeled with your name) and
Resume and Reel (if available)

 Casting hundreds of HS looking  BACKGROUND for Charlie Kaufman Feature 
​
Location: Middletown/ Newburgh, NY 
Casting Directors: Heidi Eklund and Amy Hutchings
Rates : SAG-AFTRA  $170/8 hours  local hire, self-report
                NON-UNION $11.10 per hour with an 8 hour minimum guarantee
DATES: On or around April 17 and April 18, 2019  (other possible dates March 18-April 18 weekdays)

We are seeking: 
YOUNG MEN to LOOK LIKE HIGH SCHOOL AGE (OVER 18 YEARS )preferably with BLACK TUXES or BLACK SUITS.
YOUNG WOMEN to LOOK LIKE HIGH SCHOOL AGE (OVER 18 YEARS )preferably with FORMAL GOWNS.  

** MUST BE LEGAL TO WORK IN THE US**

PLEASE FILL OUT OUR FORM if you are interested in being considered:
https://goo.gl/forms/EdI2OREY93YUpvSh1
***BE PREPARED TO UPLOAD Full-Length PHOTOS OF YOU IN YOUR FORMAL WEAR, and your headshots**  If you don't have formal wear, send a full-length photo anyway, you will still be considered.

 We would love for you to share our post, however, we respectfully ask that you don't  this in your own way or leave out information... it causes confusion and misinformed submissions.  Please repost this and our form in it's entirety. 
​                                                                                                  THANK YOU!