Finding Actors....

youngfilmmaker said:
I live in the Chicagoland area. And I am only 16, but I wnat to experience with good actors except friends to make it more believeable.
Because i am low budget I am looking for actors to work for free. How can i find actors? Is there a site? Do I post wanted signs?
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Chicago is a great theater town. There a a lot of wonderful, talented actors there hungry to do something. Take some notices to the local theaters. There are a ton of them. Also, Depaul and Northwestern have great theater programs take some notices there.

And be patient.

Good Luck.



J.
 
youngfilmmaker said:
How do you guys get your actors for your films?

Do you pay them?
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Generally I get all my actors from Craigslist.com or Columbia College Chicago. I pay my main actors $25 a day. Anything over 8 hours is $50. Everyone else comes for the food. Actors eat Pizza, Subway and Chicken and Chinese food. If you bake, bake them cookies and brownies. Treat them well and deliver on your promises, people will like you. If you screw them, this is not LA, it gets around (this is a small but talented community in Chicago) and people won't want to work with you. Personally several of my actors met each other on other sets before and they do talk. Myself and my producer also have separate stables of actors we rely on whom we know we can trust to get the job done. Also as stated, theater actors abound.

My first film relied on "charity" actors who did the work for free. Won't do that again, as the quality just isn't the same. "Wages of Sin" had a pretty full crew (see IMDB) and we shot for a lot less than people think. But people also work with us because we have a name and are known for getting our films out. People came from out of state to work with us on this film. If you're doing something that's going to festivals or that you'll be putting on DVD make sure you do get the word out. Get a website also and if you can get your film on IMDB then make sure your actors and crew get IMDB credits as this helps them in the long run. And if you do a DVD get a service like Customflix or Discmakers to print your DVDs. Don't do it from your computer. Actors love to see a quality DVD and if you put as many of your main actors on the cover they'll appreciate that.

-Nate
 
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I was in the same boat as you (even though I'm 23). I realized to make my films more realistic I needed a greater age range (all of my college age friends weren't cutting it as younger and older people) so I got in touch with a local community theater and got most of my actors through there, so I'd suggest trying that route. And to echo what everyone else is saying, if you can't pay them make sure you let them know the end result of the film (film festival, dvd, etc.) and treat them with respect and feed them well. Usually if they know that the film will be seen by alot of people, the exposure will make up for a lack of monetary payment.
 
Thanks for the response everyone. Any other ways that i can get older actors?

Do you think if i post stuff like at mandy and ect.. and say no pay do you think i will get alot of responses?
 
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would also recomend LA Casting. I just posted a casting notice on LA Casting for Heart of Now. within half an hour I had 12 to 50 submissions for each of twelve characters. we used them last year for White Knuckles and they stood out because they have a great interface for sorting, reviewing and making selects of actors you want to contact for an audition.
 
There might be one closer than you know....

<------------------------------------------------- :)
 
Interesting. I live in Chicago so i dont think LA Castings will work.
Also this is non-paid, but food is provided and etc. Do you still think people will be interested. **I live in the suburbs of chicago**
 
youngfilmmaker said:
Interesting. I live in Chicago so i dont think LA Castings will work.
Also this is non-paid, but food is provided and etc. Do you still think people will be interested. **I live in the suburbs of chicago**
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And it's ashame too. LA Casting is the bomb. Columbia College, Craigslist, and maybe Perform Ink are the best places to get actors in Chicago. I want to shoot movies in LA simply because the casting is so much easier.

-Nate
 
yeah, sorry i thought they were more widespread but only provide services in new york, los angeles, miami and san fran.
 
i would have played in your movie for free, i have 5 years of expiriance, But i live in Amsterdam so,... you know xD
 
Make friends with the drama and film departments at school. Most actors will jump at the chance to get to act. Its what they love to do. Put up signs at your school and at the local college campuses. You can post on craigslist and you should also see if your town has a site specifically for listing acting auditions. You live in Chicago, so you shouldn't have too much trouble finding actors who want to act.

In your notices, site that there is no pay, but copy and credit.

You also need to feed your actors.

You should also provide transportation to and from shoots that are not at your house.

If they don't already have what you envision as appropriate wardrobe for the character, take them to a thrift store.

Good luck in your endeavors!
 
youngfilmmaker said:
Thanks for the response everyone. Any other ways that i can get older actors?

Do you think if i post stuff like at mandy and ect.. and say no pay do you think i will get alot of responses?
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Once you start getting some actor friends, ask them if they know of anyone in the appropriate age range. Most actors usually know a wide variety of other types.

I second the reaching out to community theatres as well.
 
Hello Guys! Thanks for the response. I really appreciate you guys all trying to help.

Here is the deal. I am going to shot a short film in a couple of weeks. But I need two actors.

*Remember I am 16 yrs old, 17 in a month*

I need a man in their late 20's or early 30's. And a woman in her early-mid 20s.
Now, I need actors to provide their own to the location, and there is no pay. But food and snacks are provided. I don't want to hold an audition until I see how many people want to help me out. Do you think that when I tell people that I am 16 years old they will want to help? Should I even ask for their resume? At this moment the only thing I am looking at is craiglist. Any other Chicagoland actors wanted site? Should I tell them to send me and e-mail for more info then tell them when auditions are?

Thanks in advance.
 
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I wouldn't tell people your age. Tell them you look young for your age. ;)

Just put up a casting notice on whatever site. On craigslist, they give you and email address to use of course. Do yourself a favor and set up an email address just for your casting. That way you can filter your audition info easier. Tell them "Copy / credit / meals provided." And yes, when they come to audition, ask for their headshot and resume. If they don't have a headshot, bring a digital camera with you so that you can take photos of them. That will help you put a name with the face.

Hope that helps. :)
 
Thanks tommyinla. But I think that if I dont tell them my age, when we have the auditions there going to be like: ****, what did I put myself into, this is a kid.

Should I make them send me a resume and headshot and then I will e-mail when there audition is?
 
I'm just saying don't tell them so that it won't be as much of an issue. If I showed up at an audition (I'm an actor) and saw someone who was that young... well, a couple of things... a) You've got the drive and determination to actually make a film - and at a young age, that's pretty cool. b) I would assume that there wasn't a paycheck involved. I would ask you a few questions about the script and the production in general to get a feel for if you know what you're talking about. That's just me though.

What you have to realize is that people may see you and say "Oh, it's just a kid. Not going to waste my time." Other actors will most likely look at the situation and think, "Oh cool, more time in front of the camera for me to work on my technique." Most would fall into the second category. In actuality, the only actors who would most likely give you the "Oh ****" response is those that have many credits and are almost at the professional level.

If you mention your age, I think it may put the idea in peoples heads about your lack of - not experience, but confidence in your ability to make a film. Just go out there and be confident and that will help a lot.

When I do a casting call, I have people send in a headshot and resume. I'll usually give details about the audition at the same time.
 
If it really bothers you, then go ahead and say that you're doing a student film project. Student films are generally college aged people...
 
I don't pay my actors, not yet.

Here is my emphatic recommendation to filmmakers starting out and wanting to know where to come up with actors:

1)Find an acting for camera class in your area.
2)Ask if you can audit the class in exchange for taping the class and taking care of the AV needs (working the VCR, TV and playback of the tape or P2)

Now you have accomplished 3 things,
1) you are building relationships with actors
2) you are actually getting to see them work over a month or 6 weeks, rather than in just one read
3) you are learning about working with actors on camera

Any acting for camera class that is worth attending will be taping the students and reviewing the tape in that class or the next class almost every week, or like I said, it is not worth attending.

Usually the instructors fumble about with their single chip camera and think it's quite a pain to lug the gear around, so it should be an easy sell that they won't have to deal with that. Also you will tell them that your top of the line 24p camera looks just like film and it will be much higher resolution and quality than what they are used to, so it will be nicer to look at and more useful as well.

The great thing about this - other than finding actors and learning about working with actors on camera, is that you get to talk to them on break. You get to see who you get along with, and you get to know who would kill to be in your movie whether you pay them a dime, or even feed them (which you absolutely must). But assuming they can act, those are the people you want even if you could pay them. You will start to envision projects just for these new actor friends of yours.

We spend a lot of time figuring out how to light a scene, what the camera settings should be and what they do, but we expect somehow to just throw people up there and know how to get the best out of them, and yet this part of the process is one of the most challenging and esoteric. So again, another reason I recommend this is not just to meet actors but for the very important dual benefit as a filmmaker of getting to watch them work and talk about their process working on camera.

The other thing is go to plays and go out for drinks with the cast afterwords, but the acting for camera class suggestion is better because acting for camera is a different thing than acting on the stage, you get more exposure to their work, and it is less weird. But the thought behind going to plays or auditing a class is that you form relationships.

you can wade through people that respond to some add when you are not paying and have no cache to speak of yet, or you can meet people, while improving your directing skills, and see who you have sparks with and want to work with, then write for them, or with them in mind when possible. Of course a combination of adds and getting to know actors in the way I mentioned may work well too.

I've only ever paid one actor and only ever took one add out. That was for the nude plus size victim that had to be chained to a table, covered in fake blood, wearing a facial prosthetic that made it hard to breath, for two hours in Rekindled.

I think the craig's list ad was something like:

NUDE VICTIM / CORPSE ROLE, PLUS SIZE WOMEN OF COLOR ENCOURAGED TO APPLY
Seeking plus size model or actress for a the non-speaking role of a nude victim / corpse in a no budget horror short.
PAY: $200 (I think)
See my work here
(Link to site)

Which brings up why an actor would or wouldn't work for no pay. First - I believe actors should be paid, but I just cannot do it yet. But they DO get something for shooting for you for free. The project should be good and in addition to gaining experience it should be good for their reel. So actors that are on your same level, or near your level, or even just a bit above your level, will gladly work on your movie for free if they think it might be good and be good for their reel - the same reason you are doing it little or no hope of ever making a red cent. Also it is only a couple of days to a week commitment, so good reel material is a fair trade I think. But I had to pay the corpse role because, A) probably no one would want to do it otherwise B) what could this girl possibly get out of it other than maybe some experience - mostly because there is no dialogue for her. If they have no dialogue then it is not worth much for their reels.
 
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Jack Daniel Stanley said:
We spend a lot of time figuring out how to light a scene, what the camera settings should be and what they do, but we expect somehow to just throw people up there and know how to get the best out of them, and yet this part of the process is one of the most challenging and esoteric.
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...which is what baffles me about dvxuser. 98% of the people on this forum only focus on the technical stuff and not on the acting... and what KILLS a production is poor acting. Most people here aren't actors and it's painfully obvious. If you really want to be a filmmaker, focus on the acting... take acting classes yourself - and I don't mean to help run the camera. Take the classes to learn how to act and try and learn different techniques. Become an actor's director. If you're focused on the performances from your actors and know how to communicate what you're looking to get from them, it's obvious and actors will (usually) respect you more. It can only help.
 
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