Top 10 questions to ask an actor?

SomewhereinLA

SomewhereinLA

Well-known member
Since my (day) job involve mostly post production. I have limited experience with the casting process.

I was wondering what are some of the "top" questions you guys ask an actor when interviewing/casting? Also how long does the interview / casting session last (what's a good average}.What are the most important things you look for out of this limited time (beside good acting), In other words what do you need to see to even consider an actor vs an other one. Also what are some of the turn off.

Thank you.
 
(1) Are you a flake?

(2) No, really, are you a flake?

(3) What is your professional philosophy?

(4) Do you have any food allergies/restrictions or medical conditions we should know about?

(5) Which contract/memorandum can you work under (SAG actors only)?

(6) How would you (briefly) describe your process?

(7) Are you comfortable with depictions of nudity/violence/etc (to the extent that's applicable to the project) and will you sign all necessary releases?

(8) Will you be able/willing to adhere to the reading/rehearsal schedule?

(9) What is your goal, as a part of this production team?

(10) You're not a flake, are you?
 
I have never heard any of those questions in the auditions I have been to with an exception to the adhering to the rehearsal schedule. Usually they last between 5-10 minutes.
 
I ask two questions:
Are you available for the rehearsal/shooting schedule?
Here, will you please read these passages from the script?
Wait, 3 questions:
You're not a flake, are you?
 
It sort of depends on what you're doing. If you're just beginning with filmmaking, then your goals will be different than if you're casting for a feature that's actually going to be under a SAG contract and pays money.
 
FWIW - and I know that one doesn't always have the resources to pay - it seems like (aside from close friends & family) you can only really rely upon people whom you are paying to show up and do their job.

I've worked on a lot of small projects where the actors were the only people getting paid, which was okay with me; the crew were doing their thing for love of their craft. or to help out a friend, or gain experience, but given the way that a no-show actor can single-handedly wreck a shoot, the director/producers were paying them, frequently on a SAG schedule. Just to make sure. And, admittedly, sometimes even *that* wasn't enough.
 
funny I've had just the opposite situation...actors more than willing to do a project but to get the best crew, they needed to be paid something because I knew how hard it was to get them. Course I've been lucky because most of the actors I've worked with have been "theatre" trained so they understand committment and professionalism is more than a union card.
 
I ask them personal questions: "tell me about yourself. you're family? What kind of books do you read? Movies do you watch? " Of course you want a great actor, but you also want to work with a decent person.
 
1. You're all right with wearing a bikini, right?

Seriously, that's about the second question I asked when I was casting for RUNWAY. Actually, my biggest concern with talent is availability. Does the actor already have a bunch of irons in the fire? Is he/she ready to drop you the second the "bigger" project confirms? I always just try to gauge how "hungry" they are, and try to evaluate their other options. My primary determination (other than "look" and talent) when casting, is if there's enough draw in my project for them to fully commit to it.
 
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Rezfactor said:
Actually, my biggest concern with talent is availability. Does the actor already have a bunch of irons in the fire? Is he/she ready to drop you the second the "bigger" project confirms?
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I think that's an expression of their flakiness index.
 
1. This is a low paying job, but it requires a high demand on you. Are you wiling to accept that?
2. Lots of hours, but mostly sitting around waiting for crew to put up lights, etc. Can you handle that?
3. My P.A. just quit, can you run to walmart for some extension cords?
 
My suggestion is to just sit and talk with them. Ask them questions and see if they answer in a similar way to the way you'd expect your character to. Obvious questioning starts with: where are you from, what brought you here, how did you get into acting, do you have any siblings, what do you do to make ends meet, tell me an embarrassing story about yourself, ... and you should be honest and forthcoming with them as well. Now, of course, they are actors so they'll change their persona somewhat to adhere to the character ... but you are looking for a quality within them that makes you think ... this could be the person.

In terms of the whole, "are you a flake" thing, I think you'll get a sense of that by looking at their resume and talking to them. I've never run into actors flaking out on a shoot. Sometimes they don't know their lines as well as they should, but I've shot over a dozen shorts and a feature and I've never seen out and out flaking.
 
themusic said:
do you have any siblings, what do you do to make ends meet, tell me an embarrassing story about yourself
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Can I ask why you would ask these questions? they seem a little personal to me.
 
How to tell if an actor isn't a flake: They have a good agent.
Good agents drop flakey actors really quickly. Bad agents don't care as much, it seems, if their flakey clients ruin their reputation for them.

An actor's number one rule is never be late for a call time. You can show up unprepared as long as you are on time.
 
If, in the auditions, the actors seem to be having a little trouble getting into character, I like to ask questions regarding how they can relate to the character.

For example, I cast a mom for a short film last year and I asked the actresses "Do you have any children of your own? How old? How do you relate to them?"

Now, this can backfire a bit and you should be prepared. One of my actresses, upon being asked, detailed how her child had been abducted when he was very young and she never got him back. Awkward doesn't even begin to cover it.

But, it illuminated why she had trouble getting into the character, and made it evident that this role was probably not a match for her. She didn't have the experience to draw on. Ultimately we found an actress who clicked with the character right away, and upon asking she turned out to have a son of the same age as the character's son. Bingo.

Ask the business questions, but make sure you ask some art questions, too.
 
Ask them questions that pertain to your project. If they have had the sides available to them before the audition, ask them about their take on the character. Ask them about their take on the direction and tone of the script.

Finally, ask them about ther availability.
 
Arson said:
An actor's number one rule is never be late for a call time. You can show up unprepared as long as you are on time.
Click to expand...

Although of course, being prepared is sure appreciated...
 
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