TRAIN WITH CASTING DIRECTORS

Are you a licensed company?​

 

Notes From Casting is a talent-training service registered with the state of California in full compliance with the state labor commission under bond #0639001.

 

What is an audition-style scene?

 

Like most professional auditions, your submission should consist of a slate (say your full name, name of material and role into the camera) followed by a 2-3 minute scene. You should be the only one in view. The framing should be a medium shot (from your waist to above your head). Once finished, end the recording. Refrain from editorializing at any point. Most-importantly, make sure you can be seen and heard.

 

Who are NFC's Casting Directors?

 

Our industry-leading professionals work in Hollywood and cast roles for network and cable television, as well as film. Detailed bios are provided in our CD Menu, which is available for viewing after you've created a FREE account.

 

How is NFC different from a Casting Workshop?

 

Our sessions are strictly one-on-one, can be completed from anywhere with an internet connection (i.e. your home) and require no travel or scheduling since the material is recorded both by the actor and CD.

 

Isn't it illegal to pay Casting Directors for auditions?

 

Yes, it is, and businesses that offer you this should be exposed. This is neither a job interview nor an audition. We are a talent-training service. All such workshops are expressly prohibited by law from offering auditions, representation or employment for an actor. Our CDs’ function is to offer expert feedback so actors can gauge their readiness for professional work and improve their audition techniques.

 

The law, however, states that if our casting professionals want your contact information, they cannot request it until at least the day after your session. If you approve, we'll pass it on to them. We also provide them with a permanent thumbnail of your headshot for future reference.

 

Can I film any material I want?

 

Most copyright-protected material can be used for educational purposes, as is the case here. To get the most out of our CDs' expertise, we suggest that you use scenes from TV or film that have already been produced. You may not use any TV or film material that is in the process of being cast.

 

Can I use your service if I'm under 18?

 

Yes, but parental or guardian consent is required.

 

Why do I have only 5 days to submit my scene?

 

By purchasing a session, you're reserving a slot with our CD to view your material. In order to accommodate our CDs' limited time and availability and to allow for other members to benefit from their expertise, we established the timeframe.

 

What happens once the 5 days pass?

 

You will be charged a $15 rescheduling fee to resubmit your video.

 

If it's not live, how do I know the casting professional really sees my work?

 

Because you see a video of that very CD providing you with private, personalized feedback.

 

Why can't I keep the video feedback?

 

In order to protect our CDs’ privacy, the videos may be viewed a total of 5 times or for 1 week, whichever comes first. After that time, the video is permanently removed. We recommend actors take written notes during the viewings. Your Castability Rating will remain on record.

 

What if I don't want my own video out there on the internet forever?

 

You upload it to your own personal account, so have complete control to delete it whenever you wish.

 

Can I submit the same recording to different CDs?

 

Yes. Some actors find it helpful to get multiple opinions on the same work. It's up to you.

 

I'm not good with computers. Is it difficult to film yourself and submit?

 

Not at all. All you need is a phone or a computer since the industry standard is as basic as that. If you need help, we provide Uploading instructions over the various platforms (iPhone, Droid, Mac, Windows, etc.). It’s very quick and painless. Once you’ve got a take of a scene that you’re happy with, you can upload it either via Scene Submission or email in as little as 30 seconds and you’re done.

 

We also offer NFC Concierge to help with any technical issues you may have.

 

How long does the whole process take?

 

Once you submit your video, we notify the CD who then films a video response. Once that’s uploaded, we let you know that the session is complete and ready to be viewed on a private dashboard within our site. We give our professionals 3 days to film a response, so the entire process never takes longer than that; often, it’s completed within a day, depending on availability.

 

How much does a session cost?

 

Please view our Pricing page.

 

Can I film the scene again for the same CD?

 

Yes. We offer Take 2 for just that very thing. For a discounted rate, you can re-record your audition-style video to implement the feedback and submit it for reconsideration by the very same casting professional. 

 

What's your Concierge Service?

 

This makes your entire process even more simple. At your request, we can provide a variety of sides to choose from to help you decide what sort of role brings out your strengths as an actor; we can supply a phone or camera to film your video, either at your home or at our office; we can perform an in-person step-by-step demonstration of just how easy the process is from beginning to end...In short, we offer anything to make your NFC experience as easy and as enjoyable as possible. Click here for more info.

 

What's the Castability Rating (CR)?

 

This is an indication of how ready an actor is to be cast in a professional project. The overall rating is reached by totaling up how an actor rates on categories that include physical qualities, vocal strengths, textual understanding and other essential tools a working actor must possess. After completing at least 2 sessions with our CDs, actors receive not only the composite score, but a breakdown of the specific categories as well. This not only gives actors detailed insight into their strengths and weaknesses, but also helps CDs industry-wide get an immediate sense of an actor’s readiness to be cast. The more sessions you complete, the higher your rating can improve. Also, being cast in professional projects can boost your score as well. For more details click here.

 

How is that different from IMDB's "Star Meter"?

 

As opposed to IMDB’s "Star Meter," whose purpose is to “provide industry professionals with insights into the popularity” of actors, the CR offers actual, job-specific data for the casting process, an invaluable tool for and by CDs.

 

Are NFC Casting Directors the only ones who can contribute to an Actor's CR?

 

Our evaluators are NFC’s industry-leading CDs, but actors may submit outside recommendations from commensurate CD professionals in order to improve their scores. These submissions must be 100% verified in order to be considered.

 

For other questions we've failed to cover, please contact us at info@notesfromcasting.com. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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