Here is how the process will work…
Your agent will submit to casting on your behalf. From there casting will fine tune their search based on headshots, resume and special skills.
If requested by casting you will receive a notification email, shortly after you will receive a phone call from us confirming the upcoming audition. (If you call us first, even better)
At this point we will give you all details that we have, for example:
Date & Time: February 6th, Tuesday, 2:45pm
Place: Platform Vancouver – 1675 W. 2nd Avenue
Job: Project P
Role: Customer
Wardrobe: Please wear pajama type lounging clothes, (PJ Bottoms and Tank)
Call Backs: February 9
Shooting: February 17-21
Sides (Script to be ready at audition): IMPROV or they will be sent through Casting Workbook to you directly
Once you have received all pertinent information, now is the time to confirm with your agent. Please review and understand all details surrounding your audition. If you are unclear of ANYTHING please contact us. We are always happy to help. Your success is our success.
When you arrive (10 -15 minutes early of course) at the studio on the day of your audition, check in right away. Fully complete all casting forms, include any upcoming away dates and any important information pertaining to this audition. To be fully prepared check out our mock CASTING FORM in your start up package. After checking in with the assistant, filling out all forms and reviewing your sides, please sit and wait quietly (don’t forget about silencing your phone as well). Reputation is everything in this business and it is very important to be courteous and friendly.
Upon entering your audition, casting may ask you to “SLATE”. Slating is an initial introduction of yourself to production. Slate includes your name and agency, and occasionally your age.
For example.. Hi, My name is Katherine Mackenzie (I’m 18 years old) and I’m with Principals Talent.
When you are done in the audition send your sincere thanks and get going. Don’t loiter, be professional. We will hear about callbacks the day before the actual date.
1. It is recommended that you do BACKGROUND work for commercials. If you are available for the dates and are interested, be sure to check off that you will do background. The money isn’t amazing, but you could always be upgraded, and it is always better to be working than not to be.
2. If you don’t have an updated RESUME and HEADSHOT, this immediately needs to be changed. You wouldn’t give out a business card from your previous job, so treat your resume and headshot the same. Please don’t forget, you will need both of these for EVERY audition you go to, and just to be safe please bring a set to callbacks as well.
3. If you ever receive a CHEQUE that is not from us but rather from a production company please contact us immediately, do not deposit, instead please send it to us. The way Principals accounting is run is that we accept all cheques on your behalf, this allows us to contact production if money is missing or delayed. It makes it very difficult to chase down missing money if you have cashed a cheque that has not been cross referenced with our records and invoices. If you have any questions regarding payment please contact your agent.
4. Being PINNED / Put on HOLD/ or SHORTLISTED are all the same. It means casting is really interested in you and wants to be sure that you are secured and available for shoot dates. When you are ON HOLD you need to keep your look the same, if you have a beard, don’t shave it; If you have long hair, don’t cut or colour it. Casting will be expecting you to look the same as you did in the room.
5. If you are HELD/SHORTLISTED/PINNED, we will do our best to find out all information possible but often Casting is working with Producers who aren’t giving
them all the information either. We will always advice you as soon as we are aware if you have been booked or released. Unfortunately, this isn’t always as quickly as we would all like.
6. Please take a moment to email us after your days on set… We would love it if we received an email confirmation of your hours, how the day went for you, and any questions or concerns you may have. By emailing us after your day on set, it can help us when it comes time to be sure you are paid correctly and allows us to deal with any production situations if one should ever arise. This is ultra important on NON UNION jobs where we are not provided with time sheets. Of course, as always, don’t forget to sign in and out at all times.
7. Please be aware of your sizes (and measurements) and have them handy when at auditions. Please take a moment to measure yourself, if necessary write it all down and take this with you to auditions. It will only make casting HAPPY and IMPRESSED with how organized you are. This will show them how easy you will be to work with and you never know what that could mean. Bottom line, we want the Principals Talent Team to be known for their organizational and professional manners, not the ones who don’t know their sizes and are wasting castings precious time.
8. BE EARLY!!! We constantly receive phones calls about people running late. We all know how crazy the city is with traffic and construction, but do not allow for this to be an excuse. Please allow time for all of Vancouver’s crazy drivers and untimely construction, leave earlier than anticipated to ensure you will be not only on time, but early for your audition. Remember as with everything you do with casting, you are a member of the agency and therefore are representing us.