10.02.2023
9.28.2023
9.27.2023
9.15.2023
Mastering Monologue Selection: Tips for Actors to Shine in Auditions
Hello, talented actors!
Kelly Ann Dunn, Talent Coordinator, Cast Images
When it comes to selecting the perfect monologue, it's more than just reciting lines; it's about sharing a piece of yourself with the world. Here are some professional tips that can help you choose an effective monologue that resonates with your essence:
1. Self-Exploration: Start by asking yourself some questions. What's something about yourself that you love and want to share with others? What parts of your identity have you lost touch with and want to reconnect to? What's a belief or passion you hold that you don't get to talk about enough (keeping politics aside)?
2. Connect and Convey: Your monologue should be a reflection of you. It should allow you to share or convey something meaningful in your life at that moment. Whether it's a profound personal journey or a comedic slice of your personality, it should be important to you.
3. Avoid the Overdone: Finding the right monologue can be challenging, especially when the first ones you stumble upon are often overdone in the industry. Be patient and explore.
4. Seek Inspiration from the Source: One excellent way to find unique monologues is to watch TV shows or read plays with characters similar to your type. Extract monologues from these sources to make them your own.
5. Online Resources: If you're in a time crunch, there are websites like:
These can provide you with easy access to monologues, although they may be commonly used.
6. Critical Questions: Once you have a few potential monologues, ask yourself important questions:
Does the monologue allow me to take an emotional journey?
What is my objective? (What does the character want?)
How will I achieve the objective?
What are the consequences if I don’t get what I want?
Who am I talking to?
What happened RIGHT before this to make me say the first line of my monologue? (What did the other person SAY or DO?)
Personalize Your Monologue: Find your emotional connection to the piece, and make it uniquely yours.
7. Embrace Imperfection: Don't stress about achieving perfection. Instead, focus on conveying your message authentically. Use your natural voice and allow your emotions to guide you. Remember, when we try too hard to control our feelings, it often comes across as less genuine.
8. Engage Your Audience: Lastly, remember that you're on film. Talk to someone right in front of you. Have a genuine conversation, and let your authenticity shine through.
In the world of acting, your monologue is your chance to connect, to engage, and to leave a lasting impression. Choose wisely and embrace the opportunity to share a piece of yourself with your audience.
Break a leg!
Kelly Ann Dunn, Talent Coordinator, Cast Images
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9.01.2023
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8.29.2023
Cast Images | Submission Tips
Are you thinking about submitting to Cast Images? Would you like some simple tips on how to make your submission successful?
We have detailed instructions on our JOIN page of CastImages.com, but find that people still make mistakes. Before you submit, please read this!
At Cast Images, we receive TONS of submissions and the competition for audition appointments with the agency is stiff. There are some simple things that make all the difference in the chances of your being offered one of the spots, and we are happy to share them with you.
First, remember that your submission is one of many that we'll consider that day, so make it super easy for us to quickly see your photos and information. The agents are looking at much more than your photos...we are also deciding whether you are going to be professional, reliable, and easy to work with. We look at your submission as the first hoop that you need to jump through to show us that you can be a success at Cast Images. Don't do anything that will cause us to hit the delete key!
Content Tips
1. Be sure to read our submission instructions thoroughly and include all of the requested information. If we receive a submission that is missing information, we see that as a red flag. If you don't include the city that you live in, we have no way of knowing if you are in Northern California or India (and yes, we receive submissions from all over the world...we need you to be near or in Northern CA.)
2. Keep your submission clear and simple. Remember that you are applying to a professional talent agency...craft your comments like you would any other business correspondence. While you are at it, check your email address and be sure that is professional too. You are welcome to include links to industry websites in the comment field...be sure that anything you link to is also up to professional standards. Sometimes, less really is more!
3. Avoid over the top claims and language. It turns us off to read that you think you are the next Bradley Cooper or that you know that you will be a "Big Star" if you just find the right agent. It also worries us when parents are too pushy about their children....if she's really that cute we'll see it in the photos, we don't need you to tell us that she's "absolutely gorgeous and everyone stops me everywhere we go."
4. Put together a simple entertainment resume listing your industry experience. You can check the actors section of our website for examples. Just click on individual actors and you'll see a "resume" link pop up at the bottom of their page that you can reference. If you do not have any experience, you can skip this step and submit an additional photo instead.
5. Please do not submit children under two years old. We do not represent kids until they hit two but are thrilled to see them as soon as they have their second birthday.
Photo Tips
Your photos are absolutely critical to your submission. Take your time and put together the strongest pictures you can before you hit that send button. This isn't the time to rush and throw something together...the reality is that one bad photo photo can lead to us decide against you. Make your first photo make us want to see more!
1. Follow the instructions on our website. We do not need twenty photos of you. Two or three are perfect. You do not need professional photos... we love clear, well lit digitals. We much prefer to see simple photos that you have a friend take instead of glamour shots, overly stylized fashion pictures, or vacation photos of you and your friends. Remember that the whole purpose of the photos is to see what you look like. Show us!
2. For your digital photos, please wear an uncomplicated outfit that shows your shape and find some nice lighting. Wear very little (lip gloss, mascara) or no makeup and style your hair so that we can see your face. Choose a spot facing a window or head outside. If you shoot outside, do so early in the morning or close to sunset...not when the sun is directly overhead and will be strong and unflattering. Pick a simple background without distractions. We need to see one photo that is straight on of your face, and one full length. One of these should be a smile. Do not retouch or use fancy filters. Simple!
3. If you have a comp card and/or headshot, please do attach it, but send us current digitals as well. If you do not have a resume, you can use the resume attachment spot to send an additional photo.
4. Format your photos as jpg attachments of around 1MB each. If you do not know how to size them correctly, find someone to help you before you submit.
Here are some examples of outstanding photos that would wow us in a submission:
First, remember that your submission is one of many that we'll consider that day, so make it super easy for us to quickly see your photos and information. The agents are looking at much more than your photos...we are also deciding whether you are going to be professional, reliable, and easy to work with. We look at your submission as the first hoop that you need to jump through to show us that you can be a success at Cast Images. Don't do anything that will cause us to hit the delete key!
Content Tips
1. Be sure to read our submission instructions thoroughly and include all of the requested information. If we receive a submission that is missing information, we see that as a red flag. If you don't include the city that you live in, we have no way of knowing if you are in Northern California or India (and yes, we receive submissions from all over the world...we need you to be near or in Northern CA.)
2. Keep your submission clear and simple. Remember that you are applying to a professional talent agency...craft your comments like you would any other business correspondence. While you are at it, check your email address and be sure that is professional too. You are welcome to include links to industry websites in the comment field...be sure that anything you link to is also up to professional standards. Sometimes, less really is more!
3. Avoid over the top claims and language. It turns us off to read that you think you are the next Bradley Cooper or that you know that you will be a "Big Star" if you just find the right agent. It also worries us when parents are too pushy about their children....if she's really that cute we'll see it in the photos, we don't need you to tell us that she's "absolutely gorgeous and everyone stops me everywhere we go."
4. Put together a simple entertainment resume listing your industry experience. You can check the actors section of our website for examples. Just click on individual actors and you'll see a "resume" link pop up at the bottom of their page that you can reference. If you do not have any experience, you can skip this step and submit an additional photo instead.
5. Please do not submit children under two years old. We do not represent kids until they hit two but are thrilled to see them as soon as they have their second birthday.
Photo Tips
Your photos are absolutely critical to your submission. Take your time and put together the strongest pictures you can before you hit that send button. This isn't the time to rush and throw something together...the reality is that one bad photo photo can lead to us decide against you. Make your first photo make us want to see more!
1. Follow the instructions on our website. We do not need twenty photos of you. Two or three are perfect. You do not need professional photos... we love clear, well lit digitals. We much prefer to see simple photos that you have a friend take instead of glamour shots, overly stylized fashion pictures, or vacation photos of you and your friends. Remember that the whole purpose of the photos is to see what you look like. Show us!
2. For your digital photos, please wear an uncomplicated outfit that shows your shape and find some nice lighting. Wear very little (lip gloss, mascara) or no makeup and style your hair so that we can see your face. Choose a spot facing a window or head outside. If you shoot outside, do so early in the morning or close to sunset...not when the sun is directly overhead and will be strong and unflattering. Pick a simple background without distractions. We need to see one photo that is straight on of your face, and one full length. One of these should be a smile. Do not retouch or use fancy filters. Simple!
3. If you have a comp card and/or headshot, please do attach it, but send us current digitals as well. If you do not have a resume, you can use the resume attachment spot to send an additional photo.
4. Format your photos as jpg attachments of around 1MB each. If you do not know how to size them correctly, find someone to help you before you submit.
Here are some examples of outstanding photos that would wow us in a submission:
 |
| Fashion |
 |
| Lifestyle |
 |
| Actors |
 |
| Kids |
After You Submit
Once you send us your submission, you will see a confirmation pop up that lets you know that we've received it. If our agents is interested in meeting you or your child, we will be in touch within two weeks. If you do not hear back within that time frame, you can assume that you weren't a fit at this time for Cast Images. Please do not email us or call to follow up. Once we look at the email and decide not to call someone in, we delete the message and have no way to retrieve it to give you feedback.
If you do get called for a video appointment, Congratulations! You have cleared the first hurdle. We'll be excited to meet you!
If you are not called in, continue to gain experience in the industry and submit again in six months or when you have made significant progress. For models, work on your hair and skin and getting your body in tip top shape. For actors, take on-camera and improv classes, do theatre and independent films and build your resume. For everyone, educate yourself on the industry and make yourself into someone that an agent can't say no to because you are that terrific. For more industry information, please visit our About the Industry - Learn More page.
Good luck! We look forward to your amazing submission!
–Chandra Bourne, Owner, Cast Images
Once you send us your submission, you will see a confirmation pop up that lets you know that we've received it. If our agents is interested in meeting you or your child, we will be in touch within two weeks. If you do not hear back within that time frame, you can assume that you weren't a fit at this time for Cast Images. Please do not email us or call to follow up. Once we look at the email and decide not to call someone in, we delete the message and have no way to retrieve it to give you feedback.
If you do get called for a video appointment, Congratulations! You have cleared the first hurdle. We'll be excited to meet you!
If you are not called in, continue to gain experience in the industry and submit again in six months or when you have made significant progress. For models, work on your hair and skin and getting your body in tip top shape. For actors, take on-camera and improv classes, do theatre and independent films and build your resume. For everyone, educate yourself on the industry and make yourself into someone that an agent can't say no to because you are that terrific. For more industry information, please visit our About the Industry - Learn More page.
Good luck! We look forward to your amazing submission!
–Chandra Bourne, Owner, Cast Images
About the Industry | Learn more
It can be difficult to find accurate information about our industry, so we've gathered some terrific resources for actors, models, and parents.
Check back often as we update this list regularly.
Enjoy!
About Cast Images
Sac Film Works | The Talent Agent (With Cast Images owner Chandra Bourne)
Submissions
Cast Images Submission Tips
Agents
5 Things You Need To Know About Your Agent or Manager
Kids
Making This Business Positive For Kids
4 Tips to Keep Young Actors Grounded and Real
The Reality Behind Reality Television (For Kids)
Protect Your Kids: Check For A CPS Permit
Auditioning
General Advice
8.18.2023
McKenna Ault | PUMP Magazine
McKenna Ault for PUMP Magazine
Photographer @laceymc
Makeup @sgartistry
Hair @hgrabin
Styling @lmcstylecloset
8.17.2023
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8.09.2023
8.07.2023
Cast Images Talent | Crocker Art Museum
New imagery for the gorgeous Crocker Art Museum featuring Chelsea Bearce, Bri Andrews, Chance Thayer, Garret Michael Ryan, Tamitha Justice, Gene Mocsy, Andy Beronilla, Jose Emmanuel Vega, and Helene Park.
Photo | @wesdavisphotography
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7.19.2023
Into the Valley | HollyShorts Film Festival
Exciting news! 💫 HollyShorts Film Festival has selected @intothevalleyfilm for this year’s Oscar-qualifying festival!
7.18.2023
7.17.2023
Cast Models | Nordstrom Fashion Show
Such a wonderful show at Nordstrom Galleria this weekend! Love our models so much.
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