CASTING DIRECTOR MICHAEL TESTA INTENSIVE, MAY 16
CASTING DIRECTOR CARRIE AUDINO INTENSIVE, MAY 17

Dear Readers,

Next weekend, May 16 and 17, we have two HOT intensive
workshops for actors.

First, on May 16, we have Michael Testa, from Shaner/Testa Casting,
who casts a HIT show for CABLE and a HOT DRAMA for PRIME TIME NETWORK,
so he's SUPER BUSY and we are VERY LUCKY to get him in for our members.

His workshop will be INTENSE work on AUDITIONS SKILLS and this
workshop is SATURDAY from 10 am to 1 pm.

AGES 18 TLY are definitely encouraged to attend, since both
shows cast a ton of "TEEN" roles.

Here's the link for the MICHAEL TESTA INTENSIVE:
http://actorsite.com/freepages/youth/testamay16.html

AND SUNDAY, MAY 17, from 10 am to 1 pm, we have CARRIE
AUDINO from SCHIFF/AUDINO CASTING. This is a "HOT" office
that casts TWO hot shows, one for PRIME TIME NETWORK and
one for CABLE, so we LOVE having Carrie come in...

We also encourage 18 TLY to attend this INTENSE AUDITION SKILLS
workshop, too, since one of their shows involves a huge family
and there will be TONS of "teens" in the guest cast.

And here's the link for the CARRIE AUDINO INTENSIVE:
http://actorsite.com/freepages/youth/audinomay17.html

BOTH OF THESE INTENSIVES ARE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES SO SIGN
UP TODAY TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT.

CALL 818-442-9400 FOR MORE INFORMATION!

All the best,

Jack Turnbull
Actorsite.com

Los Angeles is a COLD READING TOWN!
WORKSHOPS! If you aren't doing them, what is it you ARE doing?
Join Actorsite  now and save before the price goes up!
Auditions for CASTING DIRECTOR WORKSHOPS on MONDAYS!

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Cold Reading
==================

By Jack Turnbull of the Actorsite

At the Actorsite, we acknowledge that it's universally known that you
MUST be an excellent cold reader to succeed in Hollywood.

In spite of what appears to be obvious, apparently
there are those who somehow haven't heard the news and
don't work on cold reading skills on a daily basis.

Many of you will attend your scene study classes and your
improvisation classes and even your cold reading classes
and STILL you won't PRACTICE IT EVERY DAY!!! Taking a
class will make you better, but YOU HAVE TO PRACTICE
THOSE SKILLS!

For those of you who don't work on your cold reading
daily....WHY NOT? YOUR COMPETITION IS!

Acting is a muscle, if you don't work it out, it gets
flabby.

I always hear of actors spending huge sums of money
to find out the "secrets" of cold reading from the
cold reading gurus in Hollywood. Yes, those gurus know
their stuff, but the real "secret" is this: COLD READING
IS A PRACTICED SKILL, AND THE MORE YOU PRACTICE, THE
BETTER YOU GET!.

Let me add that the BETTER YOU GET, THE MORE YOU BOOK!

Think about it, if you are practiced and confident, you
do a MUCH BETTER JOB and are MUCH MORE "HIRE"-able than
an actor who is lazy and doesn't practice skills...

For those of you who can't join the Actorsite and work
on skills on a daily basis, here are some tips...

Without getting into acting technique, here are some
tips on some good practice techniques to perfect.

1. Cold read OUT LOUD at least 1/2 hour per day. I
recommend that to get good quickly, you should take a book
or script and cold read it ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

2. Always, look down, get your sentence or phrases and
look up and connect with a person or object when you
are saying the words. This, in and of itself, is a
practiced skill...so practice it. If you don't have
another actor, use a mirror...just don't get caught
up admiring yourself...focus on practicing.

-------------continued below...

TO JOIN ACTORSITE SO YOU CAN PRACTICE EVERY DAY:
http://www.actorsite.com/freepages/join/join2009.html

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FOR PAID UP MEMBERS WHO HAVE AUDITIONED AND BEEN ACCEPTED:
====================================================================

For our members and for  those who wonder about our workshops,

We've added some NEW WORKSHOPS today, that are SUPER OPPORTUNITIES
for YOU...

We'll keep adding MORE EACH WEEK to offer MORE opportunities for
our members!

If you are NEW TO ACTORSITE, it's important that you PARTICIPATE
as soon as possible, since EPISODIC SEASON is just around the
corner and ALMOST ALL of our guests will be casting shows!

In fact, MANY shows are gearing up in MAY and JUNE!

In fact, there are already dozens of shows out there and we
anticipate a HUGE episodic season...STAY SHARP BEGINNING NOW!

If you aren't in the game, then you AREN'T IN THE GAME!

Remember, if you are sitting home...YOUR COMPETITION IS BUILDING
RELATIONSHIPS AND SKILLS!!! GET UP OFF THE COUCH AND GET MOVING!

ACTORSITE WORKSHOPS THIS SATURDAY, MAY 9:

9:45 am, Beth Hollywood-Day, from Christian Kaplan Casting, the
Senior VP of Casting at a STUDIO! Super high-octane office and if
you miss this one, you must not have feature films on your
"to do" list!

12:45 pm, Chadwick Struck, from Chadwick Struck Casting, who is
currently casting THREE feature films all INDEPENDENTS. So yes,
he's a great positive guest to network with and he runs a super
educational workshop!

2:45 pm, Craig Campobasso, from TODD/CAMPOBASSO Casting. This office
casts both TV and FILMS and is ALWAYS BUSY!

Actorsite workshop specials: 19 Workshops for just $400 so you are
only paying $21 per class! Other groups charge $40 to $65 for the
SAME GUESTS!

Auditions on MONDAYS at 4 pm!

----BACK TO THE MESSAGE...

3. Lock down your body...learn to make sure you don't
sway or "dance" when you are cold reading...you should
be focused and NOT bouncing, swaying, or jiggling the
lower body. One technique I have used to stop an actor
from swaying was to have them stand with one leg bent
slightly, so their weight is unbalanced and they use
their body like a tripod. Another way is to have one
foot slightly forward so you have the look of "ready
for action" and you are locked down in place. Find a
way to LOCK DOWN YOUR BODY so you appear FOCUSED!!!

4. STAY IN CHARACTER. Remember that when you look down
to get your words, that you must STAY IN CHARACTER and
IN THE MOMENT as you look down and look back up. I've seen
actors who are laughing when delivering the words and
then get real serious when looking for their place on
the page. If you stay in character, you would be laughing
while looking at your page.

5. CONNECT WITH ANOTHER ACTOR. If you don't have another
actor to practice with, then get in front of the mirror
and make sure you CONNECT with yourself as you look up
and say your words.

CONTINUED BELOW...

====================================================
GREAT WORKOUTS FOR LESS THAN A DOLLAR PER EVENT!
====================================================

HELPING OUR MEMBERS PRACTICE COLD READING IS A TOP PRIORITY
AT THE ACTORSITE!

Did you know that at the ACTORSITE, we have over 6 events
per week...that's over 24 per month and ALMOST 300 PER YEAR!

ALL of these events are FREE FOR OUR PAID UP MEMBERS!!!

Here's a link to the schedule of workouts...ALL PINK AND RED
EVENTS ARE FREE FOR PAID UP MEMBERS:
http://plus.calendars.net/actorsiteevents/

ONLY $399 for the year!

To join, go here:

http://www.actorsite.com/freepages/join/join2009.html

We are sensitive to YOUR NEEDS as actors...reasonable
costs, quality challenges...and GREAT NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES!

JOIN TODAY!

CONTINUED...

6. PRACTICE CONSTRUCTING AN IMMEDIATE MOMENT BEFORE. If
you are in a scene, make sure you include your MOMENT
BEFORE PREPARATION and that you don't appear to just
start from nowhere...go back to basic scene study and
find a quick way to establish your moment before immediately.

7. PRACTICE LETTING THE WORDS TELL YOU WHAT TO SAY AND HOW TO
SAY IT. That's why I believe that reading a book out loud
and acting out the characters using cold reading techniques
allows you to develop immediate emotional connection to the
words...you many times don't have time to construct a
backstory and do emotional background on your characters.
This way, you have practiced finding your motivation
on a regular basis.

8. PRACTICE DIFFERENT TECHNICAL APPROACHES TO THE MATERIAL.
You can read a book by THROWING IT AWAY, by whispering it,
by yelling it loudly, by singing it, and lots of other ways,
Practice using the elements of speech to achieve a natural
way of speaking. Louder-Softer, Higher-Lower, Faster-Slower.

8. PRACTICE FINDING CONTINUITY IN LONG SPEECHES...there is a
technique where you look down and continue speaking while
you get your next set of words. It will come VERY QUICKLY to
you as you practice looking down, getting the words and
then looking up and saying the words. YOu will reach a point
where you automatically stay in character and continue your
speech while holding your script and connecting with
the other actor (or actors). PRACTICE AND YOU'LL GET THERE.

9. PRACTICE MISDIRECTION. There are many actors that use this
technique in their performance, even when they are off book.
Here's how it works: Look down, get your words, look off to
the side, think about your words, then look at your partner
and say your words. It's SO QUICK and it creates a "thought
spot" where you look more natural rather than looking down
and up all the time. Many actors who have practice this cold
reading technique, use it in their performance, including
major stars like Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts. You see
them "thinking" while they break eye contact, then look
back at the other actor or the camera for the close up
and connect...that's what it looks like when you do it.

10. COLD READING MUST BE PRACTICED! All the technique in the
world won't help you if you don't practice. The world's top
Basketball players like Kobe Bryant practice harder than
anyone else to stay on top...Kobe will shoot an extra
1000 jump shots in a day to get better at shooting jump
shots and he practices EVERY DAY...For you to get better
YOU HAVE TO PRACTICE EVERY DAY!!!

When you go to audition, you'll notice how SHARP YOU ARE
if you PRACTICE EVERY DAY!

If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail!

All the best,

Jack

===================================================================
Auditions for new members!
===================================================================

Our WORKSHOP GROUP is HOT!

Our members book on a regular basis and, if an actor takes time
to build relationships with casting, it is of IMMENSE benefit to
that actor.

MONDAYS at 4 pm (SHARP) at 4444 Lankershim #203 in North Hollywood.
Bring headshot and resume and be prepared to cold read.

Ages 18 and up only!

GREAT! SEE YOU SOON!

Dear Readers,

When you get discouraged, I have some pictures to look
at today of the horse race called the Kentucky Derby.

Look a this  picture of the Kentucky Derby and tell me
which horse is winning:

http://...com/dkthkk

Now look at this picture and you'll see the winner...
all the way on the left of your screen!

http://...com/cybngo

The winner of the Kentucky Derby wasn't even in the race
after getting caught up with a couple of other horses at the
start of the race...

http://...com/crogeq

And this is how he ended up...that's him on the right...

A 50 to 1 shot winner...

http://...com/clqbb6

So when you feel the odds are against you 50 to 1, and worse,
there are others crowding you out and working against you,
and even when you are able to get started, you find out you
are WAY behind the pack...

Sticking...

to...

it...and...

Never...

Giving...

Up...

And, with a little luck and a lot of push, push, push, you
can push through to success...

An Acting career is not a horse race, but the 50 to 1 odds are
something we can all relate to...

An acting career is not the Olympics, but we have seen a
skater skate from 4th to Gold...

So when your feeling low...think of Jockey Calvin Borel atop MineThat Bird

Both of them covered in mud...

With Jockey Calvin Borel saluting his parents with his crop...

http://...com/c6rc2s

For the full PICTURE STORY, go HERE:

http://...com/dgkqtf