by Misti Dawn Garritano

Child actor on the rise? Perhaps you, your child or your friend's child is interested in breaking into show biz. So, where do you start? What do you need to do to make this happen? I recently spoke with Randi Mollo, Partner of Mollo Management, who represents children, to find out what a kid and their parent(s)/guardian(s) really need to know to break into the business. She gives more than just the basic run-through, she gives you her heart and more than 30 years of combined experience.

So when can a child start acting? According to Randi, although she states a child can start at any age, she also believes it's a hard question to answer. She doesn't ...More

How to get your SOAP voice heard with CD Mary Clay Boland

Written by: Kelly Calabrese

Right now… you have the chance to speak up and forever hold a piece of acting history by getting on the set of soap in New York City. But you must act quickly, because even though soaps get 3 million viewers, 5 days a week - they are extinguishing.

Working on a soap offers a valuable learning experience for actors at all stages.

“Even Julianne Moore said, ‘because I did As the World Turns I can do anything else,'” shares Casting Director Ma ...More

Written By: Kelly Calabrese

Ever wish that you could spend money and have it boomerang right back to you? Sure, it sounds like a dream but NYCastings.com helps turn that dream into a reality. By offering so many sweet background listings, members tend to make their dough back in no time.

The Top Booker of 2009, Lauren Francesca, earned $11,395 through NYCastings. She landed solid gigs, including background work, and many members share similar success stories.

Tiffany Bank who says, “thanks to NYCastings I was able to work 6 days on Sex and the City 2! It was a dream of mine to be able to be apart of that mo ...More

Talent Manager Henry Ravelo Reveals the Origin of Opportunity

Written by: Kelly Calabrese

Grab hold of your acting chops and get ready to travel to the ultimate break through dimension. In parts 1-4 of this story (link), Henry shared his theory on being unique, prepared, magnetic and current. But all that jazz may only get you so far...

Key Element #5 to the Big Break Theory = TALENT MANAGEMENT

“It has been my experience that having a manager has been invaluable to having an actor work,” Henry shares.

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“6 Steps to a Successful Acting Career” helps connect everyone.

Written by Kelly Calabrese

Get ready to feel footloose and have your dreams come true because “6 Steps to a Successful Acting Career” just rolled into town spreading simple yet strategic moves.

Educational and entertaining, this DVD begins by identifying “the spark,” says writer/director Aaron Seals, who is also the founder & owner of NYCastings.com in New York, which has been one of the leading casting companies for the last 10 years. Aspiring actors discover what ignites their passion for the entertainment industry and th ...More

Union Facts & Advantages

Written by: Kelly Calabrese

Listen up! The American Federation of Radio Artists (AFTRA) represents over 70,000 artists. It covers broadcast, public and cable television, radio, sound recordings, “non-broadcast" and industrial material as well as Internet and digital programming.

If you are looking to sound serious about the entertainment industry, take note of these very important AFTRA details…

Q. More and more productions are choosing AFTRA. Why is this?

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Casting Director Adrienne Stern shares upward, strategic career moves

Written by: Kelly Calabrese

“Let's be honest, when a good part comes along who doesn't want it?” says Casting Director Adrienne Stern who has placed countless actors into dream rolls. Adrienne helps actors move from point A… to point indie so NYCastings asked for her insider insight.

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Voice-over input from Casting Director Lisa Fischoff

Written by: Kelly Calabrese

“You can fall in love with the voice-over craft,” says Casting Director Lisa Fischoff who heads up Broadcasters, a division of Howard Schwartz Recording. Lisa notices a person's voice before anything else. She has many years of casting experience, worked previously at Liz Lewis Casting Partners, and shares her expertise with NYCastings so that even more actors can become enchanted with the voice-over industry.

At her current office, Lisa casts on-camera and voice-over talent for commercial projects including American Ex ...More

Barbara McNamara reveals her one-of-a-kind casting style.

Written by: Kelly Calabrese

If Barbara McNamara Casting was a fashion label, it might be called ‘Rock and Rescue', because Barbara approaches casting with a hard-core passion and caring attitude. Oh and… she handles all of the background for 30 Rock and Rescue Me.

“There's no comparison,” Barbara says, between her boutique company and other background ...More

Stacy Gallo helps you book commercial work

Written by: Kelly Calabrese

“Commercial casting is definitely like the lottery because a lot of it is being in the right place at the right time,” says Independent, Commercial Casting Director Stacy Gallo.

For over ten years, Stacy has helped actors land high-profile commercial gigs. She started out casting at MTV, created an in-house casting company for Hungry Man and now heads up her own casting biz - talk about creating your own luck in life!

Stacy “loves taking an unknown actor, getting them ...More

To volunteer for the Tribeca Film Festival

Written by: Kelly Calabrese

Calling all actors… from April 21^st to May 2^nd New York will transform into a moving picture; an action-packed, high stakes, series of unforgettable moments known as the Tribeca Film Festival. Countless opportunities exist for NYC artists. Here's how you can land a juicy part in it…

Volunteer Applications are currently open online at: http://www.tribecafilm.com/get-i ...More

How to break into the unscripted/hosting biz with Agent Tony Burton

Written by: Kelly Calabrese

“Who would have thought that Jersey Shore would be the biggest show,” says Tony Burton, talent agent for the Host/Broadcast department at Don Buchwald and Associates (DBA) in New York. Yet, Jersey Shore does pull in viewers because “it resonates with an audience.”

Succeeding in the unscripted/hosting biz takes “that something, that indescribable,” which Tony specializes in finding.

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Casting Associate Philip Huffman helps actors drum up street cred...

Written by Kelly Calabrese

Oohh, New York. It's a place where three “Law & Order” episodics film and countless actors strive to add that signature sound to their reel.

“It's like a New York right of passage,” says Casting Associate Philip Huffman who works on NBC's “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” Yet, getting on the episodic takes a lot more work than it appears at street level. “It's not that easy. There are plenty of established actors who have never been on the show,” Phil shares.

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In response to our 'Top Booker of 2009' contest, our winner is rising actress Lauren Francesca, with a grand total of $11,395 in earnings and more than 32 roles acquired through NYCastings in the year of 2009. Below is the list of projects and a short Q & A with Lauren.



1. Rescue Me - Lipstick Lesbian - 1/29/09
2. 30 Rock - Hooker - 2/10/09
3. Off Duty - Stand-in - 2/11/09
4. Weekend Pre-game Spike TV - Model - 3/4/09
5. Art Lust go to Museum - Host - 4/8, 4/14, 4/29
6. Tri Star Products - Model - 4/10/09
7. MTV3 Don Omar Video - Video Girl - 4/3/09
8. Maury Povich - Reenactment porn star - 4/28/09
9. Jimmy Fallon Show - Groupie - 5/18/09
10. Law & Or ...More

Written by: Kelly Calabrese

On a mission to clear up Union vs. Non-Union rumors… NYCastings tapped directly into the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and got them to reveal details about rules, leniencies, and those coveted three waivers…

Q. Any expiration date to waivers?

A. There is no expiration for Taft-Hartley waivers, but remember - it is the work and not the waiver that counts towards eligibility, so be sure to retain a copy of your paystub along with your waiver (voucher). The producer is supposed to report your employment to the Guild within three weeks and once we enter that information, it never expires. You can always check your eligibility on the SAG ...More

Directors Brad and Todd Barnes help actors break into themselves

Written by Kelly Calabrese

“Acting, when it's good, seems to be about self revelation,” says New York based writer/director Brad Barnes who co-helmed the movie Homewrecker alongside his brother Todd Barnes.

Homewrecker marks the first feature for the Barnes brothers, who also co-wrote the script with Sophie Goodhart. The film stars New York actors Ana Reeder and Anslem Richardson and it just enjoyed its world premiered at Sundance 2010 as part o ...More

Director Eric Mendelsohn pushes movie making boundaries

Written by: Kelly Calabrese

“Imagine if you went to see a dance and you asked ‘what is the dance going to be?' and they said ‘a romantic comedy?'' asks New York based Director Eric Mendelsohn whose film 3 Backyards premiered at Sundance.

“You go to a dance performance to “say ‘it was like nothing I've ever seen before,''” Yet, “you go to movies to say ‘it was just like such and such' and you're happy with some slight difference. I am n ...More

The cast and crew of Daddy Longlegs confess their movie making methods.

Written by: Kelly Calabrese

With an unprecedented way of casting and filmmaking, the crew of Daddy Longlegs set out to create a fairytale style story based on events from the directors' lives.

The directors, Josh and Benny Safdie, as well as lead actor Ronnie Bronstein, sat down with NYCastings at Sundance 2010 to reveal how their past, New York City, and Craig's list helped shape their latest movie.

“Inspired emotionally by true events,” Da ...More