Welcome to The Actors Group! 

The Actors Group located at 2813 Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, California was designed and is operated by people who are creatively driven; who have a love of acting, directing, writing, producing, and who believe in proactively approaching careers in TV, Film and Multi-Media. It is a place to

  • Improve skills
  • Draw inspiration
  • Apply talents, and
  • Join with others of similar aspirations in a tasteful, comfortable, professional environment.

The Actors Group is where Actors can network with TV and Film Professionals as well as fellow Actors. The friendly, comfortable atmosphere is conducive to making personal connections for which there is never an opportunity otherwise. So, if you are an Actor or an Industry Professional looking for talented creative types for TV and Film, The Actors Group is a place to make valuable connections, educate your perspective and improve your skills.

The Actors Group offers a Calendar of Workshop Events focused on cold reading and preparations for auditioning. Multiple workshops per week are directed by Industry Professionals, primarily Casting Directors and Casting Associates who are currently casting for TV and Film plus multimedia. These workshops provide

  • a constructive forum for “inside” advice on effective practices and etiquette regarding auditions
  • helpful analysis of pictures and resumes
  • cold reading opportunities with invaluable critique by the very professionals who call Actors in and call them back in actual audition settings.

Casting professionals find Actors for productions – they are not who does the hiring – but they are who opens the door for the opportunity. Learning what is important from them is immeasurably valuable.

ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES


THE HIRING PROCESS FOR ACTORS

It may be helpful to understand how actors are generally hired, especially when deciding whether or not to attend a cold reading workshop. First an actor must be seen. There are many ways that an actor’s performance skills and talent can be seen that get them into an audition which include:

  • Submission by an agent, manager, or teacher
  • Submission by the actor electronically or by mail of headshot and resume
  • Having been seen in another role, been previously cast by, or been previously known to those casting
  • Requests by the producer or director
  • Referrals by others in the industry
  • Observing the actor in theater, at industry events, and learning about an actor through other means like the Academy Players' Directory, published by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences or even The Actors Group's special, hand-delivered binders.

Casting professionals screen and audition actors for roles, but do not hire actors. When casting has a role to cast and believes an actor might fit that role, that actor will be called in for an audition. If the audition goes well, casting will usually bring the actor in for a callback with the producer(s) and/or director(s). This is who will make the final casting decision taking into consideration casting's recommendation.

It is very helpful to have an agent who can assist you in finding and negotiating the terms of any engagement that you may be offered if cast. Agents do vary greatly.

The Actors Group does not facilitate the attainment of employment for actors.Roles a casting director is currently casting are not discussed and all "sides" are from previous projects. In a cold reading workshop, actors are not auditioning for a role a casting director may be currently casting.

We are proud of the fact that many of The Actors Group Members are successful working actors, or have even become prominent actors. We make every effort to have our workshops contribute to each Member’s success. Most successful actors pursue engagements through several options. To be hired, an actor must be seen and considered the right fit for the role. Proactively seeking out ways to maximize your opportunities to land and then "nail" auditions is what we at The Actors Group strive to be a positive part of… your home for exercising in the craft of acting.
Recent Updates

Upcoming Events

02/02/2012 8:00 PM • The Actors Group
02/04/2012 10:00 AM • The Actors Group
02/09/2012 8:00 PM • The Actors Group

Recent News

12/25/2011 3:12 PM • C. Robin Rudnikoff



Come See Us!

ABOUT COLD READING WORKSHOPS

It is important to be clear about the purpose of cold reading workshops. They are a proven effective form of training and practice for auditions; and they are an unparalleled opportunity for networking with other actors as well as with professionals with whom you would like to audition. Cold Reading Workshops are not auditions. In accordance with the California Labor Board Guidelines, the following is a statement that is signed by each workshop participant upon registration at each cold reading workshop at The Actors Group and is read aloud as well:

"This is not a job interview or audition.
I understand that the presence of a casting director is absolutely not a guarantee or promise of employment.
I further understand that the intent of this class is solely educational."

 The Actors Group offers cold reading workshops usually led by casting professionals actively working in TV, Film and/or in multimedia productions. The various guests offer perspective to actors in an open forum.

The workshops open with an introduction by the Industry Guest in a relaxed atmosphere with up to 24 actors in attendance. There is a Question and Answer period where those in attendance have the unique opportunity to appropriately ask what they want to know about the process within that office with that Industry Guest, or about other Industry-related things. Headshots and resumes may be reviewed plus topics such as:

  • Audition techniques
  • The business of acting
  • Office etiquette
  • Demystifying the audition process
  • How casting procedures differ between pilots, features, episodics, etc.
  • Advice on seeking representation
  • General industry trends in casting

The Industry Guests may give out scenes or "sides" to the actors in attendance from scripts consistent with what her/his office casts after s/he has studied the pictures and resumes submitted by the actors in attendance. Following a 10-15 minute preparation time, the scenes are performed, usually in pairs designated by the Industry Guests, or may be read one on one with the Industry Guests. Sometimes it is requested that actors bring their own choice of material. The Industry Guests will give constructive feedback and may redirect individual actors. The actors in attendance are the audience for each reading. A cold reading workshop usually lasts approximately 2 1/2 hours, but it is entirely up to the Industry Guest.

Cold-reading workshops provide these benefits:

  • Practice and feedback with respect to cold reading skills in a situation that approximates an actual audition
  • Insight into the process of obtaining employment with a production company by someone involved in it daily
  • Learning what Industry Guests look for in auditions specific to individual offices, and in general
  • Networking with and being supported by other actors
 
 


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